Somebody’s Watching How We Respond To Authority
Living-Hope
1 Peter 2:12-23
We are in this section of our study of 1 Peter called, ‘Somebody’s Watching Us.’ The theme verse in 1 peter 2:12.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. – 1 Peter 2:12
MGCC – the unbelieving world is, has been and always will be, watching us. There is nothing we can do about it – it’s how things are.
AND SO – Peter says we must (seize it – use it – see it) as an opportunity to ‘live such good lives’ that they will SEE our good deeds and glorify God, giving their lives to Him.
UNDERSTAND – Peter is only restating what Jesus said in His inaugural address by the Sea of Galilee… we are the salt of the earth (the world needs the healing that we bring)… we are the light of the world (let our lights shine so that people will SEE our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.
BOTTOM LINE – the lives that you and I choose to live as Jesus followers is our greatest asset in evangelism.
As Francis of Assisi said,
“Preach the gospel and if necessary use words.”
LAST WEEK – we talked about how to world is watching us to see how we handle sin and temptation.
THIS MORNING – (as we continue in this study, ‘Somebody’s Watching Us)…
WE ARE - going to talk about a topic that is probably one of your all time favorites… Submission and respect for those who have authority over you…
Come on, don’t you just love those 2 words?
I MEAN – think about all of the movies, books and songs that have made these 2 words their theme. YEAH – I couldn’t think of any either…
BUT – on the other hand… when I turn my thoughts to rebellion and defiance (the antithesis of submission)… the list of songs, movies and books - fills up rather quickly.
2000 years ago Peter… grabbed a pen and paper and wrote both a God-breathed and a VERY practical letter… THAT - dealt with real issues…
ISSUES – that exiles on a mission for Christ in a world that is not their home are sure to face…
AND – do you know what? Respect and submission to those in authority is about as practical as you can get…
AND – make no mistake about it, the world is watching us and they see how we respond to authority.
QUESTION – why is submission to authority such an issue for us? Why is it so hard, so rare?
Let me suggest a few reasons why…
1. We are sons of Adam...
Understand the first couple were law breakers and ever since the fall (in Genesis 3) – the image of God in us has been tainted. WE - now have a natural tendency to rebel. Question – which is easier and more natural for you to: rebel or submit? (now for me rebellion is like floating downstream and submission is swimming upstream).
2. Pride – you see, everyone of us thinks that those who are in authority are dumb. AND - that if we were in charge… things would be so much better. Bottom line we don’t like people telling us what to do.
We rebel against authority because…
3. The American DNA – I mean, think about it we are a country that was born out of a rebellion… AND - if you don’t believe me, go ask the British. Yeah rebellion is part of the American DNA.
4. We are on the backside of the 60’s and 70’s – where the thing to do was to question all authority and to rebel against ‘the man’ whoever that was… THAT IS – until you grow and you become the man. Now, I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and it really was a time when people who broke the rules were the ones looked up to and admired.
To be honest, I really had a hard time with any authority back then…
5. We live in a culture where civil disobedience in praised and civil obedience is ignored. I mean when is the last time you saw a news story that said, “hey, here is Fred – he’s a great guy, he pays he taxes, works hard and loves his family…”
6. It is just assumed when you hit your teenage years that you will rebel against everything especially your parents. Just ask any teen who actually chooses to obey how much abuse and mockery they get. “you’re such a boy scout, a square…”
7. We are a selfish people… understand most of our rebellion is not about some great cause like MLK took up… INSTEAD - the majority most of our rebellion is all about us – and not having to do anything we don’t want to do.
We rebel against authority because…
8. We have seen authority abused…
• Your parents were harsh
• Your teachers unfair
• Your church was full of legalism and rules
• Your boss is a total jerk…
BUT LISTEN – despite all of these reason and any other ones that we could come up with… GOD – through Peter has something to say to each of us this morning…
Somebody’s watching us… and they are watching to see how we react to authority…
AND IF – they see respect and submission…
Our salt will be salty again.
Our light will shine
And we will be living such good lives
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin,?and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. – 1 Peter 2:13-23
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Prayer
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority
What Are We To Do? Submit
The term used here is a military term and it means to place yourself under the proper rank… If someone has a higher rank – then we submit.
