1 Peter 2:11-19 “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, (12) having your conduct honourable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (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) Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (18) Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. (19) For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.”
Another role that the church plays in the nations where God has placed them, is to set the example in society as to how citizens should conduct themselves in obeying those who govern. In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Peter admonishes the church to live godly lifestyles in the societies that God has placed them in, and he specifically links that concept to Christians submitting themselves to the ordinances of their governments for the Lord’s sake. But I also want to draw your attention to the fact that immediately after admonishing the church to submit to the ordinances of their governments, that the Holy Spirit then goes on to admonish the saints to be submissive to their employers as well. In His admonishment to the saints in being submissive to their employers however, He speaks about being submissive not only to the good but also to the harsh. And so clearly in this passage the Holy Spirit is implying that this same principle should be followed in submitting to governments, i.e. that the saints should submit, not only to good governments but also to those that are harsh. The reason the saints are admonished to do so is because of conscience toward God, for it is relatively easy to obey good laws but it becomes that much harder to obey laws that are harsh. Nevertheless because God is the one who has put the authorities in place that is exactly what we are counselled to do.
Michael E.B. Maher
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