Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Titus 3:1-2

It’s been said that it is best to “never discuss religion and politics at the dinner table.” As we enter into another election year, to say that the political climate in the United States is volatile is an understatement. While we are becoming more and more polarized as a people, followers of Christ are still called to be good citizens.

It is easy to forget that when Paul wrote the above words to Titus, the world was largely under the control of the Roman emperor, Nero, who was less than kind to those who had committed their lives to Christ. Persecution was intense and churches would have been underground, yet Paul reminds Titus and his readers to be submissive and obedient.

Was Paul teaching that we should comply with every law of the land? He said that we should “be submissive to rulers and authorities” but what about an exception of laws that would cause us to disobey God?

Paul never compromised his faith in Christ. Never offered or accepted a bribe. Always stood firm, but could also never be accused to be a bad “Roman” citizen by his actions. His only failure was his undying dedication to the message of the Gospel and for that, he wasn’t willing to compromise. But, from what we read in Scripture, they were each models of the kind of behavior Paul described in the verses above.

To be the light to the world around us, we lose credibility when we are known as lawbreakers. In his first Epistle, Peter summed up the kind of people we are to be –

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:16-17).