WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.200 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:13.759 which wage war against your soul. 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:19.900 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:23.800 they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of this occasion. 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:28.039 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:34.039 whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil, 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:35.799 and to praise those who do good. 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:42.100 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:49.320 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 00:00:50.019 --> 00:00:54.939 Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, dear God, honor the emperor. 00:00:55.659 --> 00:00:56.759 The word of the Lord. 00:00:56.759 --> 00:00:58.280 Thanks be to God. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:06.599 So, we're in an interesting season as a nation. 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:09.200 It's a presidential election season. 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:14.299 And this year in particular seems to be very divisive and caustic. 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:25.899 So, on the one hand, we have Donald Trump and people who oppose him paint him as an egomaniac who is immature and incompetent. 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:34.819 On the other hand, we have Hillary Clinton and then people who oppose her paint her as someone who is corrupt and unfit to lead our nation. 00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:35.259 Right. 00:01:35.259 --> 00:01:35.359 Right. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:45.480 And both parties, it seems to me, to be resolutely set against the other party, the other side. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:49.340 And it seems like, I mean, if they're going to be elected, I don't know what's going to happen with these people. 00:01:49.659 --> 00:01:53.200 It doesn't seem like they're ever going to throw their support into this other party. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:55.800 It's a particularly caustic election cycle. 00:01:55.799 --> 00:02:07.200 And in this kind of environment, especially we could ask ourselves, as Christians, how are we supposed to relate to the governing authorities, to the human institutions? 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:21.199 How, I mean, should we, what if someone that we don't support is elected and they seem to institute policies that we deem unconscionable, that we can't really get behind? 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:25.500 How are we supposed to then relate to the human institutions in the government? 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:34.560 Do we say, well, forget this, since we're sojourners and exiles in this world anyway, let's not have nothing to do with the government and do our own thing? 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:37.500 Or what's the proper posture as a Christian? 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:52.560 And even though the Bible is a heavenly book that deals with spiritual matters, it also deals with things that are immediate like this, that has direct import and addresses how we are to relate in our everyday lives. 00:02:53.180 --> 00:02:58.599 And this passage in particular addresses these questions in 1 Peter 2, 11-17. 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:06.659 And what it tells us is that Christians ought to be subject to human institutions as servants of God. 00:03:07.139 --> 00:03:08.379 So that's the two parts. 00:03:08.979 --> 00:03:14.079 And the way he teaches us this, 1 Peter, is that first he tells us how we are to be subject. 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:16.439 So what does it look like to be subject to human institutions? 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:19.659 And then second, he tells us why we are to be subject. 00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:21.799 That's because we are servants of God. 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:25.560 So Christians ought to be subject to human institutions as servants of God. 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:29.060 And what does that look like for us to be subject to human institutions? 00:03:29.659 --> 00:03:36.620 Because we live in an in-between age, right, between the first resurrection of Christ and then the resurrection of the dead. 00:03:36.920 --> 00:03:43.620 So we're in the in-between age where the kingdom of God has come, it has begun, but it has not yet been consummated and fulfilled. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:46.939 So we live in a world where good and evil coexist. 00:03:47.699 --> 00:03:51.680 So in that context, how are we to relate to and be subject to human institutions? 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.620 So let's look at verse 11. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:04:05.400 It starts by saying, first, we are to be as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:07.500 That's the command from Peter. 00:04:07.980 --> 00:04:12.840 And the pair of words, sojourners and exiles, we've gone over this before, come from Genesis 23, 4, 00:04:13.260 --> 00:04:18.620 where Abraham describes himself to the Hittites as, I am a sojourner and foreigner among you. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:28.259 And the idea behind this is that sojourners and foreigners do not have the privileges and responsibilities that are incumbent upon citizens. 00:04:28.840 --> 00:04:33.920 So they don't have to fulfill the same duties and they don't have, consequently, the same privileges. 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:40.480 And for that reason, foreigners are kind of looked at with suspicion. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:48.360 So, for example, even at just a very local level, if you were to be in a classroom and a new student comes, 00:04:48.900 --> 00:04:54.140 that student is going to face more scrutiny, not only by the teacher, but also by the peers, 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:57.060 because they see, okay, well, if he's new, what is this person going to be like? 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:03.520 In the same way, when we have immigrants that come to our country, they are under greater scrutiny, 00:05:03.860 --> 00:05:05.620 because we say, what are these people going to be like? 00:05:05.700 --> 00:05:06.480 What do they believe? 00:05:06.840 --> 00:05:08.620 Do they hold the same values that we have? 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:09.220 Right? 00:05:09.340 --> 00:05:15.280 So it's human nature to look with greater scrutiny on the people that are foreign and sojourners and foreigners. 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:21.759 And in that context, the Christians, then Peter is telling us, we're sojourners and exiles as well. 00:05:21.980 --> 00:05:28.340 And as people who hold to, have an allegiance to a different God, a different king, ultimate authority, 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:34.879 we're going to also be looked at with some skepticism and curiosity. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:43.079 And in that context, we're supposed to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against our soul. 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:48.300 And if you remember from verses 14 to 15 of chapter 1, Peter had said almost an identical thing. 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:48.639 He says, 00:05:48.639 --> 00:06:04.099 So the word conduct and word passions, they both occur again here in verses 11 to 12. 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:06.599 And he seems to be getting at the same idea, right? 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:09.519 He's saying, you know, you ought to be holy because God is holy, 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:17.620 and you ought to live this way in a blameless manner so that you are not following the passions of the flesh as the rest of the world is doing. 00:06:17.979 --> 00:06:21.879 So there seems to be a contrast in the way Christians are supposed to live and the way the world lives. 00:06:22.599 --> 00:06:24.680 But there's an important twist here, 00:06:25.359 --> 00:06:30.599 because it doesn't seem to be setting the way we live up against the way the world lives. 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:33.920 Because if you look at verses 14 to 15, 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:39.540 it says, 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:53.160 And same thing in verse 12. 00:06:53.280 --> 00:06:53.439 It says, 00:06:53.439 --> 00:07:00.139 Do you guys catch that? 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:04.860 So what's parallel here is that the urging to, as sojourners in exile, 00:07:04.980 --> 00:07:07.060 to abstain from the passions of the flesh on the one hand, 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:11.159 is parallel to living in honorably and doing good deeds, 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:15.339 so that even the Gentiles recognize that and glorify God on the visitation, right? 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:17.120 So what's going on here then is not, 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:19.879 Christian community is all good, 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:21.839 and non-Christian community is all evil. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:24.019 And how Christians live is all good, 00:07:24.099 --> 00:07:25.679 and how non-Christians live is all evil. 