By David ReayMonday 31 Aug 2020LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 2 minutes
For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king. (NLT)
There are many who are very critical of our various authorities and institutions. Some of it is certainly justified. But let’s face it, who of us could do a whole lot better? One group of sinners is under the authority of another group of sinners! So why expect perfection?
Christians are to be model citizens. Even in the days of this text when authorities were not friendly to Christianity, those same authorities were to be respected. Not because those wielding authority were virtuous people who always did the right thing, but because of the principle of order and authority in itself. God doesn’t approve of every individual in authority or every act or policy of those authorities. But he wants us to live as part of an ordered society where we don’t just do our own thing.
Because we live in a society, we are not free to abuse our God given freedom. Our rights are not the only rights, no matter how strongly we feel about them. We have no right to do as we please because we live in community not on a desert island.
Christians are to be respectful. Not loud mouthed bullies who claim to infallibly speak for God. Not superior moralists who claim to have all the answers. Not bigots who loudly condemn certain sins while going easy on others. Not those who demand their own rights while denying others their own.
Loud assertiveness may have its occasional place, but quiet respect is our most effective witness.
Blessings
David