What is the thing that Americans fear the most? It is not taxes, or speaking in public, or even death…no. What Americans fear the most is – suffering. It can all be summed up when a loved one dies and death comes quickly to them. What do we say? At least they didn’t suffer…..
Americans fear suffering, we fear difficult circumstances in life we wish them not to come our way….
As we have been looking at the book of 1 Peter we have been finding that we will have difficult circumstances in our lives as Christians and as Christians we cannot avoid difficult circumstances. The idea that because I am a follower of Jesus, I will be protected from all things – is not biblical. Or, if I work at being good, righteous, and live my life well, nothing bad will happen to me – is not biblical either.
Difficult circumstances will come our way. But through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ we can make it through. We can overcome, and we can be whole people.
Peter has been letting us know how we are to deal with difficult circumstances that come our way. We saw one of the spiritual keys last week in verse 4 of chapter 3 - Nurturing a gentle and quiet spirit. One of the qualities we saw was a person does not fight back, when personally attacked. Even if it is uncalled for. Even if it is unfair.
The person with a gentle and quiet spirit: Does not seek vengeance - because they know God is just, and so they can suffer.
So, does God allow suffering in our lives? Yes, he does. Why? I think that is a very fair question, and I think the answer is somewhat complicated. Today, the apostle Peter doesn’t completely answer that question, but he does talk a little about the why, of suffering.
Let’s start by looking at the first two verses. Let’s look again at the NIV:
1Pet. 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
In verse one it is clear that Peter is telling us to look at Jesus as our example. Note: Here, he is not saying that because Jesus suffered you will suffer. He is saying that Jesus is the example of how we act when we suffer. When Peter says arm yourselves – He is using the same thought as Paul, putting on spiritual armor. Get yourself ready, it is going to happen at some point in your life.
In the NIV is says arm yourselves with the same attitude, be careful how you apply that; This is much more than a positive attitude. It is more about intent, than attitude. In fact a better meaning would be:
Arm yourselves with the same intent as Christ. Remember from chapter 3 – a gentle and quiet spirit. Not what was Jesus attitude when he faced difficult circumstances, what was his intent? His intent was to live for God the Father.
I don’t just try for an attitude adjustment, or a different perspective….
Those are 21st century concepts and they have a whole pop psychology built around them. I have to be careful, for these thoughts are so pervasive in our culture that I can read our culture right into what Peter is saying! I can say to myself, "If I just get up in the morning and think positive, praise the Lord the first thing, and have a positive attitude for the rest of the day, even with those who hate me, everything will work out".
And that is very, very nice. Isn’t it?
But, Peter is not saying for us to live that way. Being perky, does not equal a good Christian attitude. And folks who try this route, exhaust themselves and end up wondering, why isn’t this Christian thing working?
Well, Christianity works…the perky thing isn’t Christianity.
What is the intent Christ had in difficult circumstances? That’s what Peter is getting at - I should try to imitate that intent.
Let’s take a look at how the message translates this, it may help clarify things for some:
1Pet. 4:1 Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. 2 Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
Now, when Peter says, Christ Suffered – The grammar indicates suffering that happened in past that has an effect now. When Christ suffered – he finished with sin. It seems that suffering and sin are related. People sin against us and cause us suffering, but with suffering we can be rid of sin...the effects of sin.
Verse 2 – we can get a bit confused here if we don’t watch out. The subject of these verses is Christ being our model to follow.
Let’s take these two verses together. Jesus is our model for living well in difficult circumstances. We should arm ourselves with the same intent that Jesus had. His intent was to be done with sin. When we look at Jesus’ examplee, he did not live his life for earthly desire, but for the will of God. Why? He was done with sin.
Peter is always talking about concrete actions in this book. So he is not talking about the power of sin over us but the stopping of sinful acts. The message puts it well – being free from the tyranny of what you want.
Peter is talking about two parallel concepts coming together to make a powerful effect on our lives. Now this may sound a bit strange – but this is what Peter is saying, so listen carefully...There are two parallel things happening at the same time; Sin in our lives and suffering (which I refer to as difficult circumstances), When a person suffers he breaks the power of sin, which is rooted in the flesh, over his life. Once a person realizes from the example of Christ that he must live for God which means suffering of the flesh and thus battling sin this will lead to a parallel victory.
Ok. We have someone who is treating you unfairly. They are harping on you, hammering you, making your life difficult. How would you react, in a natural way? Anger, gossip, figure out how to get them back. Not only is that the old way of operating – it is also sinful. The way you used to react was a sin. But Peter asks us to act a new way – a quiet and gentle spirit. Not attacking back, not seeking vengeance, revenge,
but suffering, knowing that God is just and…your reaction is no longer sinful….but Godly.