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:29.639 Rather, Peter is assuming that there is some common ground. 00:07:30.060 --> 00:07:32.139 Because he's saying that the way you live, 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:34.419 when you live and abstain from the passions of the flesh, 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:37.060 there's the Gentiles, the unbelievers, 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:40.379 are going to be able to recognize the good deeds that you do, 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:42.639 and agree with you that they are good deeds, 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:45.439 and glorify God on the basis of those good deeds. 00:07:45.539 --> 00:07:46.219 Did you guys catch that? 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:46.519 Right? 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:50.039 So that's an important twist that Peter is adding here. 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:52.540 So he's saying that the way we live honorably, 00:07:52.660 --> 00:07:54.379 and when we live and do good, 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:57.220 it's going to be accepted also by the norms of our society. 00:07:58.640 --> 00:08:01.939 And this is a much more nuanced understanding 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:04.580 of the way Christians relate to society 00:08:04.580 --> 00:08:08.860 than all the form and fray of the cultural wars would suggest. 00:08:09.520 --> 00:08:16.220 And this is because it's not a binary category, right? 00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:18.940 So it's Christian good and society evil. 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:22.080 So if you look at verses 13 to 15, 00:08:22.220 --> 00:08:23.680 Peter continues with this thought. 00:08:23.780 --> 00:08:24.060 He says, 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:27.760 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:30.000 whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 00:08:30.380 --> 00:08:32.080 or to governor as sent by him, 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:34.740 to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 00:08:35.160 --> 00:08:36.600 For this is the will of God, 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:38.620 that by doing good you should put to silence 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:40.160 the ignorance of foolish people. 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:42.940 Once again, Peter is not saying if you do good, 00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:44.660 you're going to be punished for it by the government. 00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:46.079 He's saying when you do good, 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:47.899 you're going to be praised by the government, right? 00:08:48.339 --> 00:08:48.659 He's saying, 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:50.819 And that doing those good things 00:08:50.819 --> 00:08:53.240 is going to silence people who are slandering us 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:54.600 and speaking evil of us. 00:08:55.839 --> 00:08:57.939 And note the repetition of the word good. 00:08:58.019 --> 00:08:59.659 It occurs three times in verse 12, 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:01.939 that they may see our good deeds, 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:03.919 so that human authorities in verse 14 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:05.480 may praise those who do good. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:06.659 And in verse 15, 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:07.600 by doing good, 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.959 we silence the slander of the Gentiles, 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:11.659 of unbelievers. 00:09:11.659 --> 00:09:16.419 So if this is something that's a common ground, 00:09:16.659 --> 00:09:19.719 it's something that believers and unbelievers can agree on, 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:20.360 that is good, 00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:21.559 then what is this good? 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:27.519 And it doesn't seem to me that what is good, 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:28.299 considered good here, 00:09:28.419 --> 00:09:30.259 is a simple observance of the law, right? 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:32.439 So being law-abiding citizens, 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:34.459 and that is a good thing, 00:09:34.779 --> 00:09:36.220 but I don't think that that's the kind of good 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:37.399 that Peter is referring to, 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:41.079 because he says that the governing authorities 00:09:41.079 --> 00:09:43.279 are going to praise us for it, right? 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:45.340 Because governing authorities, 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:45.959 human institutions, 00:09:46.100 --> 00:09:49.340 they don't praise us for just observing the law, right? 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:51.759 I mean, you get a ticket if you speed, 00:09:52.199 --> 00:09:55.340 but you don't get a financial reward 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:57.699 for driving at a speed limit, right? 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:58.559 I mean, that never happens. 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:00.240 When you break the law, 00:10:00.319 --> 00:10:00.939 then you're punished, 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.819 but you don't get praise for simply observing the law 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:05.060 because that's expected, 00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:06.180 that's taken for granted. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:09.120 So this good that the government praises 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.260 has to be something more, 00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:11.460 something that goes beyond 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:12.920 a simple observance of the law. 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:15.160 And I think what he has in mind 00:10:15.160 --> 00:10:18.000 is something that goes beyond mere observance 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.260 and deserves commendation, 00:10:20.900 --> 00:10:22.960 deserves commendation from people. 00:10:23.640 --> 00:10:25.920 And so I was looking up some examples from our city, 00:10:25.920 --> 00:10:28.420 and in the 13th annual award ceremony 00:10:28.420 --> 00:10:29.820 of the Cambridge Police Department, 00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:34.360 they honored the employees of the 1369 Coffee House 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:37.000 because they defended a woman 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:39.820 who was getting attacked at Central Square. 00:10:40.400 --> 00:10:43.180 So they received what they call the Citizen's Award. 00:10:44.300 --> 00:10:46.060 And so that's an obvious example 00:10:46.060 --> 00:10:47.800 of they're doing something that's commendable. 00:10:47.920 --> 00:10:48.920 That's a good deed 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:51.100 that our human institutions praise, right? 00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:53.420 So obviously it doesn't have to be something 00:10:53.420 --> 00:10:55.160 as dramatic and extraordinary for us. 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.860 I mean, how often are we going to run into someone 00:10:56.860 --> 00:10:58.500 who's being attacked? 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:00.919 But there's many things that we know 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:04.120 our culture, our society also praises 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:07.159 and approves of as good, right? 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:09.500 For example, volunteering at the food pantry 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:11.419 of the East End House, like we've done, 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:14.799 and like serving at Casper Emergency Services 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:17.259 and Shelter to work with the homeless in Area 4 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:18.879 and drug addicts in Area 4, 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:22.399 to volunteer for the annual cleanup day 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.299 in East Cambridge, right? 00:11:23.539 --> 00:11:25.379 All of these things are things 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:27.799 that are commonly by unbelievers 00:11:27.799 --> 00:11:30.299 and believers alike as seen as good. 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:33.039 And the government will praise us for these things. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.279 And this is a, it was particularly, 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:40.820 it reminded me of the talk that I listened to 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:42.259 when I was at the Lausanne Congress 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.460 for World Evangelization in 2010. 00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:46.679 Tim Keller was the speaker 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:48.439 for this particular session. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:51.140 And he's kind of a, he's a pastor in New York City 00:11:51.140 --> 00:11:52.980 who kind of specializes in urban ministry. 