1 Peter 2:13-17, CEB – For the sake of the Lord submit to every human institution. Do this whether it means submitting to the emperor as supreme ruler, or to governors as those sent by the emperor. They are sent to punish those doing evil and to praise those doing good. Submit to them because it’s God’s will that by doing good you will silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Do this as God’s slaves, and yet also as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Have respectful fear of God. Honor the emperor.
Just to remind you, the above words were written to subjects of the Roman Empire, an Empire that was often persecuting them for having faith in Jesus. Peter, who the Catholic church reveres as the first Pope, is telling them to submit to the very empire that has caused them no small amount of suffering. Most of this has come at the hands of their neighbors, who have recognized that these Christians are different. The Christians don’t join in pagan rituals and they rebuff social norms of cruelty to women and slaves. The Christians behave so differently, it makes their neighbors uncomfortable. Uncomfortable neighbors often have the habit of trying to make things difficult for their “weird” neighbors by accusing them of wrongdoing to the authorities. The natural reaction to that kind of treatment is defensiveness and anger. Peter is trying to instruct his readers to resist that impulse of defensiveness and anger, less they play right into the hands of their accusing neighbors.
The counsel is to make nice with their neighbors and the authorities so that, in the end, the Christians will be vindicated by their peaceful response instead of rebellion. This important context because this passage has been used to support passivity in response to immoral and evil actions of governments. That is not what Peter is condoning here, for we know that Peter has no problems with disobeying governments when they act corruptly. In Acts 5:29, Peter, when responding to authorities who are confronting him with explicitly disobeying their orders, says, ““It’s necessary to obey God rather than men.” Here in 1 Peter, Peter actually points out that we follow governments when they carry out their intended function which is to “punish those doing evil and to praise those doing good.”
Is Peter a fan of Nero, the current Roman emperor? No. In fact, it is most likely under a Nero-inspired persecution that Peter is martyred just a couple of years after he wrote this letter. But Peter is asking for voluntary submission from followers of Christ. The voluntary part is important. Christians are to use their freedom of choice for ends higher than their own. We live for each other and for the benefit of those around us whether they think we’re odd or not. We honor people whenever possible even when we’d rather not. We choose to do good when our neighbors actions would naturally cause us to do evil instead. We practice the power of submission.
It should be acknowledged that submission often does not feel powerful. It is also perceived by others as weakness or even cowardice. But over time, it changes hearts. People who once ridiculed people of faith have become people of faith because of how honorably their targets acted in the face of their jests. I have atheist friends whose acidic comments toward Christianity have softened over the years because they have Christian friends who genuinely love and respect them and who give them honor whenever possible. In short, our behavior, especially in the face of adversity, can be the best argument for the Gospel that others ever “hear.” This is the power of submission.
Questions: Have you ever gotten a surprise “honor” from someone you never expected? What affect did that have on you? How could you do that for someone else who might be equally surprised by your kindness?
Prayer: We confess to you Lord, that we often chafe at submitting to authorities over us, especially those whose policies we philosophically disagree. Help us see the power of submitting to them and to our neighbors anyway. Help us to see how we can respect and honor those who don’t do the same for us so that in the end, the One who gets the honor and glory is You. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray for governmental leaders today that you would rather not pray for.
Song: Take My Life and Let Them Be – Brian Doerksen
Weekday Word w/ Eric 
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