Digging Deeper: Submission to Authorities
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
1 Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)
SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITIES
We have a lot of tension around politics today. Election seasons bring out the best and worst in people, and it can feel overwhelming to navigate through it all. But Peter writes to a group of believers living in an even more politically charged environment than ours.
When Peter writes these words, things were far from ideal. He was living under Roman rule. It wasn’t like he could vote for who was in charge. The Roman Empire was a dictatorship, and the last two emperors, Claudius and Caligula, had been awful rulers. Claudius was known for his cruelty, and Caligula’s reign was infamous for his madness and tyranny. And yet, as bad as they were, Nero, who was coming to power, made them look tame.
At the time Peter writes this letter, Nero’s rule is still early. It’s ironic that, for a short time, he might have seemed like an improvement compared to his predecessors. However, history shows how terribly wrong things went. Nero had an intense hatred for Christians. He would eventually order the great fire of Rome, watch it burn from his balcony, and then blame Christians. From there, persecution escalated. Christians were fed to lions, burned alive, and brutally executed for sport. This was the government Peter was under. This was the political climate he was writing about.
And yet, in the midst of all this, Peter writes these counter-cultural verses. Peter is telling believers to submit to authority, even to an authority as corrupt and hostile as Rome. Why? Because submission to earthly authority is an act of submission to God’s sovereignty. God has allowed this authority to exist, and our submission reflects trust in His greater plan.
I know times are tense right now as we head into election season. I don’t know where you stand politically, but no matter where you fall on the political spectrum, there’s a lot of anxiety, anger, and division. People are passionate about who they believe should lead, and every election cycle seems to carry more weight than the last.
It’s easy to think that everything hinges on the next vote, the next law, the next leader. And yes, politics are important because they affect real lives. But as Christians, Peter reminds us that we are called to something higher. Our ultimate hope doesn’t rest in an emperor, a president, or a political party—it rests in God. We can engage in the political process, but we do so with the perspective that God is ultimately in control, no matter who holds office.
Peter knew how hard this was for his readers, and he still encourages them to be subject to human authorities “for the Lord’s sake.” In doing so, they were bearing witness to God’s order and plan, even when they didn’t understand it. The same is true for us. We may not always understand why certain leaders come to power, but we are called to honor them—not because they are always worthy of honor, but because our actions reflect our trust in God’s greater sovereignty.
But what does submission look like in our context? Does it mean blind obedience? No. Peter doesn’t say we should follow government leaders into sin or violate our consciences. In fact, Scripture makes it clear that when human laws conflict with God’s commands, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). But in all things that don’t violate God’s law, we are to show respect and honor, even when we disagree with policies or the person in power.
This doesn’t mean we disengage or remain silent on important issues. Far from it. We are called to stand up for truth, justice, and righteousness. But we do so from a place of peace, not panic. We remember that no matter what happens in an election, God is still on the throne. Our allegiance is ultimately to Him.
Peter’s words challenge us to rethink how we engage with politics. Are we driven by fear, anger, and division? Or are we rooted in trust that God is ultimately in control?
So, as we head into this election season, let’s take a step back. Let’s remember that our hope doesn’t rest in an earthly leader. Let’s engage with wisdom and grace, submitting where we can, standing firm where we must, and trusting God in all things. Just as Peter called the early Christians to honor the emperor, we are called to honor those in authority today, for the Lord’s sake and for the sake of our witness in a world that desperately needs to see His peace.
Sellers Hickman serves as College Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their one year old, Emery. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.