Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal
comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.
Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also
rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. If you are ridiculed for the
name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests
on you. Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a
meddler. But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let
him glorify God in having that name. For the time has come for judgment to
begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be
for those who disobey the gospel of God? And if a righteous person is saved
with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So then, let
those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful
Creator while doing what is good.
In my last post I talked about how we as Christians can face
end times when we “stay alert, be sober minded, spend more time in prayer, love
in all ways and all circumstances, Practice being hospitable, and serving each
other well.” Now I would like to turn my attention to God’s Judgement and our
response to His judgment.
The first thing I would like to point out is that Peter
seems to be indicating that God’s judgement starts with “God’s household.” By
stating this we learn that God’s judgement is normal and expected. What is
more, for those in God’s household judgement is a sanctifying good! We must
shift our thinking about God’s judgement and learn how we can respond with hope to God's coming judgement!
When we are facing God’s Judgment it is easy to fear and
feel hopeless. I certainly have felt that way often as I look at the decay of
the society around us. Even a bit closer to home I see the decay in Christian
institutions as well. Anger, Hatred, Disgust seems to rule the day at times.
All of this makes sense to me. Been there done that!
Peter on the other hand offers a better way in this passage.
The answer is found in two paradoxes of the Christian faith. We can rejoice in suffering
and be blessed by insults. These two things it seems are related to God’s
judgment for His people. Let’s explore how these apply to us.
One of the first things Peter says in this section is that
we should not be surprised that when all around us has descended into
unrighteous and ungodly chaos that we as believers will experience “fiery
ordeals.” Further he suggests that these “fiery ordeals” are a test. We often
read that word test through and academic frame of reference. That is, we look
at tests as something we take to get a passing grade. However, test in this
since is an investigation into the quality of character you have in you. “What
are you made of?” is a better way to look at this test. When hardships come you
discover what a person really believes.
It reminds me of the parable of the soils. Remember the soil
in which the Word of God died in the heart of one of the people. Matthew 13:21
explains why this happens “But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress
or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.” This test
is a benefit. We learn whether what we have in our hearts is true or false
faith. It can even be a benefit for the one that falls away for as long as he
or she continues to live there is an opportunity to come to God in true faith. It
is better to understand your faith is false and turn to true faith than to find
out in the last judgment that you never knew Christ (Matthew 7:23).
A common question that comes to mind during fiery ordeals is
“Why is this happening to me?” We treat it as something that is not supposed to
happen. Peter is saying that we should not see this as something that is
unusual. We should reach a point in our walk with God that we expect to be
tested. It is a part of our walk and more importantly our sanctification with
(and by) God (Hebrews
12:10). A “fiery ordeal” is similar in the way that precious metals are
made pure. Gold is purified by heating it up and burning off the impurities.
God wants us to be pure and turning up the heat is the instrument that he uses
to accomplish His purpose.
Next, we find the first paradox to rejoice in suffering.
These are not any kind of sufferings. These are the sufferings of Christ.
Handfuls
on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII
Sufferings and Consolation
If we, as Christians, have consecrated ourselves to God
to do His will and to manifest His truth, as Christ did, we shall understand
something of the sufferings of Christ.
We in our western cultural mindset have adopted the belief
that rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are a formula for
prosperity and comfort. To be honest we have had a good run of these things. So
much so that we begin to view this as the normal way of life. However, the
prosperity and relative ease of life we experience in the United States is an
oddity worldwide and historically. Even when many of the horrific world events
of the last 100 years have happened, we have for the most part been insulated
from the suffering these events have caused on individuals. As a result,
rejoicing in suffering is difficult to conceive. This lack of awareness of what
it means to suffer leads us to replace our idea of true suffering with trivial
inconveniences. The fact is we do not know suffering. Don’t get me wrong evil
still happens in the United States and suffering from that evil is a real thing.
However, we do not as a whole understand the depth of suffering that has
afflicted the whole of humanity.
