Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:14

1 Peter 4: 14  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.   ESV

The gist of this passage is, "If you are insulted for the very name of Christ ((and you are/will be)) . . . ."

We are to expect to be insulted (reviled, upbraided, rejected) regardless of the good you do.  This is not something that may happen but something that does and will happen.  We are not to be "surprised" at it as we are not to be surprised at the fiery trial.

It's easy to see, on the grand scale, the insults aimed at Christ and His followers.  Through the justice system, corporate policies and even cultural groups, the name of Christ and His followers are insulted.

But what about on an intimate personal level?  When was the last time you were personally insulted because of your faith, because of your Lord? 

For us, in this country, it doesn't happen often.  Usually, we see it and experience it in public confrontations over some issue concerning which we climb out of our cozy safe places and make a public show or statement (en masse).  But a personal, one to one insult?  I think they are too rare in our culture.

Why?

Because we stay in our comfortable little enclaves and when we are among non-believers it's difficult, if not impossible, to tell us from them.  We "tolerate" things we know are wrong.  We stand silent - or worse, we take part - in many of the sins we consider, "just being human."  No one can tell we are His unless, for some reason, we tell them we are His - but in this culture - we're not telling them much.

We may tell them we "go to church."  We may even tell them that we are very active in church.  But we will rarely go so far as to tell them what that means in the context of the world and our lives outside of that cozy enclave we call church.

Where do "they" see His light in your life?  Where do you stand for His holiness, righteousness and/or justice?

An example of where we fail to stand plainly for Him is our attiude toward Israel (the nation state).  We may rail against the persecution of believers in Iran or Pakistan or New York City, but we are nauseatingly silent concerning the persecution of Christians in Israel.  Both Jewish and "Palestinian" believers are openly persecuted with a wink and a nod from the government.  Democracy?  Freedom?  I think not.

If anything, Israel is more socialist thaN democratic.  Freedom of speech and freedom of religion may be "technical" rights but they are not "protected" rights.  Government agencies, when they aren't working with them, turn a blind eye to those groups that harass, persecute and even do violence against the followers of Yeshua the Messiah.

And yet - for a big part - the church here proclaims it an "evil" to not support Israel regardless of the fact that it is a godless, secular state that allows - even cooperates - in the persecution of our brothers and sisters.  We have accepted what we have been told about the founding of Israel and its place (that is of the modern Israel) in the biblical big picture.  Here, where we need to stand up and cry out against the persecution of believers, we are silent - or worse, we ignore the evil and support the evil doer.

The cry against the early believers was two-fold.  They we called atheists and disturbers of the cultural/social/political order.  Like our culture, the Roman culture was pagan but that paganism was part and parcel of Rome.  You could not separate the "gods" and their worship from the political or social order.  Believers, in rejecting (let us say not tolerating) this pagan life-style were indeed opposing the empire.  (Oh, they were called atheists because they rejected all the "gods" of the empire - they were very specific mono-theists - they were --- wait for it ---- exclusive.)

Are you, in the practical living from day to day, a friend of God or a friend of the world?  Do you, "go along to get along"?  Do you stay silent when the Spirit is prompting you to speak?  Are you "apologetic" about your faith?

Want to try an experiment?  Take your Bible to work every day for a week.  At your break or lunch, take time to read it.  I suggest that once people notice, they will begin to act differently.  If you are asked if you are a believer respond with a joyous, "Oh yes, very much so!"  You will find it fascinating how people respond - and who responds how.

Certainly, we are to be gracious and kind to non-believers but that does not mandate that we tolerate or ignore, much less accept, sinful behavior in our presence.  It is, as Peter says, "the Spirit of glory and of God," that rests on us - but we have to ask, can "they" tell?  Can they discern it?  Or, have I done a good enough job of concealing it so that they think I'm one of them?  Have I hidden, covered my light so well that they don't see it?

If I am not insulted, reviled, rejected, or at least kept at a "safe" distance because of my faith - why is that?  It they are friends with the world and hence at enmity with God, why do we get along so well?  Why do I "fit in" with the enemies of my Lord and Master?

I was once fired from a job because I stood up for my faith.  It's a great feeling.  Oh, it was a tough time, but it was a great feeling.  But, I realized that experience also made me "gun shy" and hence a condition I have repented of and am seeking to correct.  What about you?  How do "they" tell you are His?  Or can they?

This and That 083012 Thinking it through.

Mat 7:21-23  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  (22)  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'  (23)  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

We all know “good” people; people who except for their lack of faith look and act a lot like believers.  They sacrifice, do good works, have kind hearts – we like them and enjoy their company.  We also admire their commitment to others.  But------

Then there’s this passage and we are confronted with His truth.  Uggg, uuuph… it is a hard blow.  It is really heartbreaking.

The tough part is in how to warn them of the judgment to come.

We hesitate to point out that which may well destroy our relationship.  We hesitate to be thought a fanatic.  We hesitate to be accused of “hate speech.”  We hesitate because the flesh is weak although the spirit is troubled and convicted.

We are His people to proclaim His excellencies (1 Peter 2).  Yet we hesitate.  We think of all the arguments they may have or the offense they may take or even the anger they might express and we hesitate.

However – I wonder if we actually stuck to, “proclaiming His excellencies,” instead of confronting them with their sin (which they don’t recognize) – if  the Spirit would find it more useful.  You know, talk about Him and His work in our lives and the lives of others.  Talk about His goodness and mercy and providence in our lives and the body of Christ.

I think of:

Heb 12:1-2  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  (2)  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

I then read chapter 11 of Hebrews and it is testimony after testimony of how God is true and faithful and merciful and gracious.  I begin to wonder if our “witness” isn’t bigger than the Roman Road, the Acts Tracks or the Bridge illustration.  I wonder if we are starting at the wrong (or at least the less helpful) place when we come with the scent of brimstone instead of the Balm of Gilead.

Bang – it comes to mind –

 Rom 2:3-4  Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God?  (4)  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

The kindness of God, His forbearance and patience – meant to lead us (and them??) to repentance?

Do we start with the offense of the cross or do we start with the grace and mercy – yes, the kindness of God as we have seen it made manifest?   

We are called, chosen to proclaim His excellencies – that’s just stuck in my head.  So what’s so hard about that?  Sure, if the Spirit is working in them we will get to the cross but why the rush?  I was once told that at the judgment, no one will get the wrong one. 

We are not here to win a debate or an election – this isn’t the point.  We are here to represent Him and His holiness.  I keep getting stuck on, “proclaiming His excellencies.”

So and I am asking, shouldn’t I start with Him and then me and then others who are His?  Can’t I, like Peter in Acts reach back into that wonderful old testimony about Him and his and proclaim that?  Should I not look for the opportunity to tell of His mercy and kindness in my life – isn’t that what I have to testify about?

As I think this way I am sensing a lightening of a load – with a smidge of anxiety.  I am excited about looking for opportunities to witness to His excellencies and just a little anxious about the cross part.

No, I’m not thinking of sugar-coating the Gospel – I’m trying to discern how to start with the “Good News” – and move the strangely offensive (????) “Best News.”   

And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  Mar 16:15

 

What, if any, are the differences between proclaiming the Gospel and proclaiming His excellencies?  Is not the Gospel the acorn of His excellencies – the nut of the matter, the whole giant oak of His excellencies made compact.

Ahhhhhh, I found it!

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

Amen and amen . . . .