Read with Me
1 Peter 2:13-17 (HCSB)
Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. As God’s slaves, live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.
Listen with Me
At times, especially when it feels like the government is oppressive, many people feel like the right thing to do is to rise up and overthrow the government, and to institute in its place a different government that will be friendlier to the faith. But Peter writes here that that is a flawed paradigm.
Peter, echoing Paul’s reasoning in Romans 13:1-8, is that the governing authorities have been set up by God to bring order to a society which, without that external check, would quickly fall into chaos. And, as history has shown, all too frequently when governments are overthrown, it is not the godly who then rise to power, but the ruthless and forceful, who end up being no greater friend to God’s people in the long run than those who were forced from power.
Keep in mind that Peter wrote these words in the context of living under governments himself that were, at least at times, hostile to the Church. Peter had been beaten, imprisoned, and nearly executed by the governing authorities of Judea. And he knew of many other Christians, including Paul, who had suffered imprisonment and even death at the hands of the government of Rome.
But Peter also understood that the Church’s role in the world was not to topple governments by force. Instead, it was to grow God’s kingdom by making disciples of all nations, and leading those people to growth, maturity, and transformation. And Peter knew that when the people of a society or nation are transformed, every facet of that society changes for the good as well, including the governmental structures.
Also keep in mind that for both Peter and Paul, there were some boundaries to their submission to the governmental authorities, demonstrated when they themselves were on trial. Peter’s famous proclamation before the Sanhedrin, who was forbidding him and the other apostles to speak, teach, or act in the name of Jesus was: “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20). Peter would not try to overthrow the Sanhedrin, or even challenge their authority to govern. But if they commanded him not to do something that God had commanded him to do, he would obey God and accept the consequences of that decision. And if they commanded him to do something that God had forbidden, he would obey God and accept the consequences of that decision.
Pray with Me
Father, all too often we hear calls to action that are contrary to Your commands and Your ways of doing things. I know that in America we have a unique ability to be involved with the political process, to vote, and even to hold office. And there are many Christians who have found their calling in serving in the government. But we always have to remember that, as Peter reminds us, the solution to national or international problems is not man-made government, but the salvation and transformation of people into new creations through faith in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). And so, while we support our governmental structures to ensure societal order, we also understand that we, as Your people, have a higher allegiance to which we must continually submit. Thank You, Lord, for reminding me of this truth today. Amen.