The Counter-Cultural Call of Christianity
A Biblical Response to Government • Sermon • Submitted
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Being holy when times are horrible
Being holy when times are horrible
Introduction:
Today I would like to have a family discussion to help us think through how we are to respond to some of the events going on in our nation and communities.
There are different opinions and several debates about how Christians should respond to government, the mask mandate, riots, protests, and which lives matter.
If people are compliant, it is assumed that they are afraid. Why is that? A lot of assumptions are being made.... and people in our communities are struggling with how to respond. Even Christians, who claim to believe that the Bible is true, are really struggling to think and respond biblically.
So what do we do?!?! —> Let’s do what all Christians should do… and turn to the Scriptures for a better understanding of what God’s Word says and be challenged by the Word and apply it to our lives. That biblical truth and application are going to help us know how we (as Christians) should respond to the events going on right now in our lives.
My main challenge today is that we understand that as Christians… as born again believers.... Biblical Christianity is not just something we give lip service to… it is a lifestyle that we live and as part of that lifestyle... Biblical truth must impact every decision we make… and every response that we give.
In the busy-ness and distractions of our lives… many well meaning Christians are falling into the trap of not thinking biblically about issues.
—> As your pastor, I am unapologetically and boldly committed to the Word of God. I am going to always challenge each and every one of you to think biblically, respond biblically, and live a biblical lifestyle to the glory of God. <—
Now, I want to ask you to please commit to listening to the entire message today before you respond, react or make up your mind. Some things may be said that you might not have heard before… or that you might want to disagree with... —> please listen to all of what the Scripture has to say before you decide how you are going to respond.
And I ask you to please take what you hear today… and be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 and search the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so.
If you don’t walk away with anything else today.... walk away with this..... If we are to live a lifestyle that truly honors the Lord… then as Christians… we are to think biblically, responding biblically, and live biblically… patterning every area of our lives and modeling all of our conduct after Jesus.
We are going to be looking at a passage of Scripture today found in 1 Peter chapter 2. Please open your bibles with me to 1 Peter as we begin our study today.
Scattered abroad, displaced, fearful of future persecution, unsure of how they would respond when suffering came....
These are all phrases that might describe the mindset of Christians living under the Roman Empire around 64 AD, when Nero was Emperor. As Peter pens the letter we call 1st Peter, He is writing to a group of Christians that are dispersed throughout the empire.
Because of the absence of any references to believers being killed for the faith, it is very likely that the letter was written before Nero’s persecution began (before the great fire that burned Rome in the summer of 64 A.D).
So, Peter writes this letter to Christians who are spread out throughout the Roman Empire.... warning them about the persecution and suffering that will soon come. Peter’s desire is to help the Believers be prepared to respond in a godly way… when hard times come.
Before the persecution begins.... Peter challenges the believers to already know how they will glorify God in their situation by being holy when times are horrible.
Peter’s encouragements and command in this passage are based on the example of Christ, while at the same time being counter-cultural at their core. As we look at the text today, we are going to see that the call to true biblical Christianity… is a counter-cultural call.
As we study through the text today, we are going to organize our thoughts in 3 categories. First we’ll look at the Author’s (Peter’s) intent. Then we will look at the instruction given. Lastly, we’ll consider the pattern we are to follow.
Those are the 3 points in our outline today (for those who are taking notes).
In Friday’s email I encouraged everyone to read through 1 Peter chapters 1-3. I hope that you were able to do that and meditate on the Word before coming today.
I wish we could just read the whole letter today together. For the sake of time we can’t. So, I would encourage you, if you were not able to read through 1 Peter yesterday or this morning. Please take 20 minutes or so, and read through it this afternoon.
Let’s read a few verses together from chapters 1 and 2 and point out the Author’s Intent.
I. The Author’s Intent (1:13-19, 2:11-12)
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Peter is calling believers to live a holy lifestyle (with “fear” which means a deep and reverential sense of accountability to God or Christ) as exiles who have bought from the slave market of sin by the blood of Christ.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Verses 11 and 12 summarize Peter’s general call to good works… Godly Conduct.