AND REMEMBER - Peter was writing to a group of Christians who were suffering great injustice. There were facing persecution for their faith by the government, by their neighbors, at work..
AND LISTEN - when you’re on the receiving end of injustice, everything in you wants to retaliate, rebel, and make things right. So these first words of Peter would not be what the people want to hear. He says, Submit yourselves.
NOW - the verb "submit" is in the middle voice. Literally, it means "place yourself in submission."
YOU SEE - Biblical submission is placing yourself under someone’s authority by choice and with a happy spirit.
UNDERSTAND - Peter wants this submission to come from the heart. I MEAN - if we submit to someone because we have no choice, what credit is that to us?
BUT WHEN – that submission is our choice… it gives us our freedom back. Richard Foster says,
"Peter made decision makers
out of those who were forbidden to make decisions."
AND SO - submission comes from a willing Spirit.
Submit yourselves… to every authority instituted among men.
NOW Peter knows that this is a difficult command, so he gives us a couple of motivations…
Compelling Motivations
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men…
Why? #1… because
I. Submission Brings Honor To God
NOTICE – that Peter says that we are to submit… NOT - for the sake of the authority (your boss, the government…etc) or even for our own sake… but - for the Lord's sake
SO - when it’s difficult to submit, remember that you are really submitting to God (to what He wants, to who he has called you to be)… AND – in this submission you will bring honor to God.
YOU SEE - Christians are not to submit to the governmental authorities because they agree with their views, or because the leaders are likeable, or because the teacher is cool. Instead, “they submit for the Lord’s sake – which always brings honor to God.
OKAY…
IMAGINE - that you’re a parent who puts your toddler in their class before coming into church. AND - about 20 minutes into the service a volunteer comes and gets you and tells you that your child wouldn’t obey and stay in his or her seat, that your child was told to be quiet but they kept talking,
and was told to put a toy away and refused.
Q - what’s your response as a parent?
It’s embarrassment… Why? —your child represents you.
BUT - let’s say you go pick your child up after the service and the teacher says,
“Every time we asked your child to do something
they said, ‘Yes Sir and Yes Mam.’
your child picked up the toys without being asked.
And even help other children?
How would you respond?
WELL - after checking to make sure they were talking about the right child… you would be honored!
IN LIKE MANNER - when we have a submissive spirit to those in authority over us it honors God… it reflects well on Him….
AND – when we don’t have that spirit God is dishonored
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men…
(God is not going to make you do it, but He does expect you to do it….
II. Submission Enhances Our Testimony
For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men…
AGAIN – the people that Peter is writing to are being mistreated and abused. People are slandering them…
• They were accused of insurrection, of rebelling against Rome and human authority.
• They were accused of atheism. They didn’t worship Caesar or the many other Roman gods.
• They were accused of cannibalism. People had gotten the wrong idea about communion and had taken the statement of Jesus, “Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have not part of me,” literally.
• They falsely accused Christians of immorality and incest.
SO - there was all this hostility and injustice pouring down on them, …and of course the natural response is to be defensive – sue for slander – return the fire.
BUT - as far as Peter was concerned the only one way to answer these accusations was to live a godly life that was full of good deeds.
ONE – that demonstrated respect for those in authority.
QUESTION – if at your place of employment you are defiant and disrespectful to those over you. If you refuse to do the things they ask you to do in the way they asked you to do it…
IS YOUR TESTIMONY – enhanced or hindered?
UNDERSTAND – one of the most powerful testimony we can have as church is through submitting and doing what Philippians 2 says, treating others better than ourselves.
MGCC
Bringing honor to Christ and enhancing our testimony are 2 compelling motivations for
Submitting ourselves… to every authority instituted among men.
AND THEN PETER…
AFTER - laying out this difficult command and helping us understand why it’s so important,
GIVES - two ways this submission played out for his readers.
NOW - our culture is different from this one in the First Century A.D., BUT let’s look at how this applied to them and draw some parallels to the challenges we face of being submissive in 2014.
Practical Applications
First Peter 2:13-14 says,
“Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”
YOU SEE - part of being a good citizen of heaven is being a good citizen of earth.
