If you love truth, justice and righteousness, it is likely you are not pleased with the current political situation in Canada, especially with the last federal election. And that displeasure is understandable. I understand it too. Our leaders often act foolish and unjust. Unfortunately this decline in the moral condition of our politicians will most likely continue. As this decline continues, we more and more need to be reminded of how we as Christians ought to conduct our actions and attitudes toward our government. So Peter's words in 1 Peter 2 are very needed.
Peter is writing his letter to Christians who are scattered abroad and in the midst of persecution. In chapter 2:12, Peter tells them to "keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the days of visitation."
Peter then goes from exhorting them to have excellent behavior, to explaining his readers how they were to have excellent behavior as they related to the authorities.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
Why should they submit to the government?
15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
Consider this last verse.
We know we need to submit to the authorities. We are to obey them so long as they don't tell us to do something that is in opposition to God's law. It is clear we can't lead rebellions to overthrow the government. At least I hope that is clear from the text. But Peter goes further than that. Peter commands us to honor the king.
This word to honor is found at the first and last part of the verse. It has the meaning of treating someone with respect, to treat graciously, to give proper recognition. So, Peter tells us to show respect to all people. Then at the end of the verse, he tells us to show respect especially to the king or emperor. Think how hard this command was for those Christians. The emperor and those in government were persecuting them. Those in government were pagan to the core and morally corrupt. And yet Peter still tells them to show respect for those in authority.
Why were they to show this honor?
First, because like all men, they were made in the image of God and therefore were to be treated with respect.
Second, those in government were put in that position by God, therefore they were to be respected.
The question this text asks of you is this; 'do I show respect to those in government? It is not enough to submit to them, but do I honor them?'
So much of what I see on Facebook as it relates to politics, falls far short of this command. People use insults and derogatory slurs toward the Prime Minister, President or some other member of government. Then, there are the political cartoons that demean politicians. It seems to me that for some people, because some politician is godless, it gives them the freedom to insult them as if that is their duty.
But for the Christian, these things should not be. You may say that is how things are in the world. But we are called to a higher standard. God calls us to live according to His standard not the low standard of unregenerate people.
We can disagree with the government. We can point out when they are wrong. We can use lawful means to bring good change. But as we do this, our text "honor the king", should be in our mind. We need to do this with respect, kindness, civility and grace.
Brad
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