Let me point out a few things about verse 12 to help give us a more clear understanding of Peter’s call to Godly conduct/ Holy lifestyle
The word translated as “honorable” in verse 12 is a word that expresses the most lovely kind of visible goodness. (Excellent, beautiful of outward form, lovely, fine, winsome, gracious, fair to look at, noble).
The word translated as “Gentiles” in verse 12, is the word that gives us our word “ethnic”. A more accurate translation could be “nations” or “people groups”.
Peter’s intention in writing, at least this portion of this letter, is to call believers to live a holy lifestyle , visually illustrated through a lifestyle of Godly conduct (which is the highest, most attractive, most lovely kind of visible excellence possible) .... even when suffering and persecution comes.... even when times are horrible.
For what purpose? Look at verse 12 again.
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
So that, when unbelievers in your community (nations) try to come against you (say you are rebellious, seditious, against or not having the interests of the community in mind)… when they come against you (not if!, but when!) they(unbelievers in your community) will see your holy lifestyle (gospel attractiveness).... which will point them to Jesus, giving them the opportunity to be able to glorify God.
Evangelism and Salvation are assumed in the text. Peter is calling all Christians everywhere to live a Holy Lifestyle at all times among all peoples so that when they see our godly lifestyle and hear our gospel witness… they will be convicted of sin… repent… and be saved!
As an encouragement that goes along with this call to live a holy lifestyle, throughout Peter’s letter he reminds these believers of what their identity is in Christ. If you were to read through 1 Peter, just listing the different ways that Christians are described… the beginning of your list would look something like this:
True Christians are: Living stones, rejected by men, chosen by God, precious, a spiritual house (community), a holy priesthood offering spiritual offerings to God that are acceptable to Christ, those who believe in Him are not put to shame, chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, His own possession, called out of darkness into His marvelous light, we are God’s people, we are those who have received mercy, we are sojourners and exiles.....
To put it in modern day terms.... We are citizens of heaven deployed on a gospel mission, living in a pagan land… for God’s glory until Christ calls us home.
Peter challenges us to remember those truths...... in happy times… and in horrible times.
Keep in mind, this is all being written by a man who would soon suffer under Nero’s persecution and eventually be put to death for his faith.... by the very Emperor he is calling Christians to honor.
So, Peter’s intention in writing this portion of the letter is to remind the believers about their identity in Christ… and how we are to respond when hard times come. Peter wants the believers to be prepared to respond biblically to suffering.... to horrible times....
Peter expects these believers to live a holy lifestyle that will honor the Lord… and lead others to repent and believe!
A holy lifestyle visualized through godly conduct is one of the best apologetics for the gospel.
With that in mind, let’s move on to the instruction given in chapter 2.
II. The Instruction Given (2:13-18)
When you read this passage you really need to read chapter 2 and 3 together. 1 Peter 2:13 through 3:7 are part of the same thought.
Peter’s intentions here are very specific. Peter does not give us a broad general truth here, he instructs the believer about what a holy lifestyle/ godly conduct looks like in very specific areas (Government, the work place, and Marriage). (by the way these are the main 3 areas in which people are generally mistreated the most)
In our discussion today, we are only going to be able to touch on the sphere of government. How a Christian is to respond to Government.
As we read the text, we are going to see that as Christians we are commanded to live these good works… this holy lifestyle even when our civil rulers are less than deserving of our submission.
Let’s look at verses 13-18 together and listen to Peter’s instructions for the believer
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.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
The main content of Peter’s instruction from 2:13 through 3:7 can be summarized in 1 word… Submission.
When Peter writes about a holy lifestyle, honorable conduct, good works… the command he uses in all three spheres of life (government, work, and marriage) is to submit.
The phrase “be subject” used in 2:13, 8 and 3:1 is a military term that that means “to cause to be in a submissive relationship or to arrange in formation under the commander”.
God’s Word is telling us that in order to live a holy lifestyle.... we are commanded to submit to those in authority.
a. Commanded to Submit (2:13-14)
For people today… this is about as counter-cultural as you can get. Peter is telling the Christian community that submission to authority is a very important part of the good and honorable work.. the holy lifestyle that we are to pursue.
