“Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect,
not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are
unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person
bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if,
when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when
you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds
favor with God.” (1 Peter 2:18–20, NASB95)
Today’s post is not as much a look at verses 2:18-20 as it
is my understanding of how one individual seems to be applying these verses in
a very difficult situation.
This morning as I was reviewing the news I read that the
Supreme Court in the State of Washington ruled against a 71 year-old
grandmother who had been in the floral business for 30 years because she would
not prepare flowers for a same-sex wedding. The customers in question had
been customers of hers for some time and she would continue to serve them in
the future, but she could not do this one thing for them as it would violate
her biblical convictions. Rather than becoming embittered against them and rebelling
against the government and the courts, this woman has chosen to use the
resources made available to her to defend her position in the courts, knowing
that a loss might have severe consequences to her position and her possessions.
Even after the ruling was announced today, she appears to have remained
gracious but determined to see this case through to the end while reaffirming
her willingness to suffer whatever consequences might arise as a result.
This is a reality for Christians in the United States, where
our freedom to exercise our faith has long been enshrined in our Constitution.
These believers are now caught between two competing authorities. They are being
forced to navigate the path between them. Barronelle Stutzman, as an example today,
has decided to honor God by doing what He has put on her heart while respecting
the authority of the courts given to rule over our society. Notice that she did
not bend to the courts will, but that she has respectfully submitted herself to
the consequences of not bending while defending her position before them.
From the information that I have gleaned over time, it seems
that she is diligently seeking to walk this path of which Peter wrote when he
instructed us to be submissive to our masters (those in authority over us)
regardless of their intent whether it is in line with what we hold as good and
right or is opposed and even unreasonable. It appears that she has chosen to
keep her conscience clear before God while submitting herself to the authority
of the courts to suffer what is unreasonable and unjust. I have not seen any
record of her lashing out harshly and, in so doing, justifying harsh treatment
in response, but rather a she seems to have evidenced a steadied persistence to
do what is right while she entrusts herself to God.
I do not know how this will end or how it will end with
others who have found themselves similarly placed, but I pray that they will
continue to strengthened to stand with a clear conscience before God, that
justice will prevail, and that those opposed might be silenced by their grace.
These are difficult days, but our God is faithful. He not
only strengthens us, but He has given us the instruction of His Word and the
example of those we find in it. In a very similar passage inspired by the same
Spirit and penned by another apostle we read, “Slaves, be obedient to those who
are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the
sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as
men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that
whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord,
whether slave or free.” (Ephesians 6:5–8, NASB95)
“But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you
patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”
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