The early Christian church was persecuted because they were doing something different. If Christians simply pursued their own religious preferences privately in their homes, there would have been no opposition. Christians were persecuted because they formed congregations and met together regularly. The Roman authorities saw in this the potential for organised rebellion. But the early church was following the advice of Jesus who constantly warned against trying to change the world by force. Peter reminds them of this here in this passage. He warns them against civil disobedience and political revolt. He tells them to respect the authorities, even though, at the time, the authorities were pagan, immoral and anti-Christian (this was probably written during Nero’s rule). He even tells slaves to submit to harsh and cruel masters. Not long after Peter wrote this, the famous Spartacus lead a slave uprising, something that had been threatening for some time. Peter warns the churches against this kind of political action. They were not to win the world with political power but with the power of goodness and grace. That’s how Jesus overcame sin, and that is how we must overcome a sinful world. The temptation to resort to political power to establish God’s kingdom on earth has always been a great distraction for the church. The times and places in which the Christian movement has had the most political power have tended to be those in which it has lacked spiritual vitality. Let’s not grasp for the wrong kind of power as we seek to establish God’s kingdom. Let’s serve others in humility and grace. This is what brings true change.
Ask God to help you change your environment through goodness and grace.
Read 1 Peter 2:11-25.