Lets look at verses 13-14 again.
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.
Scripture teaches that submission to authorities is right because God appoints them. Turn with me to Romans 13. About 10 years before Peter’s letter, Paul expressed this truth in Romans 13:1-4.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
Paul is pretty bold and pretty clear in his instruction.... everyone is to submit to governing authorities… because they are appointed by God. They are God’s servants… when we resist we are in fact resisting God.
That is a hard pill to swallow! But, it has been preserved in God’s inspired Word and according to John 17:17, God’s Word is Truth!
This is not just a New Testament concept, Jeremiah wrote to God’s people who were living in exile in Jeremiah 29 and instructed them to seek the welfare, the enduring peace, of the city. They weren’t to rebel against the government, they were to live a holy lifestyle in the eyes of their pagan rulers.
Peter and Paul both lived under the oppressive and openly sinful Roman government. If you search the Scriptures you will not find any example where either apostle teaches that believers should or are free to defy civil authorities.
— what about when the government does something we think or believe is wrong? That happens. There are legal channels provided for us in our constitution and government structure where those issues can be peacefully and respectfully brought to light and even protested. — Use those channels!
Throughout history, there have been many acts of civil disobedience, revolutions, and subversive attempts to overthrow governments — many in the name of Christianity. I have not found anywhere in Scripture that approves of those actions.
The exact opposite is what the Bible teaches.... submit to civil authorities, regardless if they are good or unjust (1 Peter 2:18).
All forms of government (democracy or dictatorship) are filled with evil because they are led by fallen and flawed sinners. And as much as we might not like to admit it, according to Scripture, civil authority is from God… even though the men and women sitting in the seats of power may be godless.
Sounds pretty rough! We need to keep in mind that our confidence and hope has never rested in our government… as believers our only hope and confidence rests in the Lord… who sovereignly holds time and creation in His hands.
If you are a student of Scripture you might say… ‘hey, what about Acts 5 where the famous phrase “we must obey God rather than men” is recorded?’ That is a great question… I’m glad you asked.
Let’s take a minute or two and answer that question. Turn with me to Acts 5.
Verses 17-42 tell us of a time when the apostles were arrested for preaching the gospel. Look at verse 17
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.
Now, who put the apostles in prison? Out of jealousy, the high priest… the religious rulers. Not the civil authorities.
In verse 19 we are told that in the night an angel came , opened the prison doors and told the apostles to go and preach the gospel in the temple.
In verse 21 we are told that in the morning the high priest came… and were gathering together the council and the public senate of the people of Israel.... (still not the civil authorities… these are jewish religious authority groups)
They go to get the apostles… they are not there. Then someone says… Hey, I saw them in the temple preaching!
Look at verse 26 - 29
Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
So, this is the only place in the New Testament that I have found where there is even a slight example where Scripture does not condemn the disobeying of a ruling authority.
In this context, it is not against the civil government.... it is against the Jewish religious leadership who are imposing a restriction they have no right to.... simply because they are jealous and afraid of losing their power and influence… and the context is that the apostles were being told not to preach the gospel.
Understanding that the book of Acts describes a transitional time in the history of the world where the church was born and this OT/ NT transition was taking place, and that what is recorded in the book of Acts is prescriptive but descriptive, meaning that we cannot and should not base our doctrinal non negotiables solely on what is recorded in the book of Acts.
Some Christians have drawn a principle from Acts 5 that if any authority (civil or religious) is commanding that believers do something that will prevent them from preaching the gospel, then that will open the doors for the allowance of civil disobedience.
That may be true. But, if we are biblical in our thinking and consistent in our obedience to Scripture, those situations would have to meet very specific requirements.
For example: Jesus commanded us to “Make Disciples of all nations” in Matthew 28. That is a direct command from the lips of Jesus. If the US government or some form of religious leadership were able to impose a law making it illegal for bible believing Christians to preach the gospel and make disciples… then we would come to an Acts 5 moment.
