Building Bridges Series

This is the last message about worldviews. We have established that only a Biblical worldview can satisfactory answer the many questions of this life and the Biblical worldview is the only one that see the world as it truly is. But what about those without a godly and Biblical worldview? Those who are lost and destined for eternity in hell? Jesus commands us to be His witnesses to the world.

Acts 1:8b … and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

We are call to be witnesses here at home as well as the remotest part of the world. A question was asked to Ellen and I as we were interviewing to be missionaries. We were asked about our call to foreign missions, but we also asked about our witness to our neighbors and co-workers. To be a missionary on the foreign mission field, we must first be a missionary at home. Being a witness, being a missionary, begins in your home. So how do we connect with the Gospel to those who do not know the gospel, with those who do not have the view of the world that we have?

We are to build bridges. We are to find common ground and build upon that. We are to never compromise on the truth.

1 Peter 3:13–17

When Henry Ford purchased a large insurance policy, the Detroit newspapers blazoned the fact, since the amount was so large and he was so prominent. The story was read by one of Ford’s old friends, who happened to be in the insurance business. The old friend went to confront Ford to see if the story was true. When Ford assured him that it was, the friend asked him why the policy was not purchased from him, since he was a personal friend and had been in insurance for many years. Ford’s reply was, “You never asked me.” How many of our friends can say to us, “You never asked me,” as to our sharing Christ with them? [1]

An extensive study released in May 2002 depicts religious life in America as both hopeful and cautionary. The Lilly Endowment sponsored the survey and involved interviews with 300,000 worshippers in 2,200 churches, representing 8 denominations found that three-fourths of churchgoers report they came the first time because someone invited them. Yet 54 percent of those surveyed said they had not invited anyone to church in the past year.[2]

Our biblical worldview would confirm to us that we have a world that is lost and going to hell. How concern are we about that? Not much judging by the how much we evangelizing we do.

1 Peter 3:13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

Peter asks a rhetorical question here with the implied answer of “no one.” There is two ways to take this question he asks. In context with what came previously, Peter could be inferring to divine judgment. In that case, if we are eager to do God’s good work, then we will not be judged for that eagerness (or zealousness). But looking at what comes next where Peter says “even if we should suffer” implies that we might suffer harm.

We look around this world gone upside down, where good is called bad, and bad and evil is called good (Isaiah 5:20), we can and do see many suffering for being zealous for doing good. The history of Christian martyrs clearly show this.

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

The call for believers is clear. We are to be righteous and do good, even if we suffer for doing so and regardless of the world’s take on our conduct. Peter says “you are blessed.” God blesses and we will experience happiness for doing right. That is the meaning of blessed. We are happy for doing right not from the suffering that may result. But Peter quotes for Isaiah 8:12ff when he says “AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED.” This is an interesting quote Peter chose to use. Let's look briefly at the background to this OT quote.

Ahaz, King of Judah, faced a crisis because of an impending invasion by the Assyrian army. The kings of Israel and Syria wanted Ahaz to join them in an alliance, but Ahaz refused; so Israel and Syria threatened to invade Judah! Behind the scenes, Ahaz confederated himself with Assyria! The Prophet Isaiah warned him against ungodly alliances and urged him to trust God for deliverance. “Sanctify the Lord of hosts [armies] Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread” (Isa. 8:13). As Christians, we are faced with crises, and we are tempted to give in to our fears and make the wrong decisions. But if we “sanctify Christ as Lord” in our hearts, we need never fear men or circumstances. Our enemies might hurt us, but they cannot harm us. Only we can harm ourselves if we fail to trust God. [3]