Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 1 Peter 2:13-19

The ordinances of man change so often that it is frequently difficult to keep track of them. Despite the fickleness of man the scriptures admonish us to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. In what way will our submitting to the ordinances of man be for the Lord's sake? Doing well in rendering submission to the ordinances of man will silence the ignorance of foolish men. The scriptures do not assert that our eternal salvation is contingent upon whether of not we are found submissive to the ordinances of men. Neither does it dictate that the peace of the church will be destroyed if a member is found offending an ordinance of man. It is for the benefit of all concerned that everyone exercises a submissive spirit regarding the ordinances imposed upon us here in this world.

The passage goes on to speak of the free. In what sense is a man called free and yet implored to be submissive? The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death. Not only are we free from the law of sin and death but we are free from the ignorance and foolishness that plagues the evildoing worldlings. The free are at liberty, but this scripture tells us that liberty can be deceptive. It says don't use liberty as a cloak of maliciousness. There must be a way that brethren may abuse their liberty making it a pretext or a veil to do injury or evil. We are to use our God given liberty to serve our Lord.  He isn't fickle. The Lord says " I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return." If those that exercise their liberty to be servants of the Lord would subject themselves to their Master with all fear and reverence they would not only be pleasing to their Lord but exhibit love of the brotherhood and respect for the Lord's Church.

Surely the child of God that has a home in the church will suffer grief as a pilgrim and a stranger in this world. Surely he or she shall suffer the onslaught of the devil trying to destroy the peace of the church. Sometimes it seems all backwards, it seems that the world should suffer and the child of God should rejoice. We shall rejoice in glory for all eternity. Is it so wrong to suffer afflictions at the hands of the world for a little season? Let's flee the lusts that overwhelm the worldlings and let's be addicts to the ministry of the saints. That's what Paul called the house of Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15). We are told to submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. If we are found labouring this way we need not concern ourselves about using our liberty to cloak malice. The "labouring addicts" love the Lord and they walk in the newness of life, the Lord's church. 10/7/03 Submitted with love, Brother Marty Hoogasian