We do not like the union of suffering and faith. In our society, suffering is to be avoided at all costs. Got a headache? Take an aspirin. Got pain bigger than an aspirin can address? Go to a doctor and get a shot. Got a continuing condition that causes you pain? Get a prescription and swallow a pill every day. However, whatever you do, do not hurt!
It seems many of us regard pain as an unnecessary enemy. Experiencing grief? Stay drugged until the time of grief has passed. Experiencing depression? Stay drugged. In a period of life you do not like? Let drugs make you oblivious to it. The philosophy seems to be this: "It is better not to feel than it is to feel pain." My point is not that we should seek suffering. My point is that we should not automatically regard all suffering as an unnecessary evil. We too often regard any pain as having no merit, no value.
Faith in God and physical suffering have been linked for thousands of years. Abraham experienced no joy when he sent Ishmael away (Genesis 21:8-13) or prepared to offer Isaac (Genesis 22:6-12). There was no joy when Laban deceived Jacob (Genesis 29). Joseph's periods of slavery and imprisonment were not experiences of joy, but later he knew God produced good through his suffering (Genesis 50:15-21). There are many examples--the anointed David running from King Saul (1 Samuel 19-31); Elijah fleeing from Jezebel (1 Kings 19); Jeremiah, the weeping prophet (consider Jeremiah 11:18-23); the death of Stephen (Acts 7:54-8:2); the many ordeals of the Christian Paul (2 Corinthians 11:23-33); the rejection Peter experienced (Acts 10-11:18); and the greatest of all examples: Jesus' crucifixion.
It often comes as a shock to learn that the first Christians and first congregations in the first century often accepted pain and suffering as a part of having and expressing faith in Jesus Christ. Even more shocking is the fact that they were urged to endure rather than to fight, to seek vengeance, or to retaliate against their enemies. The pain they endured was not a mere inconvenience, undesirable service, or a headache. The pain some of them endured (not all Christians everywhere faced physical opposition) included the loss of jobs, irate publics, jail experiences, and violent deaths. Such opposition did not occur because Christians were bad or mean people, but because they had faith in a crucified, resurrected Savior (consider the Christians in Asia Minor in Revelation 2:1-3:22). Believing in Jesus was not popular in an idolatrous world!
Give attention to the admonitions in our text. In verse 13 Christians were urged to realize that the best way to avoid opposition was to devote themselves to good. Good (as defined by God) made them better people devoted to helping and encouraging others as they existed by values that blessed the community. Early Christians had a lot of "bad press" and misrepresentation to overcome.
Paul's admonition to Timothy, preacher to preacher, is found in 1 Timothy 2:1-4. First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Many who worshipped multiple "gods" (idols) regarded Christians (who worshipped one God) as atheist. Some non-Christians viewed communion as a secret rite that involved horrible practices. Some non-Christians saw undesirable political implications in Christians refusing to attend the Roman emperor's temple and offer sacrifices. A Christian's refusal to honor and sacrifice to the patron god or goddess of a commercial enterprise was seen by idol worshippers as "bad business." It was easy to misrepresent Christians in those days! There must have been powerful temptations to become a "closed community" and limit as much as possible their interaction and contact with society.
However, that was never presented to early Christians as an option. Early Christians were urged to get involved (positively) with society and, through the influence of example, change the Christian image. It was through allowing people to see the good influence God had on their lives that they would change the Christian image.
Yet, some hated Christians with an intensity that led to hostile opposition no matter how Christians lived or what they did. To Christians in such circumstances, Peter said still be a good influence. If they suffered for being righteous, still be righteous. Do not let the unrighteous rule them through fear and intimidation. "Keep your focus on Jesus Christ, let him (not fear and intimidation) be your Lord. Endure suffering in a manner that amazes your persecutor(s) and forces them to ask, 'How do you do that?' Also be true to who you are by maintaining a good conscience. Act in such a way that those who slander and verbally abuse you ultimately are ashamed of the way they acted. Let God achieve His purpose through your suffering if necessary. Just do not suffer because you were unrighteous."
It is a matter of righteous influence, not control. Exterior control seems to be "the easy way out," but exterior control does not work in spiritual growth. Faith works.
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 7