00:11:53.280 --> 00:11:56.580 And he says that there's a drastic difference, 00:11:56.680 --> 00:11:58.060 cultural difference between the suburbs 00:11:58.060 --> 00:12:01.080 and the urban cities. 00:12:01.760 --> 00:12:04.440 And that some things that you can, you know, 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:07.480 just slip by and not have to emphasize, 00:12:07.660 --> 00:12:09.840 you don't have to emphasize in the suburban areas, 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:11.900 you have to emphasize in the urban areas 00:12:11.900 --> 00:12:14.280 in order to get, succeed. 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:16.679 And he says, and he writes this, 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:19.379 he says, the church in the urban cities 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:23.000 needs to be famous in its care for the poor. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:26.539 If the city sees you only evangelizing 00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:27.519 and growing that way, 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:30.639 they will assume that you're just out for power and money 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:33.360 because you're just trying to increase your tribe. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:36.980 But if the city sees you caring about the poor, 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:39.860 caring about issues of justice in the city, 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:42.240 they will say, well, maybe these people 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.320 really are characterized by Jesus' love. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:47.940 A good urban church is a church 00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:50.340 in which the neighbors around look at that church 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:53.399 and say, I don't agree with many of the things they teach. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.180 In fact, some of the things they teach offend me, 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:59.580 but I don't know what the city would do without them. 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:02.200 If that church went away, 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:04.379 we'd have to raise taxes 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:07.419 because they're pressing so much value into the city. 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:12.099 That's the kind of church we need to be. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:14.879 And we have to become known, 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:17.039 become famous for the good deeds 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.399 throughout East Cambridge 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:20.079 and throughout Cambridge and Boston. 00:13:20.839 --> 00:13:23.459 And instead of expending all our energy 00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:26.059 on the things that the world disagrees with us on, 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:27.299 says these are bad things 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:28.079 and these are good things. 00:13:28.719 --> 00:13:30.799 And let's excel in areas 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:32.319 where even the unbelieving world, 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.240 the watching world will say, 00:13:33.319 --> 00:13:33.939 that is good. 00:13:34.339 --> 00:13:35.419 That is to be praised. 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.579 That is praiseworthy. 00:13:37.199 --> 00:13:39.639 Keep your conduct among unbelievers honorable, 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:40.699 he says, 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:43.179 so that when they speak against us as evildoers, 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.819 they may see our good deeds 00:13:44.819 --> 00:13:48.120 and glorify God on the day of visitation. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:50.199 And this promises, 00:13:50.579 --> 00:13:52.639 it is such a promising thing 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.719 that it gives us so much hope for evangelism as well 00:13:55.719 --> 00:13:56.279 because he says, 00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.860 what he's saying here is that 00:13:57.860 --> 00:14:01.439 if we are conducting ourselves honorably 00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:03.259 and if we are doing these good deeds 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:04.019 that are praised, 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:05.419 even by the unbelieving world, 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:08.139 and we evangelize and share the gospel 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:10.299 and bear witness in that context, 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:14.379 then he's saying that the people will come to know God 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:16.079 and as a consequence, 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.819 on the day of visitation, 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.799 which is the day of judgment, 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:19.960 when Christ returns, 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:22.220 these people will not be trembling in fear 00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:23.600 and condemned, 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:25.600 but they will actually glorify God 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.539 on the day of visitation 00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:27.439 because they would have, 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.399 through our ministry, 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.559 through our witness, 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.379 through our good deeds, 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.659 they would have been brought to a place 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:33.019 where they can accept Christ 00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:34.120 and love God. 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:36.879 So that's such a wonderful promise 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.539 that this passage has for us. 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:42.320 And so this is how we are to be subject 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:43.159 to human institutions, 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:47.080 but what about other institutions? 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:49.080 So if that's the way we're supposed to relate 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:49.659 to the government, 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:52.740 and are there only certain kinds of institutions 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:54.139 that we're supposed to be subject to? 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:54.980 And he says, 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:56.360 be subject, 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.759 in verse 13 to 14, 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:00.100 to every human institution, 00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:00.539 right? 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:03.539 Whether it be to the emperor as supreme 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:05.759 or to governor as sent by him. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:08.580 This is a really challenging categorical command, 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:09.059 right? 00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:10.539 It doesn't matter who, 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.899 every human institution, 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.980 be subject to them. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.220 And this is reinforced in verse 17, 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.379 if you go look at that. 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:17.659 It says, 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:18.899 honor everyone, 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.439 love the brotherhood, 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.600 fear God, 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.700 honor the emperor, 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:23.100 right? 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:27.000 This is really just a kind of a recapitulation 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.940 of what he has said, 00:15:28.040 --> 00:15:29.600 be subject to every human institution. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.779 Honor everyone is the sociological dimension 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:34.420 to all of the people around you, 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:34.779 dimension. 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.220 Love the brotherhood, 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:38.300 that's the ecclesiological dimension, 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:39.080 that's the church, 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:39.659 right? 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.139 And he says, 00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:40.980 fear God, 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:42.940 that's the personal spiritual dimension, 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:43.639 right? 