Following Christ No Matter Your Politics

Following Christ No Matter Your Politics

“Following Christ No Matter Your Politics”
(1 Peter 2:13-17)
Series: Strength Through Adversity (1Peter)

Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD

Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson

Take your Bibles and join me in 1 Peter, chapter 2 (page 815; YouVersion).

We’re going to be looking at verses 13 and following, but before we do, let’s recall the context here.  Peter has said that Christians are–in verse 9–a chosen generation, a holy nation and God’s own special people and possession.  He also says in verse 11 that Christians are “sojourners” and “pilgrims” in this world.  We talked about that last time.  Peter teaches, “This world is not your home.”

So that may raise a question or two that goes something like this, “Well, if Christians don’t really belong in this world and they are, rather, God’s holy nation and special people, then do Christians have any obligation to uphold the laws of the land or do they have any obligation to worldly leaders?”  And so Peter goes on to say, “Yes, they most certainly do.”  Listen for that as I read the text.

Stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

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 for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Pray.

Introduction:

Is it right to speak against the President of our country?  Or the Governor?  Or the local Mayor?  If so, what’s allowable “speaking out” and what is not?  Where does one draw the line?  Is it ever right to rebel against authority?

Someone says, “I wish more churches would preach on politics!” I’m not sure many would say that once they really looked at what the Bible has to say about politics

The message this morning is entitled, “Following Christ No Matter Your Politics.”  This passage has implications for Christian living under an authority structure with which they may disagree.  Whether it’s the government at large or local ordinances, this passage teaches Christians about how they follow Christ no matter their political identity.

Now I want you to notice something with me as your Bibles are open.  Peter is beginning a new section of material here.  We said last week that verses 11 and 12 were introductory verses to this new material.  And the new focus is on Christian living, living in a pagan world.

Last week we looked at following Christ in a hostile world.  You’ll remember from last time in verse 12 that Peter says Christians should live in such a way as their behavior points people to Christ.  He says live in such a way among others so that–last part of verse 12–so that, “by your good works which they observe, (they will) glorify God in the day of visitation.”  So if we asked Peter, “Tell us exactly what kind of “good works” you have in mind,” he would say, “Well, just keep reading my letter,” because in the verses that follow Peter elaborates on these “good works.”

From verse 13 and following Peter talks about how Christians should live in a world that is largely un-Christian.  And so he’s going to talk first about how to follow Christ no matter one’s politics.  In verses 13 and following he’s talking about submission to government.  Then you look at verses 18 and following and he talks about slaves submitting to their masters.  He talks about how to suffer when we are mistreated.  And then in chapter 3 he talks about the submission of wives to their husbands and how husbands are to live before their wives.

So Peter just jumps right into this matter of Christian living in a largely pagan world.  So let us jump in this morning to verses 13 and following as we talk about, “Following Christ No Matter Your Politics.”  First point right out gate, number one, write this down:

I. Live as One who Submits to Authority (13-14)

Look again at verse 13:

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.

So, “Therefore,” that is, “In light of the fact that I’ve just stressed the importance–in verse 12–of Christian living in such a way that points people to Christ, therefore, “In light of these ‘good works’ I have been saying Christians should perform, let me give you the first example of what I’m talking about.”

Therefore–verse 13–submit yourselves to every ordinance–every law–for the Lord’s sake.

That word “submit” there 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 submit “to every ordinance of man,” every law, every law whether he likes it or not, every ordinance whether we agree with it or not, or whether we voted for it or not.  He adds that this submission applies to the king as well as the governor.  We may say today that this teaching applies the president or other leaders of his administration as well as the governor of our commonwealth, the mayor of our city.

Now I know Christians in our society have a hard time hearing this because many of us are ready to add a qualifier here.  We want to know, “But what if that law or ordinance we are told to obey goes against our beliefs?”  Well, let me just stress again what the Bible says here, “Every ordinance of man.”  Just let that sink-in for a moment.  Every ordinance whether you agree with it or not, every ordinance no matter your politics.

The only time we are exempt from obeying every law is when that law personally commands us to sin.  That’s the only time we are exempt from obeying the governmental authorities or their laws, when such laws personally command us to sin.

