HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD CONDUCT
THEMSELVES AS CITIZENS (PART 2)
1Peter 2:11-17
Portions of this message were taken from the book, "Why Government Can't Save You", by John MacArthur
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Preached on a Sunday Service (Feb. 11, 2001)
by Bro. Jurem Ramos
at the Soli Deo Gloria Church, Juna Subd., Matina, Davao City
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1Pe 2:11 to 17 is about how we as believers are to live as God's people in a pagan world, particularly under a pagan civil authority. Peter begins by reminding them of their position. As aliens and strangers on earth, whose citizenship is in heaven, they are to be separated from the corruption of the world, not yielding to its destructive sinful desires. Instead, Christians are to "live such good lives among the pagans".
The purposes of the godly life of Christians are twofold. (1) As the pagans take careful notice of our good works, they will not slander us, their criticism will be silenced, and (2) In the future they might even be saved when God's gracious visitation of salvation comes to them. The lesson is this: How a believer reacts to the world's violence, to the world's injustice, to the world's persecution, is a definite key as to how the world will react to the Christian's message. It is the will of God that by means of good deeds, good words, good thoughts, good attitudes, in any circumstance, you will silence the ignorance of foolish men. That is the foundation of our witness...the character of our lives.
In 1Pe 2 11-17 we are looking at two categories by which Christians are to be defined in the world. Verses 11 and 12 tell us we are aliens. Verses 13 to 17 tell us we are citizens. We've already studied our being aliens in the world. We are strangers in this world. We live above the world. We belong to a different dimension of life. We are not part of the world, though we are in the world. In order to balance that, Peter introduces us to the subject of our citizenship on earth, in verse 13. You see, if we think we are aliens and that's all we are, then we will not feel subject to any of the laws of this world, we'll feel we're above and we might even be hostile to the world or live any way we want. Not so. Yes we are aliens, yes we are not of the world but we are in the world and though we are aliens to the world we must live as citizens in the world. And so beginning in verse 13 Peter begins to describe to us important aspects of our citizenship here on earth.
I. The Command
First of all, you remember the command in verse 13..."submit yourselves." A very general spiritual principle for all social structures designed by God, submit yourselves.
Parallel passages:
· Ro 13:1-- Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities...
· Tit 3:1-Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient....
· Mt 22:21-"Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
II. The Motive
We saw secondly, the motive. Why are we, Christians, to submit to civil authorities? V. 13, "For the Lord's sake." Because of the Lord. For the Lord's sake we submit so that we do not bring reproach upon Him, so that we do not scandalize His holy name. Our motive is that we want to do what honors God. We don't want to be known as those who are disobedient to civil authorities. No, we don't do that because that would bring reproach on Christ.
III. The Extent (v.13)
The question that's always asked is this: "Okay, we're supposed to submit, but to what extent?" Verse 13, "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men". He could have said "to most human institutions," or "to the majority", or "to all but a few that you don't think are sensible." He just said, "every authority instituted among men." Now what does he mean by this? Basically what it means is that every institution of man on earth which seeks to maintain order in society. To every one of them we are to submit.
Who is included in "every authority". Further in v. 13 we read, "Whether to a king as the supreme authority, or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." That means leadership at any level. The king was the one in supreme authority, and this means any king. These authorities include Nero or Herod. Today, it includes Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo. The authorities also include the king's cabinet, the senators, congressmen, the mayors, councilors, judges, and even police. Specifically, the police are the modern "governors who are sent by king to punish." These are the authorities in our country that are least respected.
We are to submit to every one of them, even if some of them are inept and corrupt, because all of these authorities are established by God. Clearly Paul says in Ro13: 1: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."
Clarification
Is that the only way Christians are to relate to government? Some have the idea that to be citizens of heaven means to be like "yes people" here on earth, passive and be like unthinking robots following blindly what authorities tell us, however wrong their actions are. But that is not so. In Scriptures we find several ways believers responded to civil authorities.
1. We have learned that in some cases believers respond in Biblical civil disobedience. This was the response of the believers when they were commanded by the civil authorities to do what God clearly commanded believers should not do, or not to do what God clearly said believers should do. Like Daniel and his three friends when they rejected the food offered to idols; like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused to bow and worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image; like Daniel who continued to pray to God when there was a decree from the king not to do so; like the apostles in Acts 4&5. In Act 4:29 we read this prayer.
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
2. We also learned that in case we are not being forced to disobey a direct command of the Lord, we respond by using the weapons of war that have divine power to demolish strongholds (2Co 10:3-5). We saw how the apostles used prayer and the preaching of the word. We saw the examples also of George Whitefield and John Wesley using those divine weapons.
3. Another response is to flee, or escape. Mt 2:13-An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
4. Here is a more positive way of relating to pagan government. This is implied in the words of Christ when He said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." He was giving more than one-time advice. He was stating the principle of righteousness. In a democratic form of government, like ours in this country, this means to pay what the government demands, not just in taxes, but also in participation.