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:44.000 And he says, 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.879 honor the emperor, 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:46.220 that's the political dimension. 00:15:46.540 --> 00:15:47.899 So what he's saying basically is, 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.779 in every arena of life, 00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:53.040 be subject to human institutions. 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:55.080 That's what God's commanding us to do. 00:15:56.040 --> 00:15:57.879 And conduct ourselves honorably 00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:58.740 and do good deeds. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.060 A Bible commentator, 00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:03.420 Robert Leighton, 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.639 writes this, 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.560 puts this in a really eloquent way. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:06.840 He says, 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:10.340 when a Christian walks irreprovable, 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.580 irreprovably, 00:16:11.780 --> 00:16:16.000 his enemies have nowhere to fasten their teeth on him, 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:19.100 but are forced to gnaw their own malignant tongues, 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.280 as it secures the godly, 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:23.899 thus to stop the lying mouths of foolish men. 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:26.620 So it is as painful to them to be thus stopped, 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:28.060 as muzzling is to beasts, 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.660 and it punishes their malice. 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:32.419 And this is a wise Christian's way. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:35.240 Instead of impatiently fretting at the mistakes 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:37.059 or willful miscensures of men, 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:39.759 to keep still on his calm temper of mind, 00:16:40.079 --> 00:16:41.620 an upright course of life, 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.059 and silent innocence, 00:16:43.719 --> 00:16:44.199 this, 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.339 as a rock, 00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:47.439 breaks the waves into foam 00:16:47.439 --> 00:16:48.980 that roar about it. 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:54.759 So solid in our good deeds, 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.960 in our honorable conduct, 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:58.740 to break the waves into foam 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:00.180 of all the criticism, 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:02.779 of all the slander that roar about it. 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:08.140 But if that's how we are to be subject, 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.420 obviously that begs the question, 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:16.440 what if these human institutions are ungodly? 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:16.880 Right? 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.559 Because this passage assumes 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:22.440 that the governors are sent by him 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.680 to punish those who do evil 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.080 and praise those who do good, 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.140 but what if the human institutions 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:28.519 praise those who do evil 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:30.180 and punish those who do good? 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:32.279 Then how are we to be subject 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.320 to these human institutions? 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.640 In order to answer that question, 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:38.059 we have to first answer the question of 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:39.740 why we are to be subject 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:41.360 to human institutions. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:43.940 It says, 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.620 Peter says, 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:48.519 in verse 16, 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:51.220 live as people who are free, 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:53.539 not using your freedom 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.900 as a cover-up for evil, 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:57.900 but living as servants of God. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:00.440 So you'd think that the command 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:01.259 to be subject 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:03.440 would be rooted in our slavery, 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.059 saying that, 00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:05.240 well, you are God, 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.039 you are slaves, 00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:07.140 so just be subject. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.440 You have no choice. 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.900 You're servile subjects 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:10.900 of the human institutions, 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.519 so be subject. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.900 That's not the root, 00:18:13.080 --> 00:18:14.400 the grounding of his command. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.100 He's saying the root 00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:17.380 of our being subject 00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.080 to human institutions 00:18:18.080 --> 00:18:19.780 is not our subjection, 00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.580 it's our freedom, 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.019 right? 00:18:21.280 --> 00:18:23.040 It's the fact that we are free people, 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:26.060 and now we are servants of God 00:18:26.060 --> 00:18:27.460 and free people. 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.920 That's why we are to be subject 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.840 to human institutions. 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:32.400 Not because these human authorities 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.780 have ultimate authority over us, 00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:35.599 but because God has ultimate authority 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.480 over us, 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.619 and it's his will 00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:38.960 that we are to be subject 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.019 to these human institutions. 00:18:41.379 --> 00:18:42.740 And it's only those 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:44.399 who are ultimately subject to God, 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.420 the servants of God, 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.500 that are truly free. 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:47.859 Let me explain 00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:49.559 what I mean by that. 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.799 Arthur Leff, 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.460 who used to be a legal scholar 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.819 teaching at Yale Law School, 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:56.839 a couple decades ago, 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.599 wrote this article 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:57.899 called 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:59.119 Unspeakable Ethics, 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.059 Unnatural Law. 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:02.559 And in it he writes this, 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:02.839 says, 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:05.259 In the presumed absence of God, 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:07.960 the only available evaluators 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.460 are people. 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:10.099 Then, 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:10.919 only a determinate 00:19:10.919 --> 00:19:12.220 and reasonably small number 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:13.099 of kinds of ethical 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.960 and legal systems 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.700 can be generated. 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:16.940 Each such system 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:18.579 will be strongly differentiated 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.799 by the axiomatic answer 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.579 it chooses to give 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:21.740 to one key question. 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.379 Who among us 00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:24.319 ought to be able 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:25.279 to declare law 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.339 that ought to be obeyed? 