Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God… “-1 Pet. 2:13-15
In this election “season” we often find ourselves even more frustrated with our government. For we hear the same rhetoric over and over again…and when I say the same…I’m 68 and believe me…there is nothing being said that hasn’t been promised before. But God has given us the government we have with a purpose according to Paul. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”(Rom. 13:1-7) Interesting word “subjection”…it is not the same as “submission”. Submission is a voluntary requirement by God, subjection is not voluntary but a certain call to obedience, “…for the Lord’s sake…”; with the exception, of course, of being required do anything contrary to God’s standards.
This means that all Christians are to be in subjection to those that God has put in authority over our lives: citizens to governments, employees to employers, and God’s people to church leaders… “For this is the will of God…”The Jews were taught as a matter of principle and religious observance not to obey any leader that did not come from the houses of Israel proper, but the Apostles, both Paul and Peter, are teaching the opposite, that God’s people must be in subjection to the government to their leaders, where we can be, no matter their lineage.
Today we can be tempted to think the Bible must be speaking about other, better, authorities than we have. But when the Holy Spirit gave these words to the Apostles Paul and Peter, their emperor was ungodly and cruel.
Our subjection is never because of another person’s deserving but “…Be subject for the Lord’s sake…” and for the blessings of all persons. Without human authorities there would be no societal control – and chaos would tend to keep the gospel from spreading through cultures as God intends.
We are free to seek change according to just means, but our goal is always to advance God’s kingdom in God’s ways. We offer our gifts, rights, and witness in service to others to build the Kingdom of God, as Jesus did.
We don’t like words like subjection and submission, for understandable reasons …because man is fallen so we can expect to be lied to and mistreated by our rulers, BUT the Scriptures say that we are to be in subjection “For the Lord’s sake…and that “…this is God’s will…” which certainly puts this subjection and submission in a new light. For we are called to glorify Him wherever we are and He reveals how we do that by revealing His will for us in every situation of life.
So today, look first to God as your ultimate authority and then seek to live in according with His revealed will one of which is that we must, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God… “
God Bless y’all today.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
