Bible Text: 1 Peter 2:13-17 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: 1 Peter, Christian Witness in Society

Christians are to be submissive to the authority of the state:

-for the Lord’s sake (it honors Him, and was Jesus’ teaching, Matthew 22:15-21)

-because it is God’s will (His purpose for us, His desire, and is effective in “muzzling” critics

-because we are God’s servants (submission to lawful authority is not in conflict with Christian liberty)

How to respond to unjust government

-pray for it (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

-obey it, unless it commands us to do a wrong (Exodus 1; Daniel 3 & 6; Acts 4)

-preach and live out the gospel

-work lawfully to change it

-trust God and endure

“Now, as individual believers we can and should exercise our privilege as citizens in a democracy. Christian citizens have the opportunity to inform themselves on the issues, vote their conscience, run for office, and lobby for legislation. But the church, as the church, cannot allow itself to be co-opted by political action; and pastors and others who speak for the church cannot allow themselves to be distracted from the gospel by partisan engagements.”

Politics cannot offer permanent solutions because it is based on a flawed view of sin and society. One of its premises is that if you elect the ‘right’ representatives who will pass the ‘right’ legislation you will have the ‘right ‘society. But we know this is not true. Your don’t change society from the outside by legislation, you change it from the inside—one person at a time. …The only permanent solution is the gospel of Christ, which changes people from the inside out. Some Christians have lost this perspective.” (Edward G. Dobson in Christianity Today)

“…the real struggle today is not a political or cultural battle but spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). It is not stopping sinners from sinning through human law, but it is a transformation from inside out by the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not expecting the world to act in your favor but to stand firm for the cause of Christ no matter what the cost.” (author unknown)