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.  They did not.  They refused.  The Bible says in Exodus 1:17, “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.”

Daniel 3, Shadrach, Messiah, and Abednego, they are commanded to bow down and worship the golden image. Again, here’s an authoritative figure commanding personal sin.  Daniel’s three friends did not.  They refused.  They said, “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).”

Acts 5, the Apostles are commanded by an authoritative leader to stop teaching the Gospel.  They were threatened with imprisonment.  But the Apostles refused.  They said, “We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).”

So when authority figures command us personally to sin, we must obey God rather than men.  Now, how often does that really happen to you, where you are personally commanded by another to sin?  Be honest.

You may say, “Well, that last one in Acts comes pretty close.  My boss won’t allow me to talk to co-workers about Christ.”  Okay, but he’s not commanding you to sin?  He’s not telling you that you can never–under any circumstances–live out your Christian faith.  Right?  He’s not threatening to lock you up in prison.  He or she probably simply means that you have a job to do and you must understand the difference between working under his or her authority and knowing where the line is with regard to your co-workers and clients.

When you look at this teaching honestly, most of us would have to say that we are never commanded personally to sin.  We may say that we don’t like the politics of our leader or leaders, but that does not give us permission to rebel against that 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 in the marketplace of ideas, etc. but ultimately we must submit ourselves to every ordinance of man.

And I would remind you that he is writing this during the reign of the Emperor Nero, the one who would kill the Apostle Paul and–according to tradition–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.”  That phrase, “for the Lord’s sake” is a reminder that we live for the Lord and that God has set in place these structures of authority and so we honor Him when we submit to our leaders.

In a related passage, Romans 13, the Apostle Paul says, “the authorities that exist are appointed by God (Romans 13:1).”  In the mystery of why some rule and some don’t, Paul reminds us that no one rules apart from God’s sovereign superintendence.  He adds in Romans 13:2, “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God.”

God has set these governmental leaders over us because authority is a good thing.  Yes, it can be abused and we’ve covered that.  But see this principle here in verse 14 that these leaders serve two purposes: they “punish evildoers” and they “praise (or commend) those who do good.” So we submit to our leaders, “for the Lord’s sake.”

This may change the way a number of us live.  The reason we don’t speed should not be because we fear getting caught, but because we want to honor Christ by submitting to the law.  We do it for the Lord’s sake.  The reason we pay our taxes is not because we will be imprisoned if we don’t, but rather because we want to honor the Lord by our Christian living.  We obey, we submit, “for the Lord’s sake.”

Live as one who submits to authority.  What are some other ways?  Well, how often do we pray for our leaders?  Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority,”

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

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

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.  Rather, 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 who Submits to Authority.  Secondly:

II. Live as One whose Witness Matters (15)

Verse 15:

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–for “this is the will of God,”–but specifically, their “doing good” by submitting to their leaders also will, “put 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 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 whose witness matters.  Finally, number three:

Live as One who Belongs to God (16-17)

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, Christians are free from so much, free from the rigid legal expectations of the Old Testament, free from the dominating rule of sin, free from so much guilt and shame–and yet–Paul says don’t use this 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 of vice.  Don’t use your freedom as a means to sin, but remember you are a slave to God.

That’s what that 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.  Right?  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.  That’s the idea.

You belong to Him and so you want to live for Him.  Live as one who belongs to God.

This is a helpful reminder especially during political election seasons.  Christians belong to God, not to America.  We live here, 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 that all humans bear the image of God. Treat your waiter and waitress with respect.  Treat the girl who checks your items at the grocery store with respect.  Treat with respect the person 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.  Honor all people.

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

Fear God.  That’s straightforward, isn’t it?

And then, “Honor the king,” a reminder again to treat with respect those who rule over you.

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.”  Christians 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.  Christians are saved from the penalty of death, hell, and the grave.

This is our greatest possession–that we are possessed by Him.  We belong to Him.

Is that true for you?  Can you say without hesitation that God has saved you?  Do you know whether you are safe and secure because you know that what Christ did on the cross has been applied to you?

Stand for prayer.

 

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