Now I am sure you want a more concrete examples for that. People have approached me and they wanted more clarification. I hope I can give it to you now in a more satisfactory manner. Again allow me to read to you what I read to you before from MacArthur in his book, "Why Government Can't Save You." He wrote
"My point is not that Christians should remain totally uninvolved in politics or civic activities and causes. They ought to express their political beliefs in the voting booth. [e.g. this coming May elections.] And it is all right occasionally to support legitimate measures designed to correct a glaring social or political wrong. Complete non-involvement would be contrary to what God's Word says about doing good in society. Furthermore, such pious apathy toward government and politics would reveal a lack of appreciation for the many appropriate legal remedies believers in democracies have for maintaining or improving the civil order.
For example, believers who are in government already, belonging to an opposition party, may of course, accuse the President after he has collected evidences. For example, if Senator Guingona were a Christian, can he not do what he did in his privilege speech, when he accused the former president? Minus disrespectful and abusive words, he may. The impeachment is allowed in our political system, and believers in government may avail of it. And believers may support it.
I also believe that it is all right for Christians, in order to uphold justice and righteousness, to testify. For example, if the bank officials were Christians, should they have testified against the former president, if they witnessed that he wrote Jose Velarde, instead of Joseph Estrada? Yes, because their action upholds justice, and it is the way they help in the process. Their action is constitutional, it is not out of personal vengeance that they do it, but for the sake of righteousness and justice. Christians should support it. Some Christians, when they are called upon to testify do not do so, not because they are conscious that they are citizens of heaven and want to keep the peace. The real reason is because they are afraid. They are afraid for their life. They are afraid of the criticism they may receive. If they really believed that they are citizens of heaven, they should not have been afraid because they have God on their side.
There are of course illegal and unconstitutional remedies.
· There is rebellion. It connotes organized, armed resistance to established government.
· There is an insurrection, it is a rebellion in its early or initial stage.
· There is a riot, an outbreak of lawlessness or disorder on the part of a crowd.
· There is sedition, the stirring up, plotting, or inciting of such rebellious agitation as tends to treason.
· There is a coup d' etat, which is a sudden overthrow of government by force. These remedies are not allowed by Scriptures.
(Pro 24:21: "Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious" )
As for joining all kinds of rallies or demonstrations, are Christians not allowed to join in any of them? What about the EDSA Part 2? This is what I have observed. Political analysts are cautious in their comments regarding it. There is still some debate as to its true merit. According to several lawyers I have heard on TV and one I have talked to personally, no one wants to use it as a precedent for a constitutional process. They hope that that will be the last one. They would not want to have another EDSA People Power Part 3. They would never put that in the constitution as a viable alternative to oust a president who becomes corrupt. Many political analysts in western democratic countries are also wary of that approach. They consider People Power as a euphemism to Mob rule. The safest assessment I have heard about it is this: History will be its final arbiter.
In case, you are a believer and you want to join a demonstration, I believe here are very important guidelines:
1. Do not participate as a local church.
2. Ministers of the gospel should not participate. Their priorities are spiritual. (Ac 6:4-We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. 1Ti 4:13--Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.)
3. Individual members may join, if they are strongly convinced by a pure conscience and the Word of God.
4. You make sure it is a peaceful demonstration, it is legal and allowed by the constitution.
5. Even if it is legitimate, it should be done is such a manner that maintains respect for authorities. When the police say, "Hanggang dito lang kayo and hanggang sa oras na ito lang, people must submit. When their permit to assemble is revoked they are to follow. They are also to leave the place of their assembly in an orderly and clean manner. You don't vandalize or leave the place in a mess.
6. From whom have you gotten your opinion? Who influenced you to join? Biased media, entertainers. Have you done your own research?
7. Check your motives for joining. Is it because it is going to be a party or entertainers, or no classes, no work, your friends all there, you are going to have a good time. What are my motives when I address this issue or person? Is it out of bitterness? Do you want to get even with another person? Is it because you are really protecting some personal interests? Am I afraid of something? Who is the object of my action? Me? A Group? Upholding justice? Glory of God?
8. Do you have a better alternative? Don't just be negative.
After going through all those legitimate and constitutional means, and the government does not heed your complaint. For example, after a peaceful demonstration after the 11 senators voted not to open the envelope, and they proceeded with the impeachment trial finally clearing the president of all accusations, what do you do?
Submit yourselves! It is our God-ordained duty to submit to the powers and the authorities. You say, "but we want change!" That's right but that's not your problem. God is still on the throne. He knows what He's doing. He is still in charge. For the sake of the testimony of Jesus Christ and your witness, abide by the law. If you really want change, then take out your spiritual weapons, not fleshly ones, and fight with the proclamation of the Word of God and with prayer.
Paul certainly lived in a day when kings and authorities were bad and injustices were common when he wrote Romans 13. Peter certainly lived in a similar situation when he wrote 1 Peter. But not withstanding all of that reality in human life, the focus of Scripture is to be subject to the powers that be because they are ordained of God. And you must allow God to be sovereign because He is ruling as He chooses. If we are to be persecuted and if we are to be incarcerated, it must be because we have been preachers of righteousness, not defiers of the law.
