The Gospel: How the Gospel Changes Our Relationship with Government

When our President was elected in 2016, the reaction to his election was one of the most divisive our country has ever experienced. Those who believed Hillary Clinton would win were shocked, many were saddened, and many were outspoken in their anger, and their rallying cry was, “Not my President.”  Now, I’ve been able to vote in 11 elections since turning 21 back in ‘76, and I’ve always seen the American public respect the office of the Presidency no matter which party held office.  But that all changed in 2016.  There were some who never accepted the results of that election and have resisted our President ever since.  And that’s sad too.  For now if you openly support our President, there are those in our culture who are bent on silencing you, slandering you or making you feel inferior for supporting a candidate they hate. And yet, this kind of behavior goes both ways.  It doesn’t take superior skills of observation to see how candidates for President, Senate, or the House of Representatives go out of their way to convince you to vote for them by trying to discredit their opposition.  Both parties have no problem using slander to tear down their opposition.  I was thinking the other day, that if I was an alien from another planet observing this election, I would be wondering how each party picked such horrible people to run for office.  Now, my hope is that the average person is able to wade through the muck and see what true about the candidates running for office.  But regardless of who you vote for on November 3^rd, here is the question I have about this election: No matter who wins, will our nation fall in line under the elected leadership, or will there be anger, rebellion and resistance from the side who doesn’t like the results?  Let me make this question a little more personal:  Will you fall in line under the elected leadership, or will you resist whoever is elected?

Which begs the question God’s Word tries to answer for us today:  How are we to relate to a government that is godly or ungodly, Democrat or Republican, just or unjust?  How are we to relate to the government we live under?

You see, as Christians, are we to be revolutionaries called to overthrow unjust governments and establish a theocracy?  Are we to be patriots, full of nationalistic pride who promote our government and political system as the answer to all of society’s ills?  Or should we be conscientious objectors, separating ourselves from worldly government altogether?  Or are we to be grumblers who constantly complain about all that’s wrong with government and resist it at every turn? How does God want us to relate to the government we live under?  Or let me ask this another way:  How does the Gospel change how we are to relate to earthly governments?   Well if you want to know what God has to say about how we are to relate to those in power over us, then let me encourage you to open your Bibles to 1 Peter 2:13-17.

Here’s the deal, if you call yourself a Christ follower, that means something this morning.  That means you are no longer calling the shots in your life.  That means you are now trusting in Christ to call the shots in your life – in every area of life – which includes how you relate to the governing authorities in your life.  So then, how are we to relate to those in power over us?

Well, let’s read what God led Peter to tell God’s people who were living under an unjust and ungodly government that hated Christians.  Peter gets very specific in commanding them to do something that seems totally counter intuitive.  He writes this: Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution: whether to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do right.  1 Peter 2:13-14

Now, the first thing we see here is that 1) God Wants us to willingly submit to every human institution!   Now before we unpack this, let me remind you of what we learned the last two weeks.  This command must be understood from the context in which it was written.  So what did we learn?  We learned two major truths:  The Church is the hope of the World and This World is not our home.  As much as we might try to fit in, we will never fit in. And one reason why we will never fit in is that We Don’t Belong to this World – we are aliens and strangers who are just passing through.  We don’t belong to this world because we belong to God, and heaven is our true home.  And another reason we won’t fit in is that We Are at War in this World – We are in a battle with our flesh (the sin nature within us) that wants you to try to fit in by indulging in every fleshly passion the world does.  But we learned that the goal of the flesh is to destroy our souls and give no place for God in our lives.  And a third reason why we’ll never fit in is that, We Are on Display in this World – God has left us here to put us on display in the world to show the world an alternative way of life – the way of grace and mercy, joy and peace.  And since we are just passing through one way we are to stand apart from the world is by our willingness to submit to the leadership structures in the world.  Even those human institutions that are unjust, ungodly and even hostile to Christians. That’s the context in which these first Christians received this command to submit to human authorities.

But, before we go any further, we need to unpack what it means to submit. The very idea of submission is an unpopular concept today.  No one likes the idea of having to submit to anyone.  We like the freedom to live our lives and make our own decisions. We don’t like the idea of anyone telling us what we can or cannot do. So when we think of submission, we equate it with the loss of freedom.  We may even go so far as to believe that to submit is wrong. So how can something that seems so “bad” be the very thing God wants us to do to show the world how we are different?

