1 Peter 2:13-17
Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Oh, how we need these scripture verses nowadays! From every side, our government has become fair game for human target practice. Somehow, we tend to gloss over the Bible’s admonition to respect our leaders. We are not told to agree with them… but we are commanded to respect them. Yet all you have to do is scroll down the “Home” page on any social media outlet to see people disrespecting leaders on both sides of the political aisle. I’m not talking about statements of disagreement or disapproval… I’m talking about venomous, bigoted, spiteful comments that reek of disdain – if not outright hatred – for those who have been elected to office.
I will be the first to tell you that there are unscrupulous legislators, public officials, judges and government leaders at every level. But God calls us to treat them – and all people – with respect and decorum. To treat anyone with less than the utmost dignity belies the grace and mercy that was given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus died for those in public office, too! He died for your fellow church members and the other citizens in your city, state, country…and around the globe. If you think for one minute your salvation is exclusive in any way, you have totally missed Jesus’ message!
Today, I am thinking of several people in the public eye – and some “ordinary folk” as well – who claim to be Christians yet never miss an opportunity to say something unkind and distasteful about our government leaders. I have to wonder if they ever stop to consider what God thinks about this behavior. Do they ever read their Bible… and more importantly, do they truly hear what God is saying through passages like this one?
The time has come for us to wake up and realize that hiding behind God’s name and bashing others – for any reason – is disrespectful… and un-Christian! If you want to please God (and we all should want this!), you have to listen to what He is saying and do what He tells you – even if that means showing respect for elected officials and others you do not like. The only way to truly be free is to follow God’s rules and let Him have complete control. Are you fully exercising your freedoms today? Are you showing respect for God… and for others? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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