1 Peter: For His Glory, by His GraceSample

When you think of the word “authority,” what comes to mind? Do you think of the government, law enforcement, the church, or even family relationships? Ideally, what should human authority look like in light of God’s ultimate authority?

These are big questions. As Christians, we believe that ultimate authority is reserved for God. In turn, God put human leaders on earth to help guide us closer to Him, and to glorify Him through their actions. Being under authority gives us the opportunity to grow in many ways, even though it can be difficult.

1 Peter 2:13–14 outlines two sides of relational authority that can help us think about this challenging topic.

Peter first instructs us to submit to authority “for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13). In the context of God’s plan, God sets humans in authority over others as part of the ordering of human society. God sends leaders to “punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right” (1 Peter 2:14).

But we acknowledge that those in positions of authority do not always lead as God intended, especially as we see the status of the Church, abuse scandals, leadership, and moral failures.

That might lead you to wonder how far you should follow Peter’s instruction in this passage. Should you only submit to authority that clearly reflects God’s intentions?

This question does not have an easy, one-size-fits-all answer. No human leaders are perfect because human beings are not perfect. However, your thoughts toward them and interactions with them should always be respectful and from a place of love.

Submitting to authority doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stand up for what is right, but it does ask you to think carefully about your actions. We follow God, and so we must follow authority in a way that glorifies Him. The way you respond to authority can demonstrate your faith as much as your actions of spreading the Gospel.

1. What do you believe 1 Peter 2 is saying about authority? How can we show respect to those in authority in our communities?
2. What does authority mean in the Bible? How about in our world? What are the tensions or differences between those two definitions?
3. How do you think God wants us to respond when leaders don’t seem to be reflecting Him?