1 Timothy 2:1-4 – We are in structed to pray for those in authority, that they would allow us to peacefully live out our faith
In the history of the US, God has largely answered that prayer with a “yes”
We count this as a blessing from God…as we should
In today’s passage, Peter writes about a different kind of blessedness that comes when being a Christian brings down the displeasure of society (i.e. when it’s God’s will to permit persecution)
As we’ve seen before in this book, Peter is writing to Christians who are being increasingly mistreated and marginalized
The Roman Empire was fairly tolerant of a wide variety of religious beliefs, but Christianity claims to be the only way to the only true God whose righteous standards apply to all people…and this exclusivity was hateful and dangerous
Persecution would continue to escalate in the following years, eventually claiming Peter’s own life
Rather than railing against the persecutors, Peter instructs the Christians on how to view and respond to this suffering as a source of blessing
This is of value to us as in our country a growing segment of society views biblical Christianity with open hostility
Some of what is said is also of value in facing suffering in general, whether it comes from hostility or some other source (sickness, tragedy, etc.)
(12-16) Suffering & Blessing
(12) Suffering should not come as a surprise to the Christian
We American Christians tend to act shocked and/or outraged when we or someone we know (or even someone we hear about third/fourth hand) faces mistreatment or hostility for being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ
“That can’t happen here!” (cue the outraged social media postings, the calls for a boycott, and the fixation on “the good old days” and how to bring them back)
Sounds like the original audience may have been tempted to a similar reaction
John 15:18-21 – Jesus made it very clear that following him means being treated like him…which includes hatred from those who reject his Word
The first century church living in the relatively tolerant Roman Empire was not exempt
21st century American Christians living in a land with constitutional guarantee of religious freedom are not exempt
Luke 6:36 – In fact, Jesus said that if our beliefs and the behavior that flows from them never upsets anyone, that’s not a good sign
It puts us in company with false prophets of the OT who said what people wanted to hear rather than genuinely speaking the Word of the Lord
It probably means that in some areas we have adopted worldly values that contradict Scripture to avoid offending the world
It probably means that our supposed faith has so little impact on our daily life that we are indistinguishable from the world
God uses serious trials (“fiery ordeals”) to test (i.e. demonstrate the genuineness of) our faith
Peter is emphasizing trials in the form of hostility from society, and other passages (e.g. James 1:2ff) say similar things about trials more generally (painful situations, loss, etc.)
It’s easy to claim faith in God when everything is going well…
…but what about when it will make people think you are weird or even turn them against you?
…and what about when life is not turning out how you expected, and you don’t feel a sense of God’s presence?
Trials are designed help us gain perseverance in trusting God and doing his will when there is no earthly reason to do so
“[Satan’s] cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do [God’s] will, looks around upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys” (C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, p. 40)
It shows our faith to be genuine, not a dead faith that produces no works
(13-14) Mistreatment for Christ’s sake is a cause for rejoicing as it shows God’s favor
It demonstrates that you are so closely identified with Jesus Christ that you are being treated as he was treated, and that should be encouraging…as Peter knows from personal experience:
Matthew 26:74-75 – he denies Jesus, escaping possible physical danger, and is deeply ashamed and grieved
Acts 5:40-42 – The apostles, having been beaten, are overjoyed that they get to be so much like Jesus and continue with the same godly action that led to the beating
Being insulted or harmed for Jesus’ sake is an indication that God’s favor is upon you (blessed)
You are so closely identified with him that when he comes in all his glory it will be a joyful occasion as your faith is vindicated and you are welcomed to your true home
Even now, this side of glory, this close identification with Jesus is an indication that the presence of God Himself is with you in the person of the Holy Spirit
The phrasing is a little odd, but this seems designed as an allusion to how the Holy Spirit is described in Isaiah 11:1-2 (relationship between Spirit & Messiah)
The same Spirit who rested upon Jesus, guiding and empowering his earthly ministry rests upon us, the ones identified with him
This is not through any deserving on our part, but as a gift of God accepted by faith
(15) Peter warns against bringing suffering on yourself by sinful, foolish behavior
Suffering is not an honor if it is brought about by sinful criminal behavior (not talking about the times when the only choices are “obey God or obey man”)
E.g. The evangelist who claimed to be suffering for Christ when prosecuted/imprisoned for well-documented tax evasion and associated dishonest business practices in 2006
Even if the accuser/judge is partly motivated by anti-Christian bias, you lose credibility
You can hardly claim to be a Christian facing persecution for Jesus’ sake when the thing that got you in this position is a sin against both God and human law
Rather than a testimony to faith in the face of persecution you become an object lesson of Christian hypocrisy bringing dishonor to the name of Jesus
