Pilgrims and Politics
Posted by SC LazarNov 7
In light of the recent election results I am reminded of how easy it is to have our loyalties, hopes, and ambitions tied to the princes and powers of this world. Peter’s exhortation in 1 Peter 2:9-17 reminds us that Christians are a people set apart by God’s mercy, for His service, called to live as strangers and pilgrims on this earth, animated by the hope, not of gaining political power, but of Christ’s “day of visitation.” And being conscientious of our calling as God’s people, we are commanded to love our fellow Christians, to do good to our neighbors, and yes, even to submit to the earthly kings over us, so that they too may one day praise God.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 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. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
~ 1 Peter 2:9-19
2 comments
Comment by Andy on November 12, 2012 at 12:51 am
While I was not happy with the results of the election, it is sure that many here were just devastated by the results. And we have to remember that, the fallen world is just expressing itself when this kind of thing happens. This is the story we get, when the world acts like the world. Our hope is in Jesus.
Comment by Mark Richmond on November 23, 2012 at 8:36 pm
“for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.” (I bring these verses up because I believe we have a government this cannot very easily say this about now)–It is interesting to read so many Christians refer to the election in rather fatalistic terms -(not saying you are doing so here-just an observation of the verses so frequently used to sort of say que-sara sara Jesus is coming back and its all going to hell anyway). While I certainly must see first and foremost by the heavenly calling and the eternal perpective of our Lord I do wonder how the revolutionaries during our revolution or the many who have overturned corrupt governments and therein allowed the greater proclamation of the gospel would or did see matters. I know the Christian community had a rather mixed record of bringing attention to the Holocaust. Certainly history is an active endeavor and as believers I personally believe we need a balanced approach but I have found in my personal experience how far removed Christians are from their own government and communities and that cannot be a good thing.