We pick up this week, where we left off last week in Peter’s first letter. This week Peter gets down to business and begins to instruct his readers how to live in a world governed by Roman emperors and governors.

Imagine living under Roman rule and you are a servant or slave, a situation that was as likely as not for the original readers of this letter. In fact nearly all of Peter’s original audience for this letter gathered in what would be called home churches now to hear the scriptures, the gospels, and the teachings of the apostles read to them - because they could not read and did not possess copies of these documents. You have no vote, and no prospects to be anything other than what you are. Even the citizens and masters of the day had no real legitimate say in government.

It’s important to understand this if we are to hear this advice correctly. Modern people especially in the west, are used to an unprecedented amount of personal autonomy. No one wants to be told what to do, especially by government, particularly if it is not the government they personally voted for. This autonomy has gotten so overblown today that it has become a problem in its own right for the Church. Because we have forgotten what it means to have a “Lord”.

The original readers of this text, on the other hand, lived everyday under the rule of many lords. What Peter was trying to help them with was obeying the Lord Jesus while not dishonoring the various earthly lords they were beholden to. So let’s get into today’s text…

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,

For the Lord’s sake…

The key to understanding this whole passage is in these four words. Everything that Peter is going to ask them to do flows directly from their relationship with, and obedience to, the Lord. Leading an honorable life on earth brings glory to God. As I watch current events it feels like it has been a long time since most people have given any serious thought to living honorably. We are to be subject to earthly authorities in honor of the Lord.

Getting back to Peter’s audience, who are the earthly authorities Peter was referring to? The names are surprising especially when you connect obedience to these people to honoring the Lord as Peter does. The emperor at this time was very likely none other than Nero, let that soak in. Paul in the thirteenth chapter of his letter to the Romans makes similar comments about the Neronian government - this is the same Nero that would some day murder him.

Both Peter and Paul were under no illusions about either the integrity, or even the sanity, of Nero. Nevertheless they also knew that human government was established by God for a reason, it was established for our good and His honor. The fact that evil men corrupt every human institution does not give us license to disregard its importance. Our governments have always been and still are corrupted by sin, like everything else humans touch. Yet without them things would actually be far worse, because the same human corruption in society without the restraint of government would very quickly lead to chaos and violence.

Silence the ignorance of foolish people

Moving on there is another reason given for living honorably as citizens of earthly governments.

“By doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people”.

Well in the age of the internet, social and corporate media manipulation, and globalism there is certainly no shortage of ignorance or foolishness. Doing good however, is still the godly answer, not picking a side and blindly joining the fray. What’s more, for this to work it can’t be just hiding in your house and thinking good thoughts either, it needs to be living and doing good in such a way that it silences the madness of the unbelieving and rebellious world. Politics is politics it never really changes, at its heart it is driven and corrupted by a lust for power and control. Sin in other words. People have a keen eye for sin in others but for some reason a difficult time seeing it in themselves.

Doing good begins with recognizing our own sins and confessing them to God and turning around and going the other way. Repentance to use word rarely heard anymore. By the grace that God has given us in Christ we can be instruments of good in God’s hands, but not because we are good but because God is good and in spite of our past sin He is still willing to work through us.

Live in freedom

So we must remember our true king, our eternal king Jesus has set us free. We are free from the slavery of sin and we are free to do good. So we must use our freedom for good. In the U.S. these days there is a lot of talk about freedom, but so much of this so called desire for freedom is nothing more than a desire to do as we please. While few would say it this bluntly the desire is too often for a freedom to sin, not the true freedom from evil that allows us to live to God’s glory and do good to others.

Peter tells us to “live as people who are free”, but knowing the condition of the human heart he quickly adds,

“not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God”.

Peter knew that we only have two choices, to be servants of God and find true freedom, or we can be slaves of sin with all the pain that follows. We hate sin in others but far more often than we are willing to admit, we want to have it both ways for ourselves. We want the blessing of God and the autonomy of sin. This week let’s not kid ourselves, self-righteously calling out the self-righteousness in others and showing contempt for those who hold offices in the governments that God has established for our good. But instead, let’s take the opportunity that the grace of God affords and do good to others showing the proper honor to everyone we meet.

So, “for the Lords sake…”, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (or President, or PM, or Governor, or whatever)

Have a great week!