IV. The Reason (v.15)
So the command is clear. The motive is clear. The extent is clear. How about the reason? Why does God want us to behave this way? Verse 15: "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men."
Why should we do this? "For it is God's will." People say, "Oh, I wish I knew the will of God." Here it is. What does God want from me, what is the will of God? The will of God is that you obey, submitting yourself for the Lord's sake to every human institution. That's the will of God. The will of God is that you submit. Why? "that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men."
The word "silence" is to muzzle, to restrain. It is a strong word, which means to stop the mouth so there's nothing to say. The word "ignorance" in the Greek means more than just a lack of knowledge. The word here means willful, hostile rejection of the truth. It's a stronger term. These people who criticize Christianity do so not just because of lack of knowledge. It's willful hostility. It's a settled incapacity for judging rightly. Furthermore, they're not only ignorant, they're foolish, that means senseless, without reason, of reckless thinking, willful rejecters of the truth. And they're going to attack and attack and attack and attack the gospel.
How do we silence them? By good citizenship, noble character, impeccable conduct, virtuous life, it will silence the mindless ignorantly motivated critics of the Lord and of the faith.
V. The Attitude (v.16)
So, the command, the motive, the extent, the reason... number five, the attitude (v.16). "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants to God."
Look at that first statement... "Live as free men." Christians are free from the world, they are not earthbound, they are free from Satan, they're free in Christ. That's what he's saying: you're free, you've been freed by redemption. 1:19, Christians were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. I'm free. And we could add more Bible passages that talk about that. We're free in Christ, free from sin, free from Satan, free from condemnation, free from the world.
"But", Peter says, "do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil." In other words, Christian freedom is never to be used to cover up for evil or as a license for violating the law of God. And don't put on some mask that says...Well, we're free in Christ, we're of another dimension, we're going to live apart from the law of man, we're above the law of man, we'll live anyway we want." That is merely a mask of freedom covering your evil. If you were truly free in Christ, you would conform to God's Word because it says your freedom should be used as a servant of God.
Some Christians might think, "I'm not a citizen of this world. I don't have to pay my taxes. I'm a heavenly person. I don't care what the law of the land says about trespassing. Perhaps, every time you see a trespass sign, it irritates you. Your reason is this: "that's not yours that's God's and all that's God's is mine. I don't have to submit to civil law. I'm above all that. I'm free. I can squat anywhere I want." No you can't. Yes you're free in one sense. You're free to be a servant of God. You're free to serve God. You're free to be the servant of Christ.
Our freedom is not to do what's wrong, our freedom is for doing what's right. Our citizenship in heaven, our freedom in Christ, our belonging to the Kingdom of God does not allow us to abuse the standards God has established for us on earth. That kind of license is only a covering for evil. A rebellious person is always claiming freedom in Christ, using that to cover his desire for sin. We have freedom, to be the servants of Christ.
VII. The Application (v.17)
The last point. Peter gave us the command, the motive, the extent, the reason, the attitude for our conduct as Christian citizens and he closes with the application. He sums it all up in verse 17, "Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." There's your citizenship theology. Four dimensions of life. Here they are.
A. Show proper respect to everyone. Everyone means everyone. All men have the image of God in them. All men must be given due respect. During the NT times, there were slaves in the Roman Empire. People saw them as non-persons with no rights. And what Peter is saying is "You Christians should never have that attitude; you don't treat anybody that way, whatever color or race he or she may belong to Show proper respect to everyone, every kind of person. Every person deserves honor and respect, whether high or low; everybody is worthy to be honored as created in the image of God.
Now there are different levels of honor for different levels of social structure but all men are to be respected. And, as Christians, we ought to be leading to show proper respect to all men to the level of honor that they deserve. That doesn't mean we agree with everything they do. That doesn't mean we like everything they do. That doesn't mean that we have respect for everything they do. But as Christians we want to show that we have a proper respect for that person as the creation of God. (Jas 3:9-"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and curse. My brothers this should not be."
B. Second application, love the brotherhood of believers. Those are the Christians. That may look difficult but we have to obey. Someone said: "Oh to love the saints in heaven, that's glory! To love the saints on earth, that's a different story!" But the Lord says, love the brotherhood.
1Jn 3:11, 14-15 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another... 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
C. Third principle, fear God. When you fear God you say, "God, I revere and honor you enough so that I am going to do what You said is right even though I don't understand what's going on. I am going to leave it to You to fix it up in Your perfect time" God designed your role as a citizen in the world and you better fear Him enough to understand the repercussions of your disobedience and leave the solutions with Him.
D. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God and finally, honor the king. We're right back to where we started back in verse 13...honor the king. That's back to the issue. Show respect for whoever the ruling reigning authority is, including those in lower ranks, but in authority over us. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. That's the application of the principles of citizenship. You can call that "evangelistic citizenship." May God help us to be that kind of citizen.
