Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits. Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
-1 Peter 2:11-17 (CSB)
We are in an election cycle that promises to be as passionate and vitriolic as any in recent history. Some might argue that America is in perpetual election mode. With the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, every indication is that passion and tempers will be at a fever pitch.
How should Christians behave? Peter offers sage advice. As he wrote to first-century Christians, the despotic emperor Nero ruled the empire. History has rightly identified him as one of the most egocentric, cruel, and immoral rulers ever to sit on a throne. He had his half-brother, mother, and wife murdered. He had Christians burned as human candles to light his garden. Legend holds that he fiddled while Rome burned. It would be under Nero that the apostles Paul and Peter would be executed. Ultimately, Nero was forced to commit suicide before he was arrested. That was the sitting government when Peter offered counsel to Christians on how to conduct themselves.
Peter reminds Christians that we do not ultimately belong to this world. We are “strangers” and “exiles.” Our home is heaven. Our allegiance is to the kingdom of God. Sure, we can be patriotic to our nation and seek its good. But our ultimate loyalty is to God’s kingdom and rule. Christians should take greater delight when God’s kingdom expands than when our candidate wins an election. We should have far greater joy when we lead our neighbors to faith in Christ than when we convince them to vote for our political party. Christians should take an eternal view, not merely a four-year perspective.
Peter also cautions Christians to abstain from sinful desires that wage war on our soul. Such desires can become intense during elections. Christians may be tempted to ridicule, mock, belittle, and even lie about others out of political passion. It’s fine to engage in politics, but not if doing so causes us to act in an ungodly manner.
Peter urges Christians to treat people honorably. The “Gentiles” represented worldly, pagan unbelievers. Peter cared far more about how our behavior affects unbelievers’ view of Christ than how it influences an election outcome.
Peter also tells Christians to submit to the authorities over them. Remember, Nero ruled the land at that time! He was the poster child for depravity. Peter doesn’t say the government deserves such treatment, only that God commands it. Christians are “slaves” of Christ. That is not a popular American perspective, but it is a biblical one.
Finally, Peter says to “honor everyone.” What?! Everyone? Even people who vote differently? Even those who revel in behaviors we despise? Peter doesn’t say to change our beliefs. We can hold onto those as firmly as ever. But we are to treat everyone honorably.
Peter also tells Christians to love each other. We may not always agree, but we are still commanded to love one another.
Then he says to fear God. We ought to be far more concerned with pleasing God than with seeing our favored politicians win office. Peter was instructing Christians to keep a proper perspective on what matters most. Finally, Peter says to honor the emperor. Again, he doesn’t command Christians to agree or condone the emperor’s behavior, simply to respect the office.
Undoubtedly, you will find some of Peter’s instructions difficult to embrace. I’m sure the early Christians did too. That’s why Peter reminded them not to behave the way the world does. We serve a King who is far more exalted than any emperor. He is the King of kings. The Lord of lords. It is to him alone that we owe our wholehearted allegiance.
I pray that during this election cycle, we will all represent our King well.
