Fellow-Redeemed,
The Apostle Peter had no delusions about the
culture that surrounded him and his fellow believers. He reminded them earlier
in this letter that they were “aliens and strangers in the world,” and
that they lived their lives “among the pagans.” Fellow believers in
Jesus Christ, the news alerts and headlines of the past week remind us nothing
has changed since the first century.
This part of Peter’s letter to “God’s
elect, strangers in the world” including us calls our attention to the
matter of Christian character. We look here not so much to specific dos and
don’ts in our Christian actions, though Peter mentions some, but more to that
character of the heart that is the polar opposite of unchristian culture.
This is our theme: Christian Character in an Unchristian Culture. The Lord has called
us to do good and pursue peace. The Lord always is
attentive to us.
Unchristian culture is as much a matter of
the heart as is Christian character. Something is unchristian if its purpose is
to oppose God and his will. Since that is the natural condition of all human
hearts, hearts will remain that way unless changed. Since such unchanged hearts
are the rule and not the exception in secular culture, culture remains in
opposition to God and has no consideration for God’s will. The exception would
be to keep outward order and even that often is sacrificed on the altar of
self-interest.
In the midst of unchristian culture, we live
in the unity of faith, the church. None of us stands alone, an island of
Christian character in the sea of unchristian culture. Peter addresses his
letter to many people. He writes here “all of you, live in harmony with one
another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be
compassionate and humble.”
When it comes to Christian character that is
“in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” these are the new attitudes of
the changed heart. Harmony means to be like-minded. Sympathetic means to share
sorrow and joy. Philadelphia is brotherly love. Compassion is to feel another’s
pain. Humility is not thinking more of ourselves than we should. There is no
thought here of revenge, or trading insults.
All of these are strange and foreign concepts
to the self-interest of unchristian culture. All of these are fruits of the
faith the Holy Spirit has worked in our hearts through God’s calling us by the
gospel to know him, love him, and serve him in righteousness in his
kingdom. None of these Christian
characteristics was our idea. Peter writes, “to
this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. “
Together, with Christ in our hearts as Lord
because we know Jesus is the One who loved us and paid the price for our guilt
of sin, we live our lives and say to our loved ones, “Have a good day.” Would
any of us exclude ourselves from the group Peter mentioned, “Whoever would
love life and see good days?”
How do we “love life” and “see good days” in
the midst of unchristian culture that is determined to tear itself down? We do
it with Christian character. The Lord has called us to inherit his blessing through
Christ. He commands us; turn from evil, do good and to pursue peace. Therefore,
that is what we brothers and sisters do in like-mindedness, compassion, and
humility with one another. Christian character keeps our tongues from evil and
our lips from deceitful speech. Christian character heeds the command, “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.”
As we live our Christian character in an unchristian
culture, the Lord always is attentive to us. He is not the only one. Others
will experience us as we do good and pursue what is
right. There will be different reactions.
When we live our Christian character in an
unchristian culture, one of two things will happen. “Who is going to harm
you if you do good?” Peter recognized that even
some of those who do not know God, or have Jesus Christ as the ruler of their
hearts, or care about obeying the commandments will appreciate Christians when
we do not manifest the evil, and insults, and deceit so common in society.
There are those who will ask us about the hope we have in our hearts as we
daily confess our sins and trust in Jesus’ holiness as our salvation. They will
listen to what we have to say when we share God’s Word.
There will be a different reaction from
others. “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.
Do not fear what they fear (better, do not fear their threats); do not
be afraid.” Unchristian culture most often will not appreciate when we
stand up for the truths that there is only one true God, forgiveness and
salvation is through faith in Christ alone, and that God’s will he has
expressed in the commandments is universal and unalterable. We will then suffer
because we have manifested Christian character in an unchristian culture.
Even as we experience the culture’s animosity
and persecution, always remember this: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the
righteous and his ears attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is
against those who do evil.” The Lord is watching over us as we display
Christian character. He knows the ones who oppose us and they will not escape
his judgment. Our work is not to condemn those who do evil but in love and
compassion to call them to repentance and the saving knowledge of Christ by the
Holy Spirit changing their hearts as he has changed ours.
What better way to celebrate our nation’s
birth, God willing, than by loving our lives and doing good
and seeking peace. The Lord has called us to inherit blessing. Inheritance is
not earned but a free gift. Tell others about this inheritance if they ask.
Tell them it also is theirs through Christ
Our nation’s unchristian culture should come
as no surprise to us who are aliens and strangers in the world, who must live
among pagans. Their animosity should come as no surprise. The Lord also has
given us great freedom in our culture to declare as Peter wrote also “For
Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring
you to God.” Amen. <SDG>