”As many as are under a yoke as slaves, their own masters worthy of all honor let them be ruling, in order that NOT the name of God and the teaching may be being blasphemed.”
-Blasphemy. Blasphemy. It is speaking evily or even lightly about something sacred. Disrespect. It is a capital crime. Or was. In a theocracy, at least. In those places where the regard and reverence for the sacred is held in the strictest and highest esteem, speaking against that object of reverence can get you killed. Don't be dissin' that. This happened to be the case in Israel, where the devoutest of Hebrews dared not even pronounce the sacred name of Jehovah - Yahweh - lest they somehow contaminate Him with their own residual spiritual filth. Specifically, if you were one of His people, one of His chosen ones, you were charged with protecting His reputation. Your words and your very conduct reflected back on Him. Thus, speaking against Him, doing something contrary to His character or revealed will in some instances was even punishable by death (Leviticus 24.16). That was - on the surface at least - the crime of which Jesus was accused (Matthew 26.65-66). That’s how seriously the nation Israel regarded the importance of guarding the reputation of the one true God, the thrice-holy Lord of hosts, most high King of the Universe. Not only did Israel consider this a sacred trust, but so does the God of Israel Himself, the One Who chose them, Who reveals Himself in His Word and in all He has made. AND in the people He has chosen and (re)made! Always putting Himself out there, His reputation on the line and out there for all to see. He takes His reputation with the utmost regard. And the words and conduct of His people reflect back on Him.
-Thus does Paul invoke the serious charge of blasphemy against those slaves who would disrespect their masters. Not that they are blaspheming per se. But their dishonorable conduct towards their masters dishonors God all the same. And it incites their masters (some of whom are unbelievers) to speak against both them AND against their God. Even unbelievers understand the way of the universe, the moral law which God has written on their hearts. Though veiled and obscured from their understanding, and though their consciences are often seared and scarred and hardened, they nevertheless still instinctively know right from wrong. God has put this knowledge in them (Romans 2.15). All people understand that disrespecting a superior is wrong - whether by my actions or my attitude. Failure to respect a superior calls into question both my heart and values, along with whatever religious standard or deity might inform them. And so Paul says, masters are worthy of ALL honor. He uses the word, despot. Not kyrios, which means Lord. No, this word can refer to both reasonable and unreasonable masters, and is used of Jesus (Luke 2.29, 2Timothy 2.21, Jude 4), but it certainly gave rise to that word which in English conjures up those who wield absolute power in abominable ways. Despicable. Peter goes so far as to insist that even unreasonable masters are to be afforded all respect. Honor. When those of us who follow Christ honor the ones whom God Himself has put in authority over us (cf John 19.11, Romans 13.1, 1Peter 2.13-14), we show off the beauty of the Name and the teaching of the Lord Jesus. We make Him look good. He IS good, of course - all the time. But we can show this off by how we treat those in authority over us. Or not. We can detract from that, we can uglify the Name of God when we act or speak ugly towards our superiors (cf 2Peter 2.9-12). When we be dissin' them. We could very well be giving an unbelieving, unreasonable master another reason NOT to believe in Jesus. But it can feel good to do that, can’t it? To give air to our grievances and complaints against someone in authority over us? It feels good, doesn’t it? Cathartic, somehow. They deserve it, don’t they? They certainly don’t deserve my respect. I suggest that this disrespect is a fleshy indulgence. That’s what Peter is saying. And we ought not do it. We ought to be very careful before we go there. Seriously careful. How we relate to and regard our surperiors is serious business. God takes it very seriously (cf Numbers 12.8-10). So should we.
No comments:
Post a Comment