An Exile's Response to Civil Authority

Living as Citizens of Heaven: The Paradox of Submission in a Fallen World

There's a tension every believer faces: How do we honor God while living under imperfect, sometimes corrupt, human authority? This question has haunted Christians throughout history, from the early church under Roman persecution to believers today navigating complex political landscapes.

The answer, surprisingly, isn't what our instincts tell us.

The Command That Challenges Us

First Peter 2:13-17 presents us with a startling directive: "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."

Every human institution. No exceptions. No qualifications.

This isn't a suggestion or a nice idea for when circumstances are favorable. The Greek construction here uses the aorist passive imperative—a grammatical structure indicating a decisive, once-and-for-all choice we must make. We don't drift into submission; we deliberately arrange ourselves under authority, just as soldiers align themselves under their commanding officer.

But here's where it gets uncomfortable: Peter wrote these words to believers suffering under Emperor Nero, a man who epitomized evil and cruelty. Nero was a prototype of the Antichrist himself, persecuting Christians mercilessly, burning them as torches to light his gardens. Yet Peter says, "Honor the emperor."

How can this be right?

Understanding Authority's True Source

The key lies in recognizing that all authority—no matter how corrupt its current holder—ultimately derives from God. Romans 13:1 reminds us that there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by Him.

This doesn't mean God approves of every action taken by those in power. Rather, it means that the institution itself, the structure of authority, is part of God's sovereign design for ordering human society. Civil government exists to restrain evil, punish wrongdoing, and promote peace and the public good.

When we submit to civil authority, we're not primarily submitting to the person holding the office—we're acknowledging God's sovereign design. The authority doesn't belong intrinsically to the ruler; it's been delegated to them by the One who rules over all.

This perspective changes everything.

The Example of Christ

Consider Jesus himself. Though He was co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father, though He created all things including Mary and Joseph, Luke 2:52 tells us He "was submissive" to His earthly parents. He arranged Himself under their authority so that He could grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus submitted to the Father's will perfectly. He said the words the Father gave Him to say and did the works the Father gave Him to do. And when He suffered at the hands of corrupt religious and civil authorities, First Peter 2:23 tells us: "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."

If the sinless Son of God could submit to corrupt authority without compromising His holiness, we can too—through His Spirit working in us.

The Motivation That Makes It Possible

Here's the crucial distinction: We don't submit to corrupt authority for their sake. We do it "for the Lord's sake."

This transforms submission from blind obedience into virtuous service. We're not cowering under oppression or passively accepting injustice. Instead, we're actively choosing to honor God by responding to corrupt authority in a way that reflects Christ's character.

This is the difference between being a slave and being a servant. A slave has no choice; a servant chooses their master. We have chosen Christ as our Master, and we serve Him by maintaining honorable conduct even when earthly authorities fail.

The Strategy of Goodness

The text reveals God's surprising strategy for dealing with corrupt authority: "By doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people" (1 Peter 2:15).

Romans 12:21 echoes this: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Think about the power of this approach. When Christians live with integrity, serve their communities, love their enemies, and maintain joy even under persecution, their critics are left speechless. The greatest apologetic for the gospel isn't a clever argument—it's a life that demonstrates supernatural grace under pressure.

When believers suffer at the hands of corrupt authorities yet respond with goodness rather than bitterness, with service rather than sedition, with prayer rather than vengeance, the watching world must confront the reality that something otherworldly is at work.

The Ordered Loves That Guide Us

First Peter 2:17 gives us a hierarchy of relationships: "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor."

Notice the distinctions. We fear God alone—not the state, not any human authority. The state is not God, no matter how much it tries to usurp that position.

We love the brotherhood—our fellow believers. Our deepest affections and loyalties belong to the family of God, not to any political party or national identity.

We honor everyone, including those in authority, appropriate to their station. This means treating all people with dignity because they bear God's image, and showing respect to those in leadership because God placed them there—even when we disagree with their policies or deplore their character.

Living as Free People

Here's the beautiful paradox: submission to God's design actually sets us free. First Peter 2:16 says, "Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."

When we recognize that our ultimate allegiance is to the King of Heaven, earthly authorities lose their power to control us. We're free to do good regardless of what the government does or doesn't do. We're free to serve God even when serving God brings suffering.

This freedom means we're always looking for the next right thing to do. We don't know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow, and we know our calling: overcome evil by doing good.

The Call to Action

So what does this look like practically?

It means paying our taxes, even when we disagree with how they're spent. It means praying for our leaders, even when we didn't vote for them. It means obeying just laws and respectfully engaging with unjust ones. It means serving our communities, loving our neighbors, and maintaining integrity in our business dealings.

It means refusing to let political anger, fear, or cynicism dictate our behavior. It means rejecting the temptation to fight evil with evil, corruption with corruption, or hatred with hatred.

Instead, we fight darkness with light. We overcome evil by doing good.

This is the will of God—that by living honorably, by choosing goodness over vengeance, by serving rather than demanding our rights, we silence the critics and point the world to a better King and a better Kingdom.

The question isn't whether our government is corrupt or our leaders are worthy. The question is: Will we trust God enough to honor His design, even when it costs us something?

Will we overcome evil by doing good?