Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:12

1Pe 2:12  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

And let’s add:

Col 4:5-6  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.  (6)  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

And

Psa 18:49  "For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name.

Gentiles, outsiders, nations." – uhhh, non-believers?  Right!

I remember an old saying, “You are the only Gospel some people will ever see/hear.” 

It is not an easy thing to make our faith plain in our work, play and other situations.   We are strongly encouraged not to.  Indeed in some situations we can get into trouble – big trouble – for expressing our faith in non-church settings.

However, those with whom I have worked  who have experienced difficulties were either very obnoxious about it or they were simply under attack for being a believer.  It’s the obnoxious part we want to pray about.  We really need to understand that there is more to our “evangelism” than the Roman Road or the Acts Tracks.

In the passage(s) above, we are given very sound direction concerning how we are to “be” and “do” among the outsiders.  Look at the example of the early believers in Act 2:42-47.  The believers simply led lives that glorified God and found themselves, “having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

No revivals, no programs, no outreach, just living together as Christ called them to.  Not that revivals, programs or outreach are wrong – but they aren’t the early example. 

It really comes down to you and me, the individual believer.  We never want to deny our faith but we can be wise in where, how and why we express it.  We’ll cover it later, but Peter writes in chapter 3:

1Pe 3:15-16  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,  (16)  having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

I want to point out that is it not our doctrine, denomination, creed or other “credentials” about which we will be asked.  It is our “hope,” about which we are to prepare a defense (answer or plea).  Hope, and upon or in what (actually who) it resides. 

Our conduct and speech needs to testify to our submission and dependence upon God.  Not only that, but our lives need to demonstrate the hope we have in His promises. 

What would that look like in your life?  No, not in the life of a believer, but in the life of you the believer.  You may be one among many believers but there are times when you are the only one present.  What can your life look like by His power and providence?

A dear friend of mine sent out an email the other day decrying the abundance of sex and alcohol themed advertisements on the many sports channels.  It was a clear rational and impassioned plea for Christian discretion.  Of course, it was all I could do not to write him back and ask, “Why are you watching that?”

Let me play with an analogy here.  If you go to a friend’s house and they offer you cake and you refuse it because you are diabetic, is that bad?  If they offer you fresh baked bread and you refuse it because you can’t process gluton, is that bad?  If you go to their house and they offer you a milkshake and you refuse because you are lactose intolerant, is that bad?

As a believer, we are sin intolerant.  Whoa now – what I mean is that sin (in any guise) is BAD for us.  It is toxic for us – especially if we know it’s bad for us – then it’s really bad for us.  2 Cor 1:12 - - 2 Cor 4:2 - - Rom 2:15

Am I telling you that you can’t go to that special football party?  No, but I am telling you I can’t.  Am I telling you that you can’t joke and poke fun around the water cooler?  No, but I’m telling you I can’t.

Patti and I have been really examining this aspect of our lives.  How do we appear to outsiders?  Do they see hope and holiness or confusion and compromise?  Can outsiders see a difference in our lives?  Is the demonstration of our faith, in word and deed, gentle and respectful?