Well, it helps when you understand the concept of biblical submission. And to help us see this we need to understand the military use of the word for submit – which means to arrange yourself in military fashion under the commander.  Now, a soldier has no choice in submitting in this way.  He must submit to whoever is over him or face court martial.  It is his duty to submit.

Biblical submission is similar, but different.  Biblical submission also means ordering yourself under another’s authority, but you do so voluntarily. Biblical submission is the free act of the will where you willingly chose to take a lower position.  It is choosing to set aside your rights. And you choose to do this, not out of blind obedience to an ungodly power, but you choose to do this, because you choose to submit to your Lord.

This is the key to submission: we willingly submit to every human authority for the Lord’s sake. We submit to every human authority because we believe every human authority exists under Christ’s authority.  So then, when you are submitting to a human authority, you are actually submitting to Christ, who is the ultimate authority. And when you are not willing to submit to human authority – what are you telling Jesus?  You are telling Him that you don’t trust Him.

So then, this is the attitude that God wants us to have as a people who are just passing through:  We are to be a people who willingly submit to the authority of those over us, EVEN IF they are ungodly, unjust or evil.

But here’s the deal!  You cannot willingly submit in this way unless you have first learned to deny yourself.  For as long as you are still demanding your rights, you’ll refuse to set aside your rights. This is the tension between fear and faith.  Many of you fear that if you set aside your rights and submit to the governing authorities, you will be taken advantage of – or you may be party to allowing evil to have its way in our culture.  So what God’s Word is calling us to with this command is an act of faith – to trust that God is the ultimate authority.  Now I know, this seems so counter intuitive.  Doesn’t God want us to stand our ground and fight for what is right? Here’s where knowing the context of this command is helpful to us:

It wasn’t any easier for these first century Christians to submit.  No, if anything it was harder for them then it may ever be for us.  Who was the supreme authority over them?  Emperor Nero. Let me tell you a little about this man. He was evil as they come. He came to power in AD 54 at the age of 17. He was a maniac who had all kinds of problems.  He practiced rampant homosexuality, committed murder on numerous occasions, and his reign lasted only 14 years ending with his suicide at the age 31.  Yet it would be during his reign that Peter would be martyred outside Rome.  So when Peter wrote this command to submit to every human authority – this human authority was anti-Christian and overtly hostile to Christians.  And yet, this was the human institution these first century Christians were to voluntarily choose to submit to!

So here’s the thing: Nero’s personal unworthiness did not let these Christian’s off the hook.  As aliens and strangers in this world who are just passing through, they were to choose to submit.  AND WE ARE TO DO THE SAME TODAY. And let me add one more thing here, because Peter does as well.  One of the reasons those in the position of authority are there, is that they have put in place by God is for the common good of society.  Even if they don’t hold to your values.  Here’s what blows my mind. If I truly grasp what Peter is saying here, is that while we are in this world, we are to submit ourselves to all governing authorities from the top down.  There are no exceptions.  Peter’s command is comprehensive.  It does not matter if the governing authorities are good or bad.  It does not matter if you elected them or not.  Christians are to submit to governing authorities at every level.  Don’t forget: God is not surprised by their power, their ungodliness, or unjustness – He put them there.

So no matter what happens on November 3^rd, Christians are to willingly submit for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.  We are not to resist or rebel.  For God’s Word is clear, if we rebel, we are actually rebelling against the Lord.

Now, I know what many of you may be thinking:  What about civil disobedience?  Are we to just blindly obey a form of government that goes against what God’s Word teaches?  Great question!  Hold on to that question, and I’ll get to that, but first let’s look at the rest of the passage.  What does Peter write next?

He writes:  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 1 Peter 2:15  Here’s the second truth we need to remember as we are living here as temporary residents:  2) God Wants us to seek the good of the culture around us.  Rather than rebel against the authorities over us, God wants us to be an influence for  good within the culture we find ourselves in.  Again, we are to be the salt of the earth and light of the world, by seeking the welfare of the people around us.

