1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV)
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
November is always election season. During these times it is almost impossible to avoid the ads slamming the other candidate and promoting nothing of value about why we should vote for any of them. As a believer in a worldly system about democracy, we sometimes might struggle about our role since we are not of this world. Peter’s entire point, up to the above verse, was to make sure the believers of his day were understanding their role in the world. He has just told them they are different. He has just told them they are from a royal priesthood and a “holy” nation. That means they are NOT of THIS nation. We might rejoice in our freedom allowed by this country, but we are NOT of this country. That is why Peter can write the above passages about honoring the king, even as supreme. Peter recognized that the rulers of this world are only puppets in the hand of a Mighty God. Peter knew that this was not our world. But, Peter also knew that God works in an authority structure. He believed that the powers in government were put in place by God (remember, his time frame was a autocracy, not a democracy). When approaching an election season we are to remember that God is the one who is on the throne and He allows others to serve Him in positions of authority, weather they believe in Him or not. So, we are to honor those God’s gives power, weather we agree with them or not. God demands we honor those He chooses to put in places of power.
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