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. (I Peter 2:13-15 ESV)
Subject
Yes, the Romans had great roads, but the civil government was corrupt, violent, and selfish. Yes, the Romans unified Europe for a time, but the empire oppressed minorities, silenced disagreement with a sword, and never let anyone leave. Yes, the Romans provided a peace of sorts, but the Emperors and their minions tortured and executed legions of Christians.
I would not have enjoyed living in the Roman Empire. Unless I had been the Emperor…
But Peter reminds those living under Rome, that they are subject to Roman authority. Unlike Paul, Peter does not point out that God is the puppet-master of nations, but instead Peter tells us that obedience to our government, even oppressive governments, is an opportunity for witness by submission.
Sometimes we Americans think our government is oppressive (compared to Rome it was not.) Sometimes we Americans think we live in danger (compared to Roman Christians, we do not.) Sometimes we Americans think our government hates Christians (compared to most of the emperors, they do not.)
But whether Rome was worse than Washington, or vice versa, does not really matter. We have a chance to display Christ favorably to our co-citizens. Peter does not require us to be doormats, to blithely watch our fought-for rights disappear, or to obey unrighteous commands. But he does tell us to remember that we are subject… for evangelistic reasons.
Peter did not have the opportunities we do for peaceful, constitutional, legal overthrow of any present government. We can vote, he could not. And Peter’s words do not prohibit that.
But he puts things in a different light. Even living under oppressive governments provides opportunity to display a righteousness of obedience. Even living with a threat of persecution provides an opportunity to point people to the provider of freedom. Even living with a million reasons to fear provides an opportunity to embrace and be embraced by the solution to all fear: Jesus, the real king.
We are peculiar, we can suffer as subjects for Jesus’ sake.