by Timothy W. Burnett
In verses 9-10 we see who is being addressed, �But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.� Based on other scripture in the Epistles, the people of God must only be all people who have been filled with holy spirit which is righteousness, along with they who have been born-again which is to be saved (see Romans 10:9-10 & 13, Acts 2:21 & Acts 2:4).
It continues in verse 11, �Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles. That, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may (by your good works which they shall behold), glorify God in the day of visitation.� God�s people are considered strangers in the world because they are a holy nation in the world, but not of the world. The word conversation referred to behavior, and the word honest meant excellent, noble and commendable. It helps to know that the words �honest� and �good� came from the same Greek word.
�Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord�s sake. Whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of them that do well� (verses 13-14). This verse will pierce the hearts of many Christians who feel driven to rebel against laws and codes created by people, and could be the subject of a more lengthy study. Before we continue, please note that it refers to �ordinances of man,� and not �ordinances of God.� This distinction is significant. The Old Testament ordinances from God were nailed to the cross with Jesus Christ (see Colossians 2:14-15). Man�s ordinances may not be according to God�s will during this age of grace, but they do exist. God wants his people to be subject to them as much as possible.
Politically, the united States of America began as a Republic in which the body of people were counted as the free sovereign king, and the government was servant to the king. Sadly, during the past 100 years, there has been an interesting shift in which the elected representatives of the king, in their various legislative capacities, have transferred the ruling power from the people, to the government ruling over the people. This has been a source of confusion among Christians in America because many have not recognized this official shift in power, and wrongly believe they are doing God�s will by disobeying the annotated regulatory ordinances.
In the end, these Christians are tricked into individually serving a political cause that can distract from their spiritual lives. Even those who are prepared to challenge in the courts can spend most of their lives trying to simply get the courts to rule rightly, or even follow due process of law.
There are a few ways to shift the ruling power back to the people, and one is to vote for new representatives and executives who will repeal the regulatory codes and force all levels and branches of government to stay within their strict limitations of the Constitution.
On a side note, this does not address the issue of government entities that attempt to force people to do something that is not required of them in the ordinances, or attempt to enforce ordinances upon people who do not fall within their authoritative scope.
Next week we will look at an example where Jesus Christ commanded his disciples to obey an ordinance of the Roman Empire.
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