1 Peter 2:13-17...every human institution, but it's really about keeping your conduct beautiful...

 

This is a good reminder.  The Lord has set for us definitions, roles, instructions and boundaries for His created institutions of marriage/family, governing authorities and His church.  Each one of these institutions can go awry when it veers from God's blueprint.  The message this Sunday was dealing with one of those God created institutions, the governing authorities as Paul mentions in Romans 13:1-7 and the human institutions as Peter mentions in 1 Peter 2:13-17.  This was a challenging message so the congregation received a booklet of my notes to keep us on point through the sermon.  

(P.S. - Do you see the field of sunflowers in the background of the picture?  It is amazing how they turn their faces to the sun.  Another good example for us a God's children to keep our faces toward His Son.)

One big point from the message (which was another pre-recorded session) were the two sides of the coin of God's given responsibilities to governing authorities.  They are "to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good" (1 Peter 2:14b, ESV).  This put the 1st century Gentile Christians who were being heavily persecuted in a tough spot.  Verse 12 of the same chapter says, "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" (1 Peter 2:12, ESV).  They were considered evildoers or those who were doing evil and also instructed by Peter to keep doing good deeds which is good.  So they were both on the punish and praise side of the coin.

The obvious question is, "What if the governing authorities have flip-flopped on their responsibilities?"  "What if the governing authorities are punishing those who do good and praising those who do evil?"  A good example of this would be Romans 1:32 (LSB), "...and although they know the righteous requirement of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."  The answer for the Christian is still the same, keep doing what is right in the sight of the Lord.  There may be actions that could be taken as a citizen of whatever country you reside in but those actions come under God's commands of how we are to respond as His children.

This leads into the second big point.  Peter's focus in on their conduct while they are being subjected to, arranging themselves voluntarily under, every human institution.  So many times we give back what we have received but that will not "silence the ignorance of foolish people" (1 Peter 2:15b, ESV).  If anything, it increases the "noise" in a negative way.  Do as Jesus said in Matthew 5:41 (LSB), "And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two."  The law of the land was for a Jewish citizen to carry the gear of a Roman soldier one mile and no farther.  The Roman soldier would have to find another to carry it another mile.  An unexpected response would be to carry the gear farther than required because you were following the orders of a higher authority.  "Who is this higher authority?" might be the question you get to answer.  

Christians, be challenged by what Peter is instructing these 1st century Gentile persecuted Christians.  Be challenged also to show honorable, excellent, and beautiful conduct within the household of faith.  The instruction we receive from the Lord on our conduct always starts with us.  Galatians 6:10 (LSB) says, "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Make those contacts today to any brother or sister in the faith to reaffirm your love for them as part of God's family.

Adam