When the government comes and commands us to bow down and worship idols or false gods… or tells us that it is illegal to pray or read the Bible… then let’s talk about civil disobedience. Remember the example of Daniel and his friends. They rightly opposed the authorities and willingly bore the consequences for the stand they took.
As hard of a pill as it might be to swallow, if we are to live the holy lifestyle of a born again believer, we are commanded in God’s Word to submit to those in authority.
As we obey God’s Word… and submit to those in authority.... Peter provides a reason for our submission.
b. Reason for Submission (2:13, 15-18)
We are not to submit to authorities because they deserve it. Most of the time they don’t! We are not to submit because we want to… or because it is comfortable.... most of the time we don’t want to … and it is not very comfortable.
We are to submit, for the Lord’s sake.
Look back at verse 13 again.
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
and then look down at verse 15
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.
Why do we submit? Not because it is easy.... not because we want to… not because the authorities are worthy of our submission...
No, we submit for the Lord’s sake, because it is God’s will for our lives.
Living a holy lifestyle, which includes submission to authorities, will silence those who will come against us… those who oppose the gospel message we are commanded to spread.
In other words, submission to authority is one of the strongest and loudest positive advertisements and apologetics for the gospel that there is.
There are many who view Christians as people who are never up to any good. When the unbelieving world log onto Facebook, Instagram, pick up a newspaper or scan the tabloid headlines in the grocery store check out and sees a “Christian leader” acting badly, the world assumes that all Christians are just like them.
Our goodness… our holy lifestyle will be our greatest apologetic for the gospel. Godly conduct silences false accusations… and gives us a platform to proclaim the truth of the gospel message.
One author brought out this interesting insight about Peter: It is interesting that Peter of all people is commanding the believers to submit to authorities. This was a lesson that probably took Peter a long time to learn and a lot of surrendering to practice. Remember that Peter was the one in the garden of Gethsemane who brought a sword to their prayer meeting.... he thought it was time for action and cut someones ear off when they tried to arrest Jesus.
Look at Peter now. After years of spiritual growth and maturing… Peter is basically saying to us… “I’ve put my sword away. God has given a sword to the state, but except for the Word of God, “the sword of the Spirit”, the church is to keep hers sheathed.” For Peter, preaching God’s inspired Word was enough. It cuts to the bone and marrow of the harshest in authority. Peter has learned his lesson. He is now free to submit. That is why he is able to write in verse 16… (Hughes)
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.
What a beautiful truth! We are free in Christ! ... and that freedom is for serving!
So far today, we have discussed the the Author’s Intent… we have evaluated the Instruction given.... now let’s consider the Pattern that we are to follow.
III. The Pattern to Follow (2:19-25)
Something we need to clarify before we finish today is that Peter is not calling Christians to a life of blind obedience. Peter is not suggesting that submitting to government is our foundation as Christians.
Peter is presenting a principle, with the authoritative force of a command, that submission is a foundational part of the Christian’s actions and lifestyle because “being like Jesus our Savior” describes our goal as Christians.
Look with me at verses 19-25 as Peter presents us with the pattern of Christ.
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The central aspect of this whole section of Peter’s letter (chapters 2-3) is centered around the meekness and submissiveness of the Lord Jesus Christ (21-25).
Verse 21 stands as a key verse in our understanding of Christ’s example… and what He has called all born again believers to...
Look at verse 21 again
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
You have been called by Christ.... and He has left us and example… so that we might follow in his foot steps.
The word translated as “example” in our text expresses the understanding of a pattern. Kind of like the carbon copy paper some of us used to use.
In Peter’s day, in when children were taught how to write, they would be given a board with letters written on it. They would then lay a sheet of some kind of paper/ cloth on top of the board and they would trace the letters. That is what this word is communicating. It means “writing under”.
Peter tells us that Christ has left us a pattern that we are to follow… that we are to base our lifestyles on and model our lifestyles after…
Verse 21 continues to tell us that when we follow the pattern of Christ with our lives… then we will be literally following in his footprints or tracks.
The context of Peter’s letter is one of unjust suffering and persecution… which often are also the paths that Believers are to follow if they are to truly live a holy lifestyle patterned after Jesus.