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.720 Stated that baldly, 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.919 the question is so 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.320 intellectually unsettling 00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:32.180 that one would expect 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.480 to find a noticeable number 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.720 of legal and ethical thinkers 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.860 trying not to come 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.560 to grips with it. 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:38.860 If each person 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:40.080 is a godlet, 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.000 a little god, 00:19:41.300 --> 00:19:43.220 there is no room 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.500 for a valid society. 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:47.320 If each society is God, 00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:49.039 there is no space 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.200 for individual freedom. 00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:52.240 Either God exists 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.200 or he does not, 00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:54.440 but if he does not, 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.340 nothing 00:19:55.340 --> 00:19:56.700 and no one else 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:58.060 can take his place. 00:19:58.059 --> 00:20:02.039 To illustrate 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.980 at this point, 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.220 you might fancy 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:04.980 that as you're driving 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.460 on the road, 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:07.099 if there were no traffic laws, 00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:07.639 you know, 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.579 that you'd be 00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.720 really liberating. 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:10.179 You know, 00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:10.779 you could go as fast 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:11.259 as you want, 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:11.779 you could run 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.480 all the red lights, 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:12.879 you could do 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.460 whatever you want, 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:13.879 that you would, 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:14.619 you'd think that 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.500 that'd be very liberating, 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:17.159 but that is actually 00:20:17.159 --> 00:20:17.779 not the case. 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.240 In fact, 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.659 the precise opposite 00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:20.200 is true, 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.339 because if there were 00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:22.299 no traffic laws, 00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:23.319 you would never know 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.339 when a car in front of you 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:25.179 is going to stop, 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.400 when the car 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.640 that's across the street 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.200 is going to start 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.100 going over your road, 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:30.299 when they're going to, 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.480 when they're going 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.279 to change lanes. 00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:33.220 If you don't know, 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:34.400 there's no traffic laws 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:36.080 to govern the traffic, 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.519 then you would be 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:39.259 in constant paranoia 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.000 and fear, 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.140 and it would cause 00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:41.720 destruction. 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:43.120 There will be absolutely 00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:43.980 no freedom 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.640 for anybody, 00:20:44.820 --> 00:20:45.000 right? 00:20:45.560 --> 00:20:46.900 It's only when 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:48.200 there's law-abiding drivers 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.900 out on the road, 00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:50.500 and there's a clear law 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.320 that governs everything 00:20:51.320 --> 00:20:51.900 that people do 00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.360 on the road, 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:53.740 that you can truly be free, 00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:55.080 and you can truly drive. 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.759 Without fear, 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.220 right? 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.720 In the same way, 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.659 it's in society, 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:00.000 unless we are subject 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.399 to God and His rule 00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:02.699 and His blueprint 00:21:02.699 --> 00:21:04.079 for creation, 00:21:04.179 --> 00:21:05.099 because He's our creator, 00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:06.819 we can't live 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.819 as free people, 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.000 because if we set 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.839 our own standards, 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.819 and if everybody else 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.759 set their own standards, 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:12.720 this is how you ought 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.079 to live, 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:15.179 this is how I should live, 00:21:15.419 --> 00:21:16.119 if that's the case, 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.960 then we'll be disposed 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.939 to everybody else's 00:21:18.939 --> 00:21:19.859 whims and wills, 00:21:19.939 --> 00:21:21.399 and have no true freedom, 00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:21.859 right? 00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:23.480 That's why only those 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.019 who are ultimately 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.919 subject to God, 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:25.240 so that's why 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.259 being servants of God 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.440 is, 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.860 it means that we're free. 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.039 It's because we're 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.660 servants of God 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.460 that we are free, 00:21:31.300 --> 00:21:32.100 and Christians 00:21:32.100 --> 00:21:32.880 are these people. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.700 We have been ransomed 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.560 from our slavery 00:21:34.560 --> 00:21:35.340 to sin, 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.340 so that we are now 00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:37.259 servants of God, 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.060 and it's because 00:21:38.060 --> 00:21:39.300 we are servants of God, 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.100 and it is the will 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:40.500 of God, 00:21:40.560 --> 00:21:41.000 it says, 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.120 that we're to be subject 00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:43.519 to every human institution, 00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:44.779 that we, 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.940 not for our sake, 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.060 not for the government's sake, 00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:48.440 but for the Lord's sake, 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.660 as it says in verse 13, 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.920 we are to be subject 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:52.740 to human institutions. 