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Expository Preaching: Sermons, Thoughts, and Resources of Todd Linn

1 Peter

Following Christ Whatever Your Politics

political rally

“I wish more churches would preach on politics!” It’s a familiar cry frequently shared among concerned Christians. But I’m not sure all would feel as strongly about this when looking closer at the Bible’s teaching on politics.

1 Peter 2:13-17 is a passage that has implications for Christian living under an authority structure with which they may disagree.  Whether it’s the government at large or local authority, this passage teaches Christians about how they are to follow Christ whatever their political identity may be.

You’ll remember from our previous post that verse 12 teaches Christians are to live in such a way as to point people to Christ. So if we were to ask Peter, “Tell us exactly what you have in mind,” he might reply, “Well, just keep reading my letter” because, from verse 13 and following, Peter talks about how Christians should live in a world that is largely un-Christian. 

Live as One who Submits to Authority

13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him (the king) for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

The word “submit” in verse 13 is a military term that conveys the sense of arranging oneself under a superior, or a commander.  It means to fall in line under the authority of another.  So Peter is teaching that Christians are to have an attitude of submission with respect to their governmental leaders.

And Peter spells out our submission very clearly.  He says Christians are to submit “to every ordinance of man,” that is, “every human authority” or “every institution of man” whether you happen to like the leader or not.

He adds this submission applies to the king as well as the governor.  We may say today this teaching applies the president or other leaders of his administration, as well as the governor of our state, and the mayor of our city.

The only time we are exempt from obeying human authority is when the institution forces us to commit sin.

In Exodus 1, for example, Pharaoh says to the Hebrew midwives: “If the Israelites give birth to a boy, kill it.”  Here is an authoritative leader commanding personal sin.  Of course, the midwives refused to kill the male children: “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive” (Exodus 1:17).

In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Messiah, and Abednego are commanded to bow down and worship the golden image. But because it is wrong for an authoritative figure to command personal sin, Daniel’s three friends do not bow down. They refuse: “Let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:18).

In Acts 5, the Apostles are commanded by an authoritative leader to stop teaching the gospel. Additionally, they were threatened with imprisonment. But again, because they were being forced to commit personal sin, the Apostles refused. They said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

So when authority figures command us to commit personal sin, we must obey God rather than men. 

Here’s an honest question: How often does this really happen to you? Just how frequently do political leaders force you to commit some kind of personal sin?

You may say, “Well, that last example in Acts comes pretty close. My boss won’t allow me to talk to co-workers about Christ.”  Okay, but that’s not forcing you to sin, is it? He’s not telling you that you can never once–under any circumstance–live out your Christian faith, right? Nor is he or she threatening to lock you up in prison. Odds are, your boss is simply reminding you that you’ve got a job to do and you need to know where the boundary lines are.

Thankfully, most of have never been commanded by an employer or political leader to commit personal sin. We may say we don’t like the politics of our leader or leaders, but that does not give us permission to rebel against authority.  Peter is clear in verse 13: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man.”

Certainly, Christians are to be “salt and light.” We should be informed politically and use our influence to improve the justice system, but ultimately we must submit ourselves to every ordinance of man.

Remember Peter is writing this letter during the reign of Emperor Nero, the one who, according to church tradition, would kill the Apostle Paul and would also kill Peter by having him crucified upside down.

By the way, note the phrase there in the middle of verse 13: “for the Lord’s sake.”  This phrase reminds us it is God Himself Who has set in place these structures of authority. We honor Him when we submit to our leaders.

In a related passage, the Apostle Paul says, “the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). While we often wonder why God “appoints” some rulers to rule, we must remember they rule only because He has sovereignly allowed it. Paul adds in Romans 13:2, “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God.”

God has set governmental leaders over us because authority is a good thing. Governmental authorities “punish evildoers” and “praise (or commend) those who do good.”

How often do we pray for our leaders?  Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority…”

Do you pray for your president?  Do you pray for civil leaders; praying God would give them wisdom and draw them to Himself so they may be saved and live under Christ’s lordship?

How do you speak about your leaders? Christians may voice their concerns, but they must do so with respect. As Paul commands: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:1-2).

We may speak against the policies of those with whom we disagree, but we must do so in a respectful manner. Christians will avoid crude jokes and slander about their president or about others in authority over us. Christians will pray for their leaders and speak in respectful ways about them. Doing so will help point people in the direction of the Lord we love.

Our purpose is not to make converts to our political party, our purpose is to make disciples. This truth takes us to the next main point:

Live as One whose Witness Matters

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—

When Christians submit to their leaders, not only are they doing the will of God (note that in verse 15), but they are also “putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

As we live among an unbelieving world; an often hostile world, we have opportunities to silence those who slander Christians.  By our Christian living we may silence those who are looking for any reason they can find to speak against believers.

So don’t give unbelievers any more ammunition!

Live a godly life before them. Live as one whose witness matters. This truth points back to verse 12: “Have your conduct honorable among the Gentiles (the unbelievers), so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Live as One who Belongs to God

16 as free (that is, your submission is not oppressive), yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

In other words, don’t use your Christian freedom as a way to cover up evil. Don’t be like, “Well, I’m freely forgiven of all my sin, so I’m going to sin in my thoughts and in my heart and obey whatever laws I wish.” 

No, don’t use your liberty as a cloak for vice. Don’t use your freedom as a means to sin, but remember you are a slave to God. That’s what the phrase “bondservants of God” means. 

You are free, yet you’re not free. 

That is, you are free from the world, but you are a slave to God.  And when you are a slave to God, you are truly free. 

How? Because you want to be a slave to God.  You want the Lord to be your Master, don’t you?  You want what He wants.  You want to please Him.

This is a helpful reminder especially during political election seasons.  Christians belong to God, not to America. We live here and we are citizens here, but our ultimate allegiance is to God because we belong to Him.  We are His special people; a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.  We are His special possession; bondservants of God.

How do bondservants live?  How do slaves of the Lord live?  Summary statement in verse 17:

17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

“Honor all people.”

That is, treat every person with respect, including lost people.  Remember all humans bear the image of God. Treat your server at the restaurant with respect. Treat the young lady who checks your items at the grocery store with respect.  Treat with respect the man who knocks on your door to sell something. You don’t have to buy from him, but you should treat him with respect.  Treat with respect your elders whether you are walking behind them or driving your car behind them. And treat with respect those who hold political views different from your own. Honor all people.

“Love the brotherhood.”

That means, “Love your fellow Christian brother and sister.”  Love them.  Don’t avoid them. He or she is your brother and sister. Love the brotherhood.

“Fear God.” This is pretty straightforward, isn’t it?!

And finally, “Honor the king,” another reminder to treat with respect those who rule over us.

Live as one who submits to authority
Live as one whose witness matters
Live as one who belongs to God

This last action motivates everything else. Christians “belong to God.” We are “bondservants of God,” His special people who belong to Him.

We belong to Him because He has redeemed us. He has purchased us out of bondage to sin. He has set us free from the consequences of our sin and saved us from the penalty of death, hell, and the grave.

We belong to the One who set us free.

Here then is our greatest treasure: that we are treasured by Him

What About You?

  • Do you feel you are adequately submitting yourself to governmental authorities? Do you pray for them?
  • How may Christians address examples of injustice while also “submitting to every ordinance of man?”
  • Are you a “bondservant of God?” If you are unsure, read here about how to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

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