UNDERSTAND - no matter what we think about our governmental leaders, our government is much easier to submit to than the one in Peter’s day.
According to the Roman Historian, Tacitus, rumors spread that Nero himself had ordered the burning of Rome so that he could blame the Christians.
LISTEN - to Tacitus describe Christians during this time:
Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burned… - Tacitus
BOTH - Peter and Paul would have been killed for their faith during this time.
There is one story of Nero which shows how evil he was. Halfway through his reign, Nero got the idea that he was a great chariot racer. So he built a track and raced all day. Soon he decided that he should race at night too, but electricity had not been invented yet. So Nero came up with a very sick plan. During the day he would get his soldiers to go into the city and find Christians. They would cover these Christians in pitch and tie them to poles around Nero’s track. As the sun set, these Christians were set on fire and became human torches.
OKAY IMAGINE – you are a member of the church Peter first wrote to. AND – you are gathering to hear these words for the first time. Words from Peter – it had to be exciting. AND – up to this point in the letter, you probably enjoyed what Peter has been saying…
• God the Father chose you
• God the Son died for you
• God the Spirit lives in you
And because of His great mercy
• you have been given new birth into a living hope
• An inheritance in heaven
• God’s power is protecting you (and because of that nothing can ultimately hurt you because nothing can hurt you ultimately)
• Troubles strengthen your faith
• Receiving the salvation of your souls
BUT – how do you think these new words went down?
I MEAN – imagine hearing them – after a loved one was murdered by Rome the week before ago…
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right… honor the king
YES - Nero was an evil cruel man…
BUT - Peter says for the Lord’s sake show respect for the position not necessarily the man.
UNDERSTAND – the idea of government & civil law is something that God thought up… IT – was and is – His idea.
MG – the unbelieving world was watching these Christians (just as they watch us) to see if they were a bunch of lawbreakers. SO Peter says
For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
TIM/LAURIE – the reasons we show respect for all authority is;
• For the sake of the Lord
• Is to minimize the stuff that Christ’s enemies can fire back at the church
• Is because it is God’s will that our lives be a witness for him… (that we’d be salt and light)
OKAY – let’s get specific…for a moment as we think about responding to authority with respect and submission...
Do we submit the government?
Peter told these believers to show respect for Rome & Nero…
Jesus-followers @ MGCC
Do we respect and obey the laws of government…?
Do we pay our taxes?
Do we obey unless that obedience causes us to disobey God (which btw is the only biblical exception)…
WHEN - Pharaoh told the Hebrew midwives to kill all new born boys, they refused. Daniel and his friends disregarded government orders when the king commanded them to stop praying to God or to worship idols.
In the book of Acts we even read that Peter himself doesn’t submit to the government. Peter was told he could no longer speak about Jesus; he was to no longer share his faith or try to convert people. And Peter says to the authorities in Acts 4:20: “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” And in chapter 5 he says, “We must obey God rather than man.” - Acts 5:29
Do we submit to our employer?
Do you do what he or she tells you do – when they tell you?
Or is there always some kind of fight or when they ask you to do something?
Do you show up early – stay late – and work hard while you are there?
Do you look for ways to serve your boss and make their job easier?
Do you talk well about them – or do you join with others in bashing and tearing them down?
(AND LISTEN – if your boss happens to be a believer, God says in 1 Timothy 6 that you should serve them even better and show them even more respect).
BOTTOM LINE…
Christians should be model employees that cause their employers to say, “hey are there any more people are there at The Grove looking for a job”
NOW – I can hear some of the little Adams in us begin to argue a little… “Hold on a minute I object, you have no idea what an idiot my boss is… there is no way I can respect or submit to them.”
AND - to that objection Peter (guided by the Spirit of Christ) writes;
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
Do we submit to those in authority at our school?
Your teachers… bus drivers… lunch workers… administrators… IF YOU SAY – you want to win your school for Christ…
THEN – God’s word to you as you is start being respectful to everyone; “yes sir, yes mam, can I help…”
AND - your light will shine and your salt will be salty again!…
STUDENTS – what an opportunity you have 180 days each year to reflect the beauty of your savior… to this lost, dark, broken and hurting world….
Do we submit to our parents?
