Submission to Authority

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. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. I Peter 2:13-25

We, who belong to Jesus Christ are instructed to be like Him; to learn His Word and emulate His ways. Our Lord never challenged the existing authority. He knew Who He was and what He came to do, and He did it within the framework of the government of Rome. He taught grace in the face of legalistic Judaism, but He did it within the acceptable practices of the day, by preaching in the streets and by teaching in the synagogues and temple. He never broke any law of Judiasm or of Rome. He was falsely accused and condemned by legalistic religion, which used Rome’s legal system to put Him to death. That was the result of religious conspiracy, not because of any wrongdoing by Jesus.

Challenging authority, rioting, demonstrating, demanding our “rights” are not the acceptable methods for Christians to represent our Lord. He didn’t demonstrate. He didn’t shout. He never demanded. He had the message of salvation by grace, given by a loving Heavenly Father Whom He, the Son, represented. He had the confidence of Truth; HIS Truth, which would be understood by those who were willing to learn His Word and thereby be made free. Isaiah 42:1-4:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.*

This prophesies the demeanor of our Lord in His incarnation. He is our example for Christian conduct.

God’s system is authority. Proper authority protects the freedom of the nation and the individuals in it. Without a system of authority there is anarchy, which leads to chaos. In anarchy and chaos, no one is free, because everyone is at the mercy of whoever chooses to bully you or take advantage of whatever weakness you may have. *For those who will note Jesus' ejection of the money-changers in the temple: Jesus WAS the authority over the temple, and the merchants were conducting illegal exchanges for profit within its gates. He would not tolerate such corruption of "My Father's house." (John 2:13-16). 

If, when we are disobedient and just plain wrong, we are disciplined for it, that is to be expected. There’s no credit for enduring that just punishment. If, when we are obedient and right, we are wronged and abused, we should still endure, because it is the demonstration of grace that we learned from our Savior, who suffered unfair treatment, false accusation and brutal torture, though He had done no wrong. He endured this for us, who ARE sinners. In so doing, He healed our sin disease.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake…Philippians 1:29

He suffered for our salvation. In this world, as His own peculiar people, we will suffer for our identification with Him. He took that suffering graciously. As His representatives here, we should also take adversity graciously. That is honoring to our Lord  and it is respectful to His delegated authorities. It gives the world no legitimacy for criticizing us.

It is the right thing to do.