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.019 And what's the purpose, 00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:54.580 verse 12, 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.860 so that people will see 00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.480 our good deeds 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.779 and glorify God 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:59.900 on the day of visitation. 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.660 We subject ourselves 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.400 to human institutions 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.800 for the Lord's sake, 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.440 so that He would be glorified, 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:09.400 not because we're ultimately 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:10.620 loyal to, 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.440 or subject to, 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.240 earthly governments. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.480 And this is what 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.740 Martin Luther had in mind 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:17.460 and wrote in his book 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.539 On the Freedom of the Christian. 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:20.480 A Christian is a perfectly 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.620 free Lord of all, 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.539 subject to none. 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:24.940 A Christian is a perfectly 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.039 dutiful servant, 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.500 subject to all. 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.720 We're simultaneously, 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.819 as believers, 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:32.400 subject to none, 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.319 and subject to all. 00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:36.279 We're perfectly free Lord, 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:38.380 but perfectly dutiful servants 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.240 at the same time. 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:41.460 So that means 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.240 we subject ourselves 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.759 to human institutions 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.900 not out of impotence, 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.400 but out of our freedom 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:47.000 that we have in Christ. 00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.319 And so now that we know 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:49.980 the reason 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.900 why we are to be subject, 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.779 so Christians ought to be 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.759 subject to human institutions 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:54.019 as servants of God. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.799 That's the reason. 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:57.360 And that reason also qualifies 00:22:57.360 --> 00:22:58.579 how we ought to be subject. 00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:00.700 Because if our ultimate allegiance 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.759 is to God 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.960 and not to human institutions, 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:06.160 then when the government, 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.160 human institutions, 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.860 contradict what God 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:10.140 would say and do, 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.340 we have to agree 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.019 with the apostles 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:14.559 in Acts 5, 17-42. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.799 Because they say 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.639 after being arrested 00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:17.099 and charged 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:18.459 not to teach in Jesus' name, 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.579 they tell the Jewish authorities, 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.159 we must obey God 00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:22.359 rather than men. 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:25.359 And this truth has 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:27.240 tremendous political implications. 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:29.599 Because while it's true 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.539 that as Christians, 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.119 the Christian program 00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:33.439 for transforming the world, 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.279 it's not politics, 00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:35.000 it's the gospel. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.679 That is true. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:37.779 But it's simply not true 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.480 that the gospel 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:40.080 is therefore apolitical. 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:40.500 Right? 00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:42.640 The gospel is profoundly political 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.720 because it says, 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.100 no, 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.299 your ultimate allegiance 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.560 is not to these authorities, 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.320 it's to God. 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:47.660 Right? 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:50.420 And that's why 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.420 we can't neglect 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.560 involvement in politics, 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.700 that's why we can't neglect 00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.039 involvement in social justice, 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:56.140 that's why we can't neglect 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:58.259 involvement in people's lives. 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:58.860 Right? 00:23:58.860 --> 00:24:00.279 Because God calls us to it. 00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:01.320 When Jesus ministered, 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:02.279 he healed the sick. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:02.860 Right? 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.879 And preached the gospel. 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:04.179 Right? 00:24:04.219 --> 00:24:05.219 Both were expressions 00:24:05.219 --> 00:24:06.599 of his compassion for people. 00:24:06.959 --> 00:24:08.759 And it has to be the same for us. 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:12.079 And the challenge then 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:12.979 for the Christian obviously 00:24:12.979 --> 00:24:15.599 is to decide 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:19.000 where is our government 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:20.579 aligned with what God is doing. 00:24:20.699 --> 00:24:22.099 Where are the human institutions 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:24.039 doing real good? 00:24:24.639 --> 00:24:26.379 And how can we get in line with that 00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:27.359 and do good deeds 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.259 as even they see 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.299 and agree with? 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.779 But at the same time, 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:33.079 to see where they disagree. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.299 Where are their values 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.059 misaligned? 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:39.059 And they praise as good 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.660 what is evil. 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.339 Right? 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:42.079 And then to take a bold stance 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:42.859 on those issues. 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.299 Right? 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.680 Theologians Os Guinness 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.559 and David Walls 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.399 says this is how 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:50.000 that life ought to look. 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.319 He says, 00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:52.000 We are to live in the world 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.019 in a stance of both 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.660 yes and no. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.720 Affirmation and antithesis. 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:00.559 Of being against the world 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.359 and for the world. