1 Peter 2:13–14 (NLT): For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed.
It’s amazing how controversial this passage is in an entirely predictable cycle. Depending on who is in office at the time, there is always a segment of the Christian population that loves and agrees with it and one which isn’t quite sure what it means or how to apply it. I’m sure that I haven’t always lived it perfectly, but I have consistently seen that it had real meaning for my behavior and my rhetoric no matter who was in office.
To use political language, this passage and its immediate context are a censure on our current political climate and the kind of participation that some Christians on both sides of the aisle are choosing. The call in this passage is to show “proper respect to everyone”, and part of that is to “honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17). I know that some folks now are saying the current president is not worthy of any kind of respect. Funny thing is that some folks were saying the same thing about the former president … and the one before that, too … and the one before that (remember what I said about an entirely predictable cycle). We must recall that Peter was writing this letter to people who called Nero their emperor. If you remember much history at all, you’ll recall that Nero was the one who doomed Christians “to the flames … to serve as nightly illumination”. Yes, it’s that guy that Peter says to “honor”.
Peter tells us that God’s plan for Christians in society is to “silence the ignorant talk of people” who accuse us of doing wrong (see 1 Peter 2:12 & 15). The means for doing this is “by doing good,” (1 Peter 2:15) however, some Christians in our current political climate have used their “freedom” as a cover up for evil (see 1 Peter 2:16) by participating in the culture in incivility. We as Christians are called, not to imitate the fallen culture around us, but to imitate our Lord, who suffered unjustly on our behalf but refused to retaliate, insult, or threaten (see 1 Peter 2:21-23).
I encourage you to go vote on Tuesday (if you haven’t already done so), but in all of your conversations and thoughts about this time in our country’s history, please choose to imitate Jesus rather than the culture of incivility around us. The witness of Jesus’ church is at stake.
– Deryk Pritchard, Preacher