That’s what this term “doing good” means. Doing good describes a generous posture toward others that shows itself in how we act toward them.  It means seeking the welfare of the people around us.  As God instructed the exiles in Babylon in Jeremiah’s day, we are to “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7

Let me say it another way:  “The light of Christ shines brightest in the darkness.”  And that’s what God wants us as His people to do in our culture.  Rather than rebel against ungodly government, we are do whatever good we can to bless the people around us. Again, let me remind you: You will have a hard time obeying this command until you first embrace the reality that this world is not our home.  We ARE just passing through.  So while we are passing through, God wants our lives to make a difference in the lives of those around us.  We are to be an influence for good in our culture. While we are here we are to live as peddlers of grace to those who need grace.  We are to show mercy to those who need mercy.  And the more do this: the more we help the helpless, feed the hungry, cloth the poor and love the unlovely, the more we silence those who are ignorant of God.

We are not to go toe to toe with those who oppose us, but to love them. Like Jesus said, “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you.  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Are you starting to see what it means to live an alternative way of life? God knows who He has put in charge over us.  It’s not our place to resist them, but to seek what is best for them.  That’s God’s will for us. Ultimately, we are His subjects. WE ARE EXILES HERE!  And subjects of the kingdom of heaven. And so Peter says, Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s servants. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:16-17

So even though God calls us to submit to every human institution, I love how Peter wraps this up.  Ultimately IT IS GOD WHOM WE SERVE!  So the last truth we see here is this: While we are exiles here, God Wants us to live as His Servants in this world

At the end of the day, as God’s chosen people, His royal priesthood, His Holy Nation, and His treasured possession, we are just passing through.  This world is not our home. But while we are here, we are to willingly submit to the governing authorities over us but remember it is God whom we are serving.  So then, yes, we are to live as free people, for God has set us free in Christ.  We are now free from the forces in this world who are trying to make us fit in.  We are free from the power of sin that seeks to derail us.  And we are now free to be who God has called us to be in this world: His servants,  who are free to do His will.

And that starts by showing proper respect for everyone.  God wants us to have an attitude toward all people in keeping with His own.  And what is that?  God sees every single person as someone who bears the image and likeness of God – as beings who have been damaged by sin, separated from life with God, but beings capable of being redeemed and made right with Him. Even the worst people you can imagine bear God’s image.  So we are to treat them with the dignity they deserve.  And when we do, we live as God’s servants in the world.

Secondly, we are to keep loving the family of believers.  This is our home while we are in the world.  God knows we need each other in order to seek the welfare of this world.  So, let’s keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of faith. Let’s keep encouraging one another, praying for one another, carrying one another’s burdens and loving one another.  God put us together to be His family on earth.  So when we are loving one another, we live as God’s servants in the world.

Thirdly, keep fearing God.  I love that Peter reminds us of this in this passage.  For our tendency is to take our eyes off God and began to fear man.  But, when our eyes are on Christ, draw near to God, worship God and grow in our knowledge of God and the more we will fear God, and man will have no power over us.

And finally, keep honoring the king.  For when we do that, when we honor those in authority over us, we honor God who put that person in the place of authority over us.

So there you have it:  God is calls us to an alternative way of life in our world.  A life that includes submitting to every human institution over us.  A life that includes seeking the good of the culture around us. A life that that calls us to live as His servants in this world. And when we live this way in our world, God can use us to change our world.

However, before we wrap up this passage today, I want to answer the one question that’s still be lingering, and that is this: What about civil disobedience?  Are we to just blindly obey a form of government that goes against what God’s Word teaches?

Well, that’s probably an entire message on its own.  But let me tie this into today’s passage: Since we are God’s servants, earthly authorities don’t have complete authority over us.  So yes, there may come a time when we will have to obey God rather than man.  We have such examples in Scripture from the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were living as exiles in Babylon.

We also have the example of Peter himself, who stood before the most powerful court his nation, and refused to obey them by keeping quiet about Jesus, saying, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard… We must obey God rather than men.”   Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:29

So in light of all we have learned this morning, Yes, God wants us to obey the earthly authorities over us, for He has put them in place for the common good. So when we obey them, we are obeying God.  And Yes, God wants us to seek the welfare of those around us.  But at the end of the day, IT IS GOD WHOM WE SERVE. AND IT IS GOD WE MUST OBEY.  So if it ever comes to the place where our government makes a law that goes against the clear teaching of Scripture, our marching orders are clear:  “We must obey God rather than men!”  For WE are to live as servants of God, NOT MAN.  But remember, The Church is the Hope of the World.  This world is not our home.  But while we are passing through, we are to seek the welfare of those around us.

Let’s pray.