Governmental authorities and honor
God tells us in the fourth commandment that we are to respect our governmental authorities that he places over us. I know this for a fact and have believed it all my life. However, certain recent events have raised significant doubts within me about this teaching, primarily because I do not believe that an appropriate punishment for attempting to use counterfeit money is getting beaten severely and then choked to death in the streets. I am also aware of several other passages from God's Word that all seem to command the same thing when interpreted in a modern sense, which is don't be a racist. (Matthew 22:36-40, Galatians 3:28, and John 3:16 to name a few). My question is this: is a government with policies, implicit or not, that directly affect a certain racial group or people worthy of the respect outlined within the Fourth Commandment? Along with this, if I am deeply unsatisfied with an issue that might affect me or others, how do I protest it without breaking the fourth commandment?
āSubmit yourselves for the Lordās sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do rightā¦honor the emperorā (1 Peter 2:13-14, 17).
What is remarkable about those words is their historical context. The individual who filled the role of Roman emperor at the time of Peterās writing was none other than Neroācruel, Christian-hating Nero. By no means did Nero deserve respect or honor because of his sinful actions. On the other hand, Nero occupied a position of honor. He was in that position because of Godās allowance (Romans 13:1-7). Neroās personal behavior did not remove the instruction to āhonorā from Peterās words.
Nero is an example of a person who did not represent God well. According to the Fourth Commandment, God has representatives in the home, the church and the government. Some of those representatives represent God well; others do not. If a parent does not represent God well, that does not mean all parents fail to represent God the way he wants. If a pastor does not represent God well, that does not mean all pastors are failures at representing God the way he wants. If a government official does not represent God well, that does not mean all government officials fail to represent God the way he wants.
If you are deeply unsatisfied with an issue that might affect you or others, there are legal and peaceful ways for you to express your dissatisfaction and seek remedies. Some of those ways include peaceful assemblies, petitions and letters to representatives. Above all, you have prayer as a powerful resource to bring about change. Consider this instruction, again written during the time of Emperor Nero: āI urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all peopleāfor kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holinessā (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Here is such a prayer: āLord of all nations, I praise you for the blessings you have showered on my country. Guide and guard your representatives in government as they care for the needs of all citizens. Give them wisdom to rule our society with honesty and justice, that we may have peace in our lives and opportunities to witness to your love. Amen.ā (Christian Worship, 136)