What is my point? When we see suffering as abnormal then we
come to a passage that says “rejoice in suffering” we relegate suffering to
some far-off time and place. We do not see suffering as being expected and
normal for us. Further if we do have some sense of suffering if we are honest
about it most of the time it would fall into the category of nuisance.
We need to change this mindset. I am not saying that we need
to engage in self-flagellation. Self-inflicted suffering is something the Bible
clearly teaches us to avoid. However, if suffering is normal and as this
passage seems to indicate beneficial, then we need to work on changing our
mindset on this so that it aligns with the Word of God!
What are the sufferings of Christ? Two major areas in which
we as Christians can participate in the “sufferings of Christ” is through
obedience to God and speaking the truth.
Again, with the comfort mindset we think obedience to God
ought to lead to happiness. Eternally this is true. However, in this life
obedience can lead to sorrow, obedience can lead to extreme discomfort, and
obedience can lead to persecution. In the case of Jesus obedience led to death.
Taken a step further the torturous death of Christ was the plan from the
beginning. The sufferings of Christ were on purpose and not some unplanned
result of coming to an evil and chaotic world. Let the sink in. If this passage
is true then it may be part of God’s plan for you to experience deep sorrow, it
may be his plan to have you be extremely discomforted, and God may intend for
you to experience persecution. Now let me say something difficult. If you see
that as a dreadful thing then you are not yet prepared for the coming
judgement. It is time to steel your mind. If I am honest here, I am with you. I
don’t like it. But I also see the need to get ready. We need to put our house
in order!
Speaking the truth is vital to the sufferings of Christ. If
someone suffers for a lie then that does not seem all that special. That is the
way of the world. Again, and again lies and deceptions are creating all manner
of suffering in the world. No wonder the ruler of this world is the father of
lies (John
8:44). So, the world suffers for lies because it is in its nature to do so.
On the other hand, we as believers suffer for truth (at least we ought to).
This means that we need to be both selective and bold as to what we proclaim.
We need to be selective because we need to stand on the
truth of God. There are so many lies around us that it is easy to fall into the
trap of standing for something that sounds true, but in reality, is just a lie
dressed up in light. Please hear me on this. I have been grieved by how much
deception is in our world today. Not so much by the deception of those who hold
animosity toward God. That does not shock me or surprise their father is the
Devil. I have grieved over the deceptions that are promulgated by my brothers
and sisters in Christ. We have thrown discernment to the wind and hitched our
future to anyone that sounds like they might agree with us. I do not say this
as a judgement. Please understand my heart longs for Christians to stand for
the truth of God no more and no less. So being selective is vital to an end
times mindset. We cannot afford to fight battles that ultimately are rooted in
deception. This is not participating in the sufferings of Christ. And I
sincerely believe that the Devil wants to use these to rob us from rejoicing in
the sufferings of Christ. We will suffer! Whether we rejoice in suffering is
strongly connected to discernment starting with those that most agree with us.
This because the Devil is a crafty one and able to masquerade as an angel of
light (2
Corinthians 11:14). Test everything and hold on to what is true (1
Thessalonians 5:21); and not what I feel is true or sounds like it could be
true. Be selective!
Boldness is also needed. Too long we have been willing to
live quiet lives so as not to disturb the negotiated peace with the world. Here
is something that is vital. We cannot be bold in a worldly way. We must be bold
in the Love of God and in the Name of Christ. I have written many things about
God’s love and there is much more to write. It is God’s love that characterizes
the transformed believer. When we are bold in worldly ways (sarcasm, insults,
coarse jesting, deception, arrogance, instilling fear, shame, condemnation, and
the like) we trade power for love and in the end, we will lose both. We must
not let the world’s weapons of boldness become the poison that spews from our
mouths. It is sick and wrong. It dishonors the name of Christ. We must rise
above such pursuits and pursue love! Boldness in Love is the only redemptive
way to speak truth. Just to drive the point look at this passage:
Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the
waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with
cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us
grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
By truth and obedience we will naturally experience the
sufferings of Christ because the world hates Christ and will in turn hate us (John 15:18).
Boldness that we have is rooted in the Name of Christ (1 Peter 4:16).
