Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 124th. Edition.
Dear Citizens of Heaven,
We mentioned that yesterday’s passage was a preamble to today’s (1 Peter 2:13-17). We were reminded that we do not belong here, so we ought to eschew worldly passions. But we do live in this world, so today we are encouraged to submit to its governing authorities.
The Reason for Submission (vv. 13,15,16). This passage and a similar one by Paul (Romans 13:1-7) is difficult, not because what it teaches is unclear, but because a lot of people simply cannot accept it. Many people feel that if they do not like the government, they are justified in their disregard of its laws. But the Christians of Peter’s day were facing persecution from the very authorities he was urging them to submit to. Tradition informs us that Peter himself was crucified by the same regime and Paul was beheaded.
Submit for God’s Sake (v. 13). We may not always understand God’s wisdom. It may look like foolishness to us but “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). Since God has said to submit, that should be our first order of business. Observation in History shows that lawless insurrections rarely yield a better government than the one they overthrow. A recent tragic example is the “Arab Spring.”
Submit to Silence Fools (vv. 15-16). Anyone who ignores or opposes God and persecutes his people can be comfortably labeled a fool. Concerning such foolishness, Jesus says to Saul of Tarsus, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5), which brings to mind the Kiswahili proverb, “He who punches the wall injures his hand.”Persecutors may in their foolishness expect believers to respond with vitriol and hate. When the outcome is good, they will be left speechless, because they do not know how to deal with a person who repays good for evil. As God’s servants, we are free, yet our freedom must be exercised for his glory.
Submit for the Sake of Society (v. 17). Lawful submission should encompass all people. It is godly to respect everyone, no matter one’s position or status in life. When we do so, we encourage stability in society. While some may argue otherwise, an oppressive regime that nonetheless enforces the rule of law is to be preferred to chaos, the most likely outcome of lawlessness.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.