Jesus is the One we are to imitate… and Peter places Him right in the center of the conversation about submission. Peter calls us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
This is why Christian men and women voluntarily and with glad hearts are to submit to others.
We are following in our Saviors footsteps.
The born again believer operates out of love for the Christ. Ultimately, Christians willingly submit themselves to people in authority because we want our lives to be patterned after the life of Christ.... giving glory to the Lord.
We could continue to talk about different ways that Christ endured unjust suffering and how we are to follow His example when we are presented with difficulties and hardships. Just remember this… As Christians, we are to live a holy lifestyle… even when life is horrible.
As believers, we are not to just blindly obey.... no, we need to have our antenna’s up, evaluating our situation… making sure that we are thinking biblically at every step.
As we evaluate how to respond to each situation (whether it is a mask mandate, a vaccination, traffic laws, fire code, or any other government given regulation) we need to make sure that our response is thought through biblically, and done in obedience to the Word of God motivated by our love for the Christ.
As we respond biblically… modeling what godly conduct looks like.... God will give us opportunities to proclaim the gospel and the people will be saved!
Conclusion/ Application:
How are you responding to life right now? I am challenging you today to make sure you are basing your response on Scripture… submitting to the Lord and to His Word.
Don’t cut yourself off from the God ordained lifeline of the local church body because of an inconvenience or an uncomfortable situation.
You don’t have to agree with the situations of life… you don’t even have to like how things are playing out… but as Christians we are called to live holy lifestyles… illustrated through our godly conduct… in obedience to the Word of God.
Main Idea: Patterning our lifestyles after Christ glorifies God and points others to Him.
Truths to Apply
Responding Biblically is not easy… but it is godly.
Responding Biblically is not always comfortable…. but our submission will point others to Christ
Responding Biblically is not convenient and will require sacrifice…. but glorifying God and leading others to Him is worth the sacrifice.
All of this is really dependent on the heart attitude of a person.
Is your intention to submit… or to subvert?
Are you striving to live your life.... and I mean in every area of your live as a holy lifestyle.... illustrated by godly conduct?
Do we all do this perfectly? Absolutely not! I know I don’t. I’m fallen and flawed sinner just like all fo you. Am I 100% consistent in everything that I do? No! Unfortunately. Sometimes it seems like I have to daily ask for forgiveness.
But, in all my faults and inconsistencies.... the one thing that I strive the hardest at.... is making sure that my heart attitude towards the Lord is one of obedience to His Word and submission to Him as Lord.
If that means wearing a silly mask, then so be it. If it means standing on one foot while I wash my hands and sing the ABC’s… then so be it. You know why?
Because the Scriptures say that it is the will of God that I submit to those He has place in authority over me… and through my submission… opportunity will be given to proclaim the gospel… and people will be saved!
Guys, that is why we are here! That is our commission… it is our job! Christ hasn’t left us here to simply play church! Being a cultural Christian doesn’t cut it!
Christ has appointed us to live in such a time as this to be a light to the world… and to proclaim the message of the Gospel to all of those living in and around Alliance, NE Ohio… and to the ends of the Earth!
The core issue is a matter of the heart. Are you truly striving to live a holy lifestyle?
Is Christ worth your inconvenience?
Is obedience to the Lord, who shed his blood for you… paid the penalty for your sin… so that you could be reconciled to God… and be enabled to glorify God.... worth the sacrifice?
As the musicians come, I want to ask you to think about this as we prepare to sing....
In the end this whole discussion can be wrapped up in one question…
Is Christ worthy of your obedience?
If he is, then you will surrender to think biblically live a lifestyle of submission to the Word of God.
As we sing a song for reflection, please ask God to make these words true in your life…
Jesus, you are worthy..... and because you are worthy, Lord, I will submit to you as Lord… and strive to live my life patterned after you.... in obedience and submission to Your Word. Help me Lord… to think biblically about how I am going to respond… and help me to respond to any circumstance that you bring into my life… in obedience to Your Word.
Please stand with me (if you are able) and in reflection to the Word of God, sing with me... “Is He Worthy?”