This is why Peter repeatedly emphasizes having a clear conscience
After listing criminal charges, he adds “or as a meddler”
The idea is someone who pokes their nose into other people’s business: a busybody
It isn’t a blessed situation to bring persecution on yourself by being obnoxious
There are times when public sin needs to be publicly spoken against, or the ongoing sin of a brother/sister should be gently privately addressed
… but we are not the “morality police” tasked with confronting, correcting, or punishing every wrong behavior we see from individuals out in the world (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)
E.g. The guy from the XKCD comic who can’t go to bed because “someone is wrong on the internet.” He has to correct every error he sees online
Don’t spend your time nitpicking the sins of unbelievers and being shocked when someone who is unsaved acts like someone who is unsaved
Trying to scold or coerce someone into good behavior does little to no good
No one is saved by good behavior or feels the love of God through constant criticism…generating hostility through nitpicking does not bring God’s blessing
(16) If we do genuinely suffer for living in steadfast obedience, there is no shame
In the early days of the church, the title Christian was applied to them by others who probably intended it as a bit of an insult
The implication was probably similar to someone calling you a Jesus freak
Peter says, if people want to insult you for your dedication to Jesus Christ and his way, you should wear that as a badge of honor
If your dedication to Jesus brings insults, you have nothing to be ashamed of
You don’t need to be ashamed of being considered a bad person because of it
You don’t need to be ashamed of or apologize for what the Word of God says
A willingness to suffer rather than hide your faith or compromise your behavior brings glory to God: It shows that God and his kingdom are worth more than the approval and the things of this present world
(17-18) Suffering & Judgment
Peter goes on to connect suffering with judgment
This is not in the sense of Christians being judged and condemned for their sins
We know that Jesus took our condemnation (Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.)
We also know that God disciplines those who belong to him to help get us back on the right path when we wander (Hebrews 12), but that does not seem to be the main point here
This is judgment in the sense of separating those who belong to God from those who will face final condemnation
When professing Christians face hostility from society, it draws a distinction between people with genuine faith and people who do not truly have a relationship with God
Most obviously, people openly rejecting God’s Word with hostility toward those who live and teach it show themselves to be far from God
Remember Jesus’ words that we already looked at in John 15:20b-21
You cannot honestly claim to know God while despising and rejecting what he has revealed in his Word through the person of Jesus Christ and teaching of his chosen, Holy Spirit-inspired apostles
Times of hostility and persecution also tend to show which professing Christians are truly trusting in Jesus and which are just empty professions
When the cost of following Jesus is likely to be social rejection, loss of employment, or worse Bible-preaching churches may shrink and fewer people may make professions of faith
…but the faith of those who remain is often stronger and purer because they have deliberately counted the cost and decided that faith in Jesus is of infinitely greater value than anything in this world
This sounds a note of warning:
If those who belong to God face difficulty and suffering by the will of God as part of what he is doing in their lives and in the world, imagine what is in store for those whose sins are not forgiven.
Don’t find that out by personal experience, because by then it is too late
Trust in Jesus to save you
It will make your life more difficult in some ways, but anything you give up or suffer pales in comparison to the glorious eternity that awaits
(19) Suffering & Perseverance
Finally, Peter urges Christian to persevere in the face of suffering, trusting their souls/lives to faithful, Almighty God
He uses very similar wording as he used to describe Jesus’ suffering in 2:21-24
Jesus, as our example suffered (probably far worse and far more than we ever will)
He did so without verbal or physical retaliation
He trusted his Father’s will to be truly righteous and good
Through his willing innocent suffering he provided us salvation
We are asked to steadfastly trust that God’s will for our life is good and loving…even when for a time it involves suffering
Applications
The last two words of the passage give us the main application from this passage
Rather than hide away from the world grumbling about the good old days, ranting in outrage, or trying to exact some sort of revenge in the face of hostility from society the admonition is very simply to trust God enough to keep on “doing good”
Hostility from society becomes an opportunity to experience the blessing of God by showing the same kind of unconditional love for others as he has for us
That includes providing physical helping others when we can…including the very people who are most hostile to us (Romans 12:19-21)
That includes gently and respectfully sharing the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and praying for God to work in their hearts (2 Timothy 2:23-26)
…because ultimately those who mistreat us are not the enemy…they are victims and dupes of our true enemy in need of our prayers, not our hatred.
Let any hostility you experience for being a follower of Jesus Christ move you to compassion rather outrage.
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