Show respect for
everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for
the king. (I Peter 2:17 NLT).
The
Bible is very clear that we are to fear God and respect those that God has
placed over us. This instruction is valid for leaders who we disagree with or
even find their views repugnant.
In
the next verse (v.
18), it speaks of servants being submissive and respectful to those
appointed over them whether they are good and gentle or unreasonable. We have politicians over us in this country
that are doing things that sometimes make us sorrowful and even angry. We must remember when Peter wrote this letter
there was great persecution going on much more significant than what is
happening today. In Acts
23: 1-5 the Apostle Paul is slapped across the face and treated very
unfairly. He responded to the harsh
treatment. After learning that the high priest had given the order, Paul
quickly expressed his regret for his reaction, quoting from Exodus 22: 28 which
says we are not to speak against those God has placed over us. It is not that what he said was wrong, but he
had said it in an impertinent fashion.
We should and must speak against unrighteousness, but we must always do
it in a respectful manner. In verse
21 of I Peter 2 Jesus tells us that he is our example, and in verse
23 that he never retaliated. If we
speak disrespectfully, even in righteous indignation, it only justifies to them
their bad behavior. Submissive hearts and lives are what pleases God and
ultimately wins people over.
For some of my dear Christian friends this
piece may be a bit troubling or even make you angry. Though I understand your anger, the Bible is
clear. We must respect those God has placed over us. President Obama is our president, and we
should show him deference as one who holds that office. Granted, for Christians, he makes that pretty
difficult sometimes. We can and should
disagree with him when it violates our consciences, but always in a civil
manner. We should speak out against his views but not his character.
I
am a Republican and by most definitions a conservative, but I am a Christian
first and then a conservative Republican.
Which leader we chose to respect should not be colored by party lines or
political ideology, but by the clear instruction of the Word of God. If God so
chooses to allow Donald Trump to be our next president, his tactics might
disturb some Christians. We sholud show
the same regard for a President Trump that we should have toward President
Obama. God is not a Republican or a Democrat. It needs to be "fair and balanced." Our submissive
lives may speak far more to our politicians than our angry words. When aggravated by some of the grievous
stances of those who rule over us, we should not let our emotions trump (no pun
intended) the Word of God. We must fear God, and honor the king.
Image used with permission by Microsoft.
Ken
Barnes the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/
Podcasts: http://kensblogpodcast.blogspot.com
