Citizenship, Part II

Today we will start treading on some ground that may spark discussions; I hope that we will learn from our passage, and from each other, too!
We are talking today about what it means to submit to human government.... I believe that this means three things that we'll detail today.
First, it means obedience. The most basic meaning of the word "submit" is to obey. I believe from my studies that Christians must obey the laws of their government unless those laws force them to disobey God.  In our focus passage, the word translated "kings" I guess would apply to federal or national laws; I'm thinking that the word "governors" would be more local -- perhaps the state or province laws. Some examples? Well, we need to pay our taxes and to comply with the laws that we come in contact with each day (like traffic laws!).
Oy vey.
I have to admit that I sometimes have a lead foot. (Grin)
Anyway, on the issue of taxes, I would think this applies to our reporting our income properly and honestly. And honestly computing what we owe in tax, using the rules the government sets. As far as the traffic laws, I know some believers that take a very strict view and never (ever, never) exceed the posted speed limits. I sometimes am guilty of getting in the fast lane and justifying my speed by noting that the traffic around me is doing the same speed.....  but I guess if one is regularly receiving tickets, one must look carefully at changing habits and practices. (Grin)  After all, the highway patrol reads the same Bible we do, and they read where it says to go out into the highways and bring "them" in....
Even the little things are counted as obedience, and are actually a witness, too. How about our behavior in parking lots? Do we grimace or get mad when someone else nabs the spot we had our eye on? Are we sloppy in our parking, and take up a space and a half?  Do we park where we are not supposed to?  I read of a minister who was pressed for time and couldn't find a parking space. He parked in a no-parking zone (gasp!) and left a note on his car: "I have circled the block ten times, and I have an important appointment to keep. Forgive us our trespasses."  He was surprised to return to his car and find a ticket with a note attached: "I've circle this block for ten years. If I don't give you a ticket, I will lose my job. Lead us not into temptation."
Seriously, though, submission does mean obeying the law.

Submission also means showing respect. Ahhh, yes, I know that we can obey with an attitude. We have all seen a teenager who obeys a parent with a chip on their shoulder. They mutter, glare, slam doors, and more. But we are not told that obedience with a bad attitude is OK. Peter says we are to honor the "king."  But what is he is a rascal? What if the leader of our country is a scoundrel? Well, even if we can't respect the individual, we should respect the office. If a leader is immoral or corrupt, we still should respect the office that leader holds. I know, I know, that is NOT the way that my own country operates! In America, we make jokes about our leaders, talk about them incessantly, even portray them as folks with less than a brainful of gray matter. And some of the politicians really invite that satire and disrespect! Jesus even called Herod a fox, so I guess there is a line that we can be careful not to cross. Since God ordained governmental authority, we should be careful to exercise and promote respect for the authority of each office, even if we are not happy with the people who occupy those offices.

The third thing that submission to government means is to cultivate positive behavior and practice good deeds. Let me show you where I got this:

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. (I Peter 2:15)

Now, Peter is not talking about the government when he refers to "foolish" men.....he is pointing back at another verse just a few sentences back:

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (I Peter 2:12)

He is talking about unbelievers who slandered these scattered Christians, and talked about them as if they were evil-doers. The word translated "silence" there also carries the meaning "to muzzle." When we muzzle a dog, we take away his ability to bite. Peter is saying that if we are active in good deeds, we take away the ability of unbelievers to criticize us. They can oppose us all they want to, but if our lives speak of kindness, goodness, and patience, and we compassionately help others, their criticisms will ring false to anyone that hears them.

Here is what our old friend, Paul, said in Titus:

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. (Titus 3:1-2)

When we rely on the Holy Spirit, we can live like that; even in the middle of a sinful, wicked world, we can live that way -- and that is a powerful testimony!  But the flip side of the coin is this: when professing Christians disrespect authority, flout and disobey the laws, or withdraw to themselves and fail to do kind deeds of compassion and testimony, it leaves a horrible impression on unbelievers!

Let's look at another example; this one is from the Old Testament:

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:5-7)

Wowser!
Those are the words for God that Jeremiah was to speak to the people of Israel....they'd been sent into exile in Babylon, and isn't that like our situation as believers today? We are (as they were) strangers, aliens in a foreign land. We are looking for our heavenly home.

Those striking words in Jeremiah are good advice for us today! Build houses, live in them, plant gardens, raise our families, seek and pray for the welfare of the cities where we live. Buy property, work to improve our schools, help out in community projects, and be good citizens.

Submitting to the government means that we obey the laws, respect the authorities, and do good deeds in our communities.

More tomorrow! Stay tuned!