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:02.619 This tension is crucial 00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:04.059 to the faithfulness of the church 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:05.179 and to her integrity 00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:06.379 and effectiveness in the world. 00:25:08.679 --> 00:25:09.740 For the Christian faith 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.339 is unashamedly world-affirming 00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:12.839 and has a peerless record 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.519 in contributing 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.059 to education, 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:15.719 to philanthropy, 00:25:15.939 --> 00:25:16.719 to social reforms, 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.279 to medicine, 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.679 to rise of science, 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.839 to the emergence of democracy 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.679 and human rights. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.259 And at the same time, 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:22.959 the Christian faith 00:25:22.959 --> 00:25:24.199 is also world-denying, 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.000 insisting on the place 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.579 of prophets as well as priests, 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:29.799 on sacrifice as well as fulfillment, 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:32.000 on the importance of fasts 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.079 as well as feasts, 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.680 and on the place for exposing 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.960 and opposing the world 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.279 when its attitudes and actions 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.839 are against the commands of God 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:41.799 and the interests of humanity. 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.220 And that's why, 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:45.799 if you remember from verse 11, 00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:46.799 Peter assumes, 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.680 expects the gospel 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.919 to be highly offensive 00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:52.079 to some pockets of the population. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.439 So he says, 00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:55.419 as sojourners and exiles 00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:57.740 abstain from the passions of the flesh, 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.579 there's going to be passions of the flesh 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.559 that's formed by the world 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.960 that we need to abstain from. 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:04.159 Yet he also expects the gospel 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:04.939 and its implications 00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:06.579 to be highly attractive to people, 00:26:06.939 --> 00:26:07.059 right? 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.879 Highly repelling and offensive, 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.119 but also highly attractive 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:11.639 to any pagan culture. 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.279 So he says, 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.759 they will see our good deeds 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.899 and glorify God 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:17.000 on the day of visitation. 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:19.339 And if you look at 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:21.039 our Christian involvement 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.160 in politics today, 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.220 especially in this country, 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:25.019 you see two impulses, 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:27.160 two extreme impulses. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:29.240 And the first is to be 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:31.160 really vociferously, 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:31.700 you know, 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:34.200 just set against the government 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:36.359 and to just point out 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:38.619 every place where we disagree. 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:41.279 And it's just very loud 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.599 and there's a lot of clashing. 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:45.939 And that's, 00:26:46.659 --> 00:26:47.899 and on the other hand, 00:26:48.419 --> 00:26:48.799 there's also, 00:26:48.939 --> 00:26:50.759 there are people who are really, 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:53.139 they blend in so seamlessly 00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:56.500 that one, 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.879 people never, 00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:59.699 never criticize them 00:26:59.699 --> 00:27:01.819 because they think 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.259 that they agree 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:03.179 with everything that they do 00:27:03.179 --> 00:27:03.539 and say. 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.719 The world thinks 00:27:04.719 --> 00:27:05.399 that these Christians 00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.039 agree with everything 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.619 they do and say 00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.379 because they never say 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.039 anything otherwise. 00:27:08.659 --> 00:27:09.759 They just blend in. 00:27:10.699 --> 00:27:11.240 And then secondly, 00:27:11.419 --> 00:27:12.339 they never give God 00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:12.799 the glory 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:14.079 for how these people live 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:16.019 because they are not 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.119 living with reference 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:17.679 to God 00:27:17.679 --> 00:27:18.639 in the way they do things. 00:27:18.699 --> 00:27:19.779 When they do these good deeds, 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.559 they're not doing it 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.819 out of reference to God 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.699 and glorifying God 00:27:22.699 --> 00:27:23.259 as they do it. 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.419 So these are, 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.259 both extremes 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.399 are excluded 00:27:26.399 --> 00:27:27.279 by this passage. 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.039 It says, 00:27:28.439 --> 00:27:28.599 no, 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.919 do good deeds, 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.899 be attractive 00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:32.119 to those around you, 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:32.619 right? 00:27:32.699 --> 00:27:33.359 Do good deeds 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.279 that even these people 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:34.899 will recognize, 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.799 even unbelievers 00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:37.720 in your society, 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.199 in your neighborhood 00:27:38.199 --> 00:27:38.740 will recognize 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:41.220 and give God 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.079 the glory for it. 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:44.179 But at the same time, 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:47.039 when the society, 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:47.799 when human institutions 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.639 turn against 00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:49.480 what God 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.679 is calling you to do, 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:51.720 be bold, 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.139 right? 00:27:52.199 --> 00:27:52.799 Speak up, 00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:53.099 right? 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:57.859 But with the recognition 00:27:57.859 --> 00:28:00.879 that it has to be 00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:01.599 in the context 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.559 of these good deeds 00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.799 that our evangelism 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.740 really bears fruit 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.819 and these people 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:07.259 will come to God 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.899 to glorify God 00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:08.899 on a day of visitation. 