DO YOU – do what you are told, when you are told without: a fight, an attitude or the stomping of your feet, slamming of the door and the rolling of your eyes?
UNDERSTAND – if you claim to really be on fire Christ, but are rebellious at home you are doing the Gospel and the Christ a serious disservice. I don’t get it – you say you want your mom, your dad or step parent to change – to come to church, to follow Christ… BUT - your attitude is not helping one bit.
NOW – a quick word before we move or hear… to parents… Paul in Ephesians talks about children obeying their parents… BUT – he also says this…
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord… - Eph 6:4
THE WORD EXASPERATE IS A TRANSLATION OF A GREEK WORD THAT MEANS "TO MAKE ANGRY"...
AND THE WORD EXASPERATE IS A GOOD TRANSLATION BECAUSE IT MEANS "TO EXCITE OR ENFLAME TO ANGER", "TO CAUSE IRRITATION OR ANNOYANCE"...
AND PARENTS ARE NOT TO DO THIS...
QUESTION - WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT PARENTS PROVOKE THEIR CHILDREN TO ANGER:
• BY BEING HARSH, UNFORGIVING, UNFAIR AND MEAN SPIRITED
• BY NOT LISTENING
• BY NOT SPENDING "REAL" TIME WITH THEM
• BY USING SHAME AND RIDICULE TO GET OUR CHILDREN TO OBEY
• BY BEING UNWILLING TO ADMIT MISTAKES,
• BY NEVER SAYING "I'M SORRY"
• BY BEING AN UNYIELDING, UNBENDING, UNREASONABLE DICTATOR
• BY BEING INCONSISTENT IN OUR LIFESTYLE… "DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO" PHILOSOPHY.......
• BY PLACING UNATTAINABLE EXPECTATIONS ON OUR CHILD
• BY ALWAYS SAYING NO TO EVERYTHING...
• BY NOT LETTING THEM GROW UP
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men…
SO…
• Should children submit to their parents – yes
• Should workers submit to their employers – yes
• Should players submit to their coaches – yes
• Should citizens submit to their government – yes
• Should Christians submit to their church leaders – yes
• Should members of organizations – submit to the leadership of those organizations… yes.
Why? For the Lord’s sake
Why? Because we are the salt of the earth
and the light of the world.
A Powerful Example
CHECK OUT - 1 Peter 2:21-23:
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
CIRCLE – the word example
UNDERSTAND - Jesus leaves for us the ultimate example when it comes to submission to authority.
As a child He submitted to His parents.
Though God and sinless He submitted to the Law
AND – I think they that Jesus chose to change the world with His life really speaks to what we need to do to change ours.
UNDERSTAND – Jesus could have come as a King.
IN FACT - there was a time in John 6 where the people want to make Him King.
AND - there was a political movement called the “Zealots” and they wanted Jesus to overthrow the oppressive government. BUT Jesus refused—He understood a real important truth that government and politics are limited.
That the hope and change this world needs will never come from the Roman Senate or Washington DC.
NOW… do not misunderstand me.
Politics is an honorable profession, and we need great people involved in it, but the Son of God chose a different way to make a difference. He came to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
BECAUSE - He knew that the only way to change the world was NOT through rebellion or governmental legislation…
BUT – through inner transformation.
MGCC – Jesus is our example
He didn’t want to go through the Crucifixion, but He submitted to the will of His father. His trial was illegal. He suffered unjustly, and He had done nothing wrong, yet He did not retaliate. He could have—He was the Son of God. In Matthew 26 He says that, if he wanted, he could summon 12 legion of angels – that’s 72 thousand – to come to His defense and yet He says nothing.
And Peter says, Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.
If he could submit, you can too.
NOW – the word translated
“example” means something written underneath.
HEY – do you remember those homework sheets with dotted letters from school… where you learn to write by tracing over the letter…
HEY - good job—that looks just like the letter ‘J’
The word “example” here is that same picture…
Jesus lived a life that has provided dots for us to trace over as we live ours…
And, who knows, when we do that someone might look at our lives and say, “That looks just like Jesus.”
Beth Moore says, “Keep looking into the mirror, until you no longer see yourself, but all that you see is Christ.”
