12. Pilgrimage to Paradise: The "S" Word

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Submission is one of those thorny aspects in Scripture that prompt, "But you don't know what I'm dealing with!" In 1 Peter 2:13-17 Peter addresses the issue of submission to authorities. He is writing to those who have been, and are being, persecuted for their faith and who may have wondered why Peter was asking them to respect and honour those who nursed hate in their hearts for all those who followed Jesus and who demanded that they recant or suffer the consequences. 

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether it be 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  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, honour the emperor." 

It seems incredible to me that Peter should write what he does. Of all people, he knows what it is like to be persecuted by religious and civil authorities. He knows what it is like to be imprisoned by the authorities to whom he is asking his fellow believers to submit. And he knows what it means to refuse to submit to those authorities. He is the one who said "we must obey God rather than human beings." (Acts 5:29)

Many in our society today believe that unless we as Christians think the same way they do, we are dangerous, prone to violent acts and attitudes against those with whom we may disagree. And, truth be told, there have been times when some of us who claim to be followers of Jesus have not acted toward others according to the spirit of Jesus. Peter's message in brief is this: Live out the golden rule and treat others as you would like them to treat you. (Matthew 7:12)  And when what God says and what man says are in conflict, God comes first. 

If we thought submission was hard, the teaching of Jesus and the words of Paul add an extra "burden" to what already seems difficult.

Matthew 5:44 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

1 Timothy 2:1 "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

Submit and pray? How?

In Colossians 3:1, 2, Paul wrote: "Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." This is to be the attitude of all of us as pilgrims passing through on our way to something better but desiring to leave something good behind us. But how does that factor in to how we practice submission to authorities who might not have the best interests of believers at heart? 

When it comes to praying for the authorities over us so often we do not think (or pray) beyond the person or the office they hold. We pray that God will rescue us. We pray that God will remove the person or persons who stand against Him. We may even pray that God will bring these people to repentance. But we haven't really set our minds on "things above." We have left them in a very earthly place. And where we focus makes all the difference to our ability to live before, to submit to, to pray for, those over us in a way that brings glory to God and silences "the ignorant talk of foolish people."

Two of the great prophets of the Old Testament help direct us to an important aspect of prayer for the authorities over us. Isaiah writes: "Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are as grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and the whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff." 

Daniel adds: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness. And light dwells with him." (Daniel 2:20-22)

Notice where the focus is.

Suddenly the powerful are put in their place. Our prayers, along with our fears and frustrations, our attitudes and actions, are tempered by setting our minds and hearts on God who is the supreme authority over all authority. We can pray for them, and submit in those areas which do not compromise His Word, with a right heart because we know that all other authorities—even the evil ones—are subject to Him.