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.920 And this is a hard 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.259 command, 00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:11.640 obviously, 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.160 that Christians 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.800 ought to be subject 00:28:12.800 --> 00:28:13.960 to human institutions 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:15.540 as servants of God. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.759 But this is exactly 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.940 what Jesus did for us, 00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:19.220 right? 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:19.940 So it says, 00:28:20.040 --> 00:28:20.640 John 10, 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.480 17 to 18, 00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:21.740 says, 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.539 For this reason 00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.519 the Father loves me, 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.859 because I lay down 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.359 my life 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:25.759 that I might 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.599 take it up again. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.180 No one takes it 00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:28.579 from me, 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:30.160 but I lay it down 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:31.420 of my own accord. 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.740 I have authority 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.539 to lay it down 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.319 and I have authority 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.319 to take it up again. 00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.180 This charge 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:37.660 I receive from my Father. 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.380 So no one took 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:40.140 Christ's life 00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:40.640 from him, 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.120 right? 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.500 No one forced him 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.640 to lay his life down, 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.319 but he laid it down, 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:45.680 right? 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.039 Likewise, 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.519 no human institution 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.500 takes our freedom 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.120 from us. 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:52.019 They don't force us 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.579 to be subject. 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:54.439 But Jesus, 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.039 just as Jesus did it 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.479 because it was 00:28:56.479 --> 00:28:57.219 Father's will, 00:28:57.659 --> 00:28:58.539 so we do it 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.319 because it is 00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:00.439 our Heavenly Father's will. 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.839 We subject ourselves 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.299 to even human institutions. 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.599 And it seems 00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.839 difficult to maintain 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.419 this tension, 00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.579 but throughout the ages 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.339 this is exactly 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.259 what Christians have done. 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.879 And if you look 00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.719 at Christian history, 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.479 historian Alvin Schmidt 00:29:15.479 --> 00:29:16.379 kind of points out 00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:17.059 some of these things 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.959 in the book right there 00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:18.199 called 00:29:18.199 --> 00:29:19.739 How Christianity Changed the World. 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:21.479 He says Christian influence 00:29:21.479 --> 00:29:22.379 in government 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.139 and society 00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:23.819 was ultimately 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:24.659 what led to 00:29:24.659 --> 00:29:25.759 the outlawing 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:27.379 of gladiatorial games 00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.639 in the Roman Empire, 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.099 the infanticide, 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:30.639 right? 00:29:31.479 --> 00:29:32.739 And the segregation 00:29:32.739 --> 00:29:33.779 later of male 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.679 and female prisoners, 00:29:35.159 --> 00:29:35.359 right? 00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.139 This is all 00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:37.159 to the Christian influence. 00:29:37.479 --> 00:29:39.539 It's to the Christians' influence 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.879 that the practice 00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:42.019 of human sacrifice 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.699 among the Irish 00:29:42.699 --> 00:29:43.779 was abolished, 00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:44.979 that the practice 00:29:44.979 --> 00:29:46.559 of burning alive 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:47.959 widows in India 00:29:47.959 --> 00:29:49.000 was abolished, 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.480 right? 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.099 It was because 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.160 of Christian influence 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:52.519 and how they lived 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.400 out the gospel 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:55.539 that the practice 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:57.160 of binding women's feet 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:57.640 in China 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.859 also was abolished, 00:29:58.859 --> 00:29:59.539 right? 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.160 It was the Christian 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.420 idea of, 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.980 it was a Christian influence 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:04.960 that led to the advance 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.799 of education 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.420 for children 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.339 throughout Europe, 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:07.720 right? 00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:09.539 And William Wilberforce, 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.420 as you guys know about, 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.700 led the charge 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.720 to abolish slavery, 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:13.200 right? 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.859 In the transatlantic 00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:16.099 slave trade. 00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:17.279 And even in America, 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.659 they said two-thirds 00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:19.619 of the abolitionists 00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:20.959 were all clergymen, 00:30:21.399 --> 00:30:21.639 right? 00:30:21.959 --> 00:30:23.119 They led the charge 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:23.919 throughout 00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:25.019 to good deeds 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.879 that even the world 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:26.959 saw as good 00:30:26.959 --> 00:30:27.559 and recognized 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.679 and praised God for. 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.939 And that's how 00:30:29.939 --> 00:30:30.659 we ought to live. 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.839 And so let's continue 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.639 as a church 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:34.480 in this venerable tradition, 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.299 right? 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.259 To be subject 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.179 to human institutions 00:30:37.179 --> 00:30:38.419 as servants of God. 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.719 With that in mind, 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.459 let's pray.