Being a good citizen

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men... 1 Peter 2:13

Well, the general election is over, and most of us, whatever we may think of the result, are probably breathing a sigh of relief. Back to normal at last.

But what exactly is “normal”? Let’s be honest and admit that very often it means grumbling and complaining about our politicians. Why haven’t they done this, that and the other? Why don’t they make things better?

If it was down to me, how much better things would be!

There was a song many years ago that began “If I ruled the world”. Oh yes, all the things I would do! Abolish poverty! No more food banks! Cancel all taxes! Eliminate unemployment! Stop all wars and terrorism! Put an end to these terrible tragedies among desperate migrants fleeing their homeland!

All nonsense, of course. We know very well that we would do no better than our present politicians. 

So instead of criticising the politicians and asking why they don’t make the world a better place, why don’t we ask a different question: What can I - yes, little me - do to make the world a better place?

Make no mistake, God expects us to do just that. Jesus taught us to pray “May your kingdom come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. On earth - note that. Isn’t it sheer hypocrisy to pray that prayer if we’re not actually doing anything to bring it about? Shouldn’t we sometimes be the answer to our own prayers?

So - forget the politicians for a moment. What about me? What about you?

In 1 Peter 2:11-17 Peter has things to say to us, one of them with a vaguely “political” ring, to point us in the right direction. I’ve boiled them down to four.

(1) Recognise that this world is not your ultimate home.

In verse 11 he tells his Christian readers to think of themselves as “aliens and strangers” in this sinful world. Like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob way back in Genesis, always travelling, always on the move until God brought them to the Land of Promise, so too we are just passing through on our way to God’s final and perfect kingdom.

Most people naturally put all their eggs in an earthly basket, forgetting that, if you do that, when death comes (a) you can’t take them with you and (b) you have nothing to look forward to.

Question: Are any of us too immersed in this fallen world?

(2) Reject every form of sin.

Still in verse 11, Peter tells us to “abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul”.

Our world is full of sin, as we all know. And when the Bible speaks of sin it doesn’t just mean the “big” things like murder, theft, sexual vice, violence and all the rest. No, it means also things like pride, dishonesty, greed, jealousy, anger, gossip - I could go on.

Jesus said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness”. He said “Blessed are the pure in heart”.

Question: Are any of us harbouring secret sins?

(3) Fill your life with good things.

Getting rid of the bad stuff is vital, and with God’s help it can be done. 

But it isn’t enough. It needs to be replaced with the good. An alcoholic may, by sheer will-power, stop drinking. Great!  But unless he or she develops new and healthy habits to replace the drinking, the chances are that they will slip back into it. The gossip may manage for a time to clamp their tongue. But if they don’t develop new patterns of speaking the old habits will re-assert themselves.

Romans 12:21 puts it perfectly: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Question: Do we consciously try to “live such good lives among the pagans that they will...glorify God...”?

(4) Be a good citizen.

It’s in verses 11-17 that Peter gets a bit “political”. We are to “submit to the authorities” (unless, of course, they make demands we can’t square with our loyalty to Christ: that’s a different matter). And that means a whole host of things: keeping the law, paying our taxes and other dues, being good neighbours, making our contribution to our neighbourhood and to society as a whole, driving responsibly, praying for our leaders, whether the royal family or our politicians. 

Question: If every citizen were like me, what sort of country would this be?

No, we can’t change the whole world all at once. But we can change our little bit of it, and in so doing we bring glory to Jesus.

Lord God, help me, through your Holy Spirit, to leave every day better than I found it. Amen.