Honour Those in Power, But

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men -- as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (1 Peter 2:13-17)

 

As an evangelical Christian I find my self at odds with much of what goes on in secular government. I seriously disagree with the left wing of the Democratic Party which now controls both houses of Congress and the White House.

 

With that said, though I disagree with the party in power on issues like abortion, homosexual rights, taxes and many other things, still I am to be in submission to the established government, because it is established by God and the authority of the president and congress is from God.

 

In the verse quoted above Peter says that if I fear God I should “honour” President Obama. Our current president, like every president, has been established as president by God. I am to show him and his office the honour that it is owed, because of God. The same is true of Nancy Pelosi and all others who are in offices of power.

 

The Lord does not tell us to agree with all those in power say. Nor are we told to do all that they command. Peter who wrote the quote above also said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Peter said these words to the High Priest and the Sanhedrin when they repeated a command for them to stop preaching about Christ.

 

We are to honour those in power, but that does not mean that we are to do what ever we are told by them. If the powers that be command that we do things that God forbids or if we are told we can not do what God has commanded, then we must disobey. Even when we disobey and are brought before judges or kings we must still give them due honour even when we are persecuted for our obedience to God.

 

Later,

Kenith