So in my suffering. I conquer sin. I am done with it. In parallel. As I suffer injustice in a Godly way – I put sin aside. I now have a parallel victory!
A Christian armed with such insight will live accordingly – won’t they?
What a powerful thing God has given us!
There is a choice of taking the path of least resistance to our natural desire or committing ourselves to follow God’s will, even when it entails suffering.
Peter continues and says stand against the collective will of the pagans
V3. He gives us a list of vices, but we must place these in the context of the first century. This list of vices are special in the sense that they all take place in the context of pagan worship – he isn’t just talking about daily life – but worship. This type of worship is described in the OT as unlawful for Jews had long been not directly connected to Roman society. They were considered a colony within a roman city and therefore without expectation of joining in city celebrations.
No one noticed when Jews were not at celebrations
Christians on the other hand had been a part of the culture, before conversion their change of behavior would be very noticed. V4 neighbor would not be able to comprehend why they did not participate. Because of their abstinence from social situations they were seen as disloyal. Rumors were created they were ostracized.
Understand that in Roman culture many things were tied to a pagan god or goddess. A simple city celebration would honor, not jus the city, but the local deity. Christians, like Jews are not to participate.
In our day we do not have celebrations to pagan gods that we have to avoid….Well…at least on the surface. But our culture worships many things:Perfection of our body parts –
We see this in movies, magazines, talk shows.
Obsession with elective plastic surgery.
The display of wealth – you can’t get away from it.
The over devotion to a sport – at the expense of everything else.
The love of partying on the weekend, getting wasted.
These are a some easy ones to come up with.
So we see, friends, who are not Christians, or are not acting like Christians wondering, why are you not joining in.
If this has happened to you, first you notice that it is ok with them. Its cool, whatever you want to do. But then, as talk goes around, they begin to suspect something. Does he think he is better? And…. what is wrong with us?
Then your thinking, your intent, being different is threatening. Here is a great example you can try out: In a mixed group of people, say that you believe homosexuality is wrong. Chances are someone will at the very least insinuate that you are a bigot. Many you may get much more than that. It is your opinion, this is America, we have freedom of thought, and speech,but it is an opinion that is so different, that it threatens many people. And in verse 4, they heap abuse on you
How could you even think of such a thing!
That’s hate speech.
You are obviously homophobic.
Peter tells us in verse 5 It is their problem, not yours. Though it appears to be your problem when you suffer. But Peter says: You are to live for God, not anyone else. Not friends Not even family members. See, he is telling us to not only live in the moment but to look at the long term in these difficult circumstances.
Who is judge? God alone. None will escape the final judgment.
Our actions should be taken in light of this judgment.
It isn’t easy to live life under such circumstances, to have a gentle and quiet spirit when folks are giving you grief. So Peter talks about taking care of one another. V 8-11 Love is blind – that’s pretty much the bottom line. We in the church are not perfect, but it should be a place where one goes and isn’t attacked. So we should be gracious to each other, understanding life is difficult for each of us.
So he sums it all up, starting in verse 12.
12-19 So don’t be surprised about suffering.
if it happened to Jesus,
if it happened to the disciples,
if it happened to those in the early church,
many of whom were far better Christians than we will ever be….
Why would we be surprised that difficult times come our way?
Sure we have heard people tell us Jesus will make us healthy, wealthy, and all our problems will go away, and we want to believe them. But alas, they are liars, trying to make a buck off of us.
Let’s jump to 16. 1Pet. 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed,…At this point in time the term Christian was an abusive term thrown at people to show their contempt. "Lousy Christian…" At this point Christianity was an Illegal religion and those who practiced it were not seen as good citizens. So this is why what Peter says in previous chapter three becomes so pertinent.
Even though some folks cannot stand what Christians are about they have to stop and say, I really don’t like them, but, even so I have to admire them. What is it that makes them that way?
Let me end with this: in Verse 19, Peter tells us to commit ourselves
He means we are to hand over our most valued possession to God – ourselves. Peter has told us about a very valuable concept for our Christian walk, Submission – having that quiet and gentle spirit in all circumstances and here in this chapter he has pointed out one of the benefits.
When we live graciously through difficult circumstances, we, not only make it through those difficult times well, we also push back the sin which threatens to take over our lives again.
May the Lord enable us to see this in our suffering. Amen.
