Strategy

For the Lord’s sake be subject to every human authority, whether to the emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. – 1 Peter 2:13-14 (NRSVUE) 

Oh, how I despise these verses. The amount of injustice they have encouraged people to put up with over the years, from slavery to institutionalized homophobia to police brutality and beyond. The impossible respectability they have convinced some they need to achieve before they can create change. All the ways I myself have chosen to be a good boy, to behave when instead I should have been not being-have. 

Thank God these verses aren’t the only biblical guide for how people of faith should relate to problematic civil authorities. Moses vs. Pharaoh. Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego vs. Nebuchadnezzar’s laws. Shiphrah and Puah vs. Pharaoh’s decree. The magi vs. Herod. Esther vs. Haman. Thank God that, on balance, the biblical models we have are for resistance and disobedience when faithfulness to God conflicts with the will of potentates. 

I’m an “unjust laws are no laws at all,” bring down the mighty from their thrones, civil disobedience (or at least malicious compliance) kind of person—or I’m trying to be, anyway. I also believe that to achieve any goal, especially in the face of resistance, you need multiple strategies. Sometimes you might need to look like you’re behaving even when you’re not. Sometimes, your movement needs cover, plausible deniability. For that reason, even though I despise them, I’m grateful for these verses. Because sooner or later there will come a time when their recommendations are just the right thing for Christians—not to uphold the system, but as a strategy for bringing it to its knees. 

Prayer
For strategies that are usually the right ones and for strategies that are only right sometimes, thank you. Amen.

About the Author
Quinn G. Caldwell is Chaplain of the Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell University. His most recent book is a series of daily reflections for Advent and Christmas called All I Really Want: Readings for a Modern Christmas. Learn more about it and find him on Facebook at Quinn G. Caldwell.