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God cares about how people treat those who are in authority.  The Bible exhorts us not only to obey, but to honor our rulers (Rom. 13:7; 1 Peter 2:17).  When Paul, for example, realized he had spoken rudely to the high priest, Ananias, he apologized by saying, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people’” (Acts 23:5).  If the disobedience and ingratitude of people toward their civil leaders concerns God deeply, imagine how much greater is His concern that His people properly honor their spiritual leaders!

Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch, page 170