Take a Stand for Christ with your life!
1 Peter 3:13-17
Introduction
I read yesterday that there is a theory that has been around for some time now about “How to boil a live frog”. The theory states that you can boil a live frog in a pot of water, if the water is heated slowly enough — according to the story, if you place a frog into boiling water, it will immediately jump out, but if you place it in cold water that is slowly heated, it will gradually acclimatize itself to the increasing temperature and be unable to jump out before it is too late.
Whether or not that legend is factually correct – I believe it is clearly being demonstrated in the growing immorality of our society and not just the apathy and indifference towards Christianity, but the outright hostility and opposition being demonstrated on a number of fronts towards the Christian faith.
Had the enemies of Christianity in this country, back in the 1940’s and 50’s, and perhaps early 60’s instigated a full frontal and radical attack to ban public displays of Christmas and call for the removal of “In God We Trust” from our money and the removal of the 10 Commandments from the court houses, the acceptance and legitimizing of homosexual marriage, the recognition of pedophilia as as a consitutionally-guarded "personal freedom".
There would have been an immediate, massive, and passionate rejection of these views from by far the greater majority in this country that such a plan would have been relegated to only a mere handful of proponents on the lunatic fringe.
So rather than throw “the frog” into a pot of boiling water, they have been willing to bide their time and just ever so gradually and imperceptibly turn up the heat to the point where the frog has become complacently comfortable in the water without realizing that it’s death is immanent.
There comes a point of no return in this process where the frog loses control of its ability to save itself and control is then in the hands of the one turning up the heat. It would seem in many respects that we have already reached that point in this society.
The environment in which Peter wrote his letter was certainly one that was hostile to Christians and so it is as applicable to us now as it was to his hearers almost 2000 years ago:
Today from this passage Peter will outline five key principles that should characterize our lives as we respond to a hostile world and take a stand for Christ.
Read Scriptures: 1 Peter 3:13-17
I. We should be passionate about doing good.
Vs. 13 “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?”
When we are eager or zealous for doing the good thing and the right thing it is much harder to criticize and attack – not impossible, but certainly less likely. It becomes a lot tougher for the opposition to find stones to throw at us when we are passionately pursuing kindness and mercy and generosity and humility and thoughtfulness and consideration of the needs of others.
When doing good is the driving force of our lives then the wrong things quickly start to lose their fascination and attraction for us. When you are zealous to bless and enhance the lives of others in whatever way you are able, with a humble and serving heart, it has a powerful way of neutralizing destructive, aggressive, and foul passions both within us and within others towards us.
So the first response to a hostile world and taking a stand for Christ that is for us to be passionate about doing good.
II. Accept the possibility of Suffering.
Vs. 14 “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed."Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”
Peter wants us to understand that goodness on our part is not a 100% guaranteed blanket protection from all attack.
Jesus came among us as the very essence of all goodness and yet the darkness plotted and planned and tried in everyway possible to get rid of Him, to no avail of course.
So even as you and I pursue goodness we are to accept the possibility and likelihood of suffering. It comes with the package. It is part of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in this world.
Jesus said, "If you want to be my disciple, then take up your cross and follow me".
He said: “In this world you will have tribulation”. But thank goodness he didn’t just leave it there – He went on to say, “But be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”. God’s blessing, God’s presence will never leave us and His comforting and strengthening presence is particularly promised to us when we suffer in His name.
In the first chapter of his letter Peter writes of how suffering serves to purify and perfect the genuineness of our faith – just as the fiery furnace works to refine gold – attacking and destroying the impurities so that what survives is the 100% pure stuff.
So should you or I ever be required to suffer for our faith, do so with courage and confidence.
III. Honor Christ as Lord.
Vs. 15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
Even if the world should attack us as we go about doing what is good and right – we should not be surprised or stunned or shocked – because they are simply doing what is the nature of this world to do. Their actions against us should all the more lead us to honor and worship and set apart Christ as Lord in our lives.
The United States Code (4USC4) states that when delivering the Pledge of Allegiance, all must be standing at attention, facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
In the same way we should stand at attention before Christ our Master, which means that you we are watching and waiting to hear from Him and ready to respond to His command. We are not allowing ourselves to be physically, mentally or emotionally distracted by other matters or even by the attacks and accusations of others. Let the devil do what he will - but we will not take our eyes off our Master. Give Him our full and complete attention and allegiance and He will honor and bless that trust with His strength and grace.
IV. Be prepared to tell why you live the way you do.
Vs. 15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
If the world cannot specifically attack us for "what we do" – for even the world recognizes and acknowledges and respects kindness and generosity and gentleness and truthfulness – they will attack us for "who we are" and "what we believe". Somehow or another they will trump up charges against us and want to know why we do what we do and live the way we live.
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me". He didn’t say "There are many ways to heaven and I am just one of them - go ahead and choose whichever path seems best to you". You go ahead and proclaim what He said and watch how many will accuse you of arrogance, intolerance, and being divisive.
Peter says we are to be ready at all times to answer that question of anyone who asks us. So I encourage all of us to take some time to think through the essentials of your faith – what is it that gives you hope and courage and the ability to love and forgive in the face of opposition? What gives you the determination to keep on keeping on even when your life circumstances are urging you to quit?
Be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have.
V. Keep a Clear Conscience.
Vs. 16-17 “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”
Our conscience is the moral and spiritual compass God placed inside every human being to direct us in the decision and choice-making processes of life. It is through our conscience that the Holy Spirit leads and guides and directs. The more we yield and respond to those gentle nudges He gives us, the more doing the right thing will become a normal and natural way of life for us.
Obeying our conscience fills us with the peace and joy of the Lord and delivers us from internal conflict
Disobeying our consciences brings us into a state of guilt and shame and condemnation.
Of course there are two main ways people can deal with their conscience:
One is to respond by doing the right thing or repent when we have done the wrong thing and start doing what is right. That way we enjoy the peace of the Lord.
The other is to persist in doing the wrong thing until the voice of conscience is silenced within us. This is also called “searing our consciences” to the point where we feel no further guilt or condemnation over our sinful behavior and have a little chance of change without radical divine intervention.
The Message translation puts it this way “Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath.”
To take a stand for Christ we need a clear conscience before God.
Conclusion
• Be passionate about doing good
• Accept the possibility of suffering
• Honor Christ as Lord in every aspect of your life
• Be prepared to tell others who might ask why you life the way you do
• Keep a clear conscience
Make these principles part of your life and they will:
Keep you from being lulled into complacency and indifference and becoming the proverbial frog boiled in the pot.
They will also enable you to give due honor and reverence to Christ.
They will allow your life to be a witness to the Light and truth about God that may even win over some of the opposition
(Thanks sermoncentral contributors, preachers sermon and outline bible)
