😮 Honoring our leaders…

Let’s be real—dishonor is everywhere, even in Christian circles. Whether it’s the “Let’s Go Brandon” chant or making fun of the assassination attempt of President Donald Trump, it’s clear that disrespect toward government leaders has become normal. Some might say, “Come on, it’s just a joke!” And I’ll be honest—I’ve laughed at some of this stuff before too. But let’s take a step back and really think about it.

What Does Dishonor Actually Mean?

The Oxford Dictionary defines dishonor as bringing shame, disgrace, disrespect, or discredit. Now, let’s go back to those examples. Does chanting “Let’s Go Brandon” fall into any of those categories? What about making fun of an attempted assassination? If we’re being honest, yeah, they do.

But dishonor isn’t just a modern issue. It’s been part of American culture for a long time—whether through public criticism, political leaders tearing each other down, or how the media portrays them. Did you know that four U.S. presidents have been assassinated? Abraham Lincoln (1865), James A. Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901), and John F. Kennedy (1963). And the Bible already told us this would happen: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

How Should We Respond?

As Christians, how should we treat government leaders—even the ones we don’t agree with? Let’s look at what Peter said:

“Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.” (1 Peter 2:13)

Now, here’s the crazy part—Peter was talking about Nero. This guy was no friend to Christians. Historical accounts say that after the Great Fire of Rome, Nero blamed Christians for it and used that as an excuse to have them killed—fed to lions and worse. Yet Peter still told believers to submit to authority. Why?

Peter wasn’t saying, “Agree with everything your leaders do.” He wasn’t saying, “Obey them even when they go against God.” But he was making a point—respect the position, even if you can’t respect the person. That doesn’t mean we stay silent about corruption or evil. But it does mean we handle it in a way that reflects Christ.

Honoring God While Resisting Evil

Martin Luther King Jr. said it well:

    “One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”

This principle is all over Scripture. Take Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—they refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue, even though it meant getting thrown into a fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:16-28) But notice how they did it. They didn’t curse him out, mock him, or start a rebellion. They stood firm, but they did it with honor.

How Do We Look Different?

Dishonor is everywhere. It’s in the news, on social media, in memes, and even in conversations with friends. But as followers of Christ, we’re called to be different. Peter’s words and these Bible stories give us a picture of what the Kingdom looks like when it comes to honoring leaders.

So let’s choose to be set apart. Let’s stand against corruption, but let’s do it in a way that still reflects honor. It won’t always be easy, but if we’re serious about living for Christ, it’s worth it.

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