In times of judgement there will be pressure to be ashamed of the name of
Christ. However, our boldness comes from the very name the world wants us to be
ashamed of. One benefit of judgement of God is that the label Christian (i.e.
follower of Christ) that has been so distorted that it is meaningless in our
modern culture, will have a restored meaning. Those who do not follow Christ
will abandon the name Christian out of shame. Those that truly follow Christ
will be bold in their Christianity.
So then how do we rejoice in this?
One key point Peter is making to us is to look forward
beyond the present sufferings to when the Glory of Christ will be revealed (1 Peter 4:13).
The glory of Christ is hidden from those that are perishing (2
Corinthians 4:3-4), but one day it will be revealed for all to see. To
those that are perishing it will be to mourning (Revelation 1:7).
For the believer it will be rejoicing. So, one thing we keep in the forefront
of our mind is that we will be glorified IN CHRIST!
We also rejoice since God is using these sufferings to help
us to become the people he has called us to be. A call to Christian life is a
call to suffering. This suffering is for our benefit and growth in faith and
obedience. Without resistance of lifting weight our muscles don’t grow. Without
suffering our faith does not grow. Therefore, we rejoice in the sufferings of
Christ that our faith and character might be forged in the fires of ordeal.
Rejoicing is also protective. No suffering is pleasant.
Let’s be honest in our hedonistic selves we would never choose suffering. When
we expect to not suffer then we can easily become bitter when we do suffer. So,
in this way rejoicing protects us from the bitterness that naturally follows
most periods of suffering. There is a saying that “suffering can make you
bitter or better.” It is my belief that the outcome is related to whether you
can rejoice in suffering or not.
This brings us to the second paradox. It is a blessing to be
ridiculed. This is something that I can understand intellectually. It seems
heroic to stand for righteousness, love, and justice in the face of ridicule.
Every remarkable story has an element of this heroic stand in the face of evil.
However, we don’t live in the heroic fantasies of books, tv shows, or movies.
We don’t even really live in the fantasy in which we are the hero of our own
story. No in reality ridicule is something that tears us to the heart and will
inflame passions of rage (at times even murderous rage). Since enduring
ridicule is participating in the sufferings of Christ how did Jesus handle
ridicule?
For you were called to this, because Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was
insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten
but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in
his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for
righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Jesus did not sin. Now I am not saying that we will live a
life of sinless perfection. We can and likely will miss the mark. However, just
because we miss the mark does not mean that we stop aiming. Jesus was not
deceptive. I have already talked about this, but it drives home how important
truth is. Jesus did not return insults. Jesus did not threaten those that
caused his suffering. He entrusted himself to God becoming obedient and laying
down his life for the forgiveness of sins and our righteousness. In this same
way we can entrust ourselves to Him and lay down our lives for the service of
others. That is how we respond to ridicule.
When we have a godly response to ridicule it is a blessing.
When we have an ungodly response to ridicule, we get what negative consequences
we deserve. Another way to think about it is when we respond insult for insult,
we rob ourselves of future blessings that God has for our lives and for
eternity.
The Holy Spirit figures strongly into how we respond to end
times judgment. God’s Spirit “rests on you.” Stop and think on that for a
moment. As judgement comes God covers us with his Holy Spirit.
Often wild land firefighters carry an emergency fire shelter
that can be deployed as a last resort if they become trapped by a fire. The
purpose of the shelter is to deflect the heat allowing the firefighter to
potentially survive a lethal situation.
This is similar to how God deals with us. The fire of God’s
wrath and judgement is coming. However, his Holy Spirit covers us and shelter
us to deflect the heat of His wrath. I do not think this analogy is much of a
stretch in light of the verse that follow later 1 Peter 4:18
“And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the
ungodly and the sinner?”
The Holy Spirit also strengthens and gives wisdom and
knowledge in addition to protecting the believer (Isaiah 11:2).
The Spirit of God gives us reverence for God. This reverence for God is greatly
beneficial in times of Judgement. Reverence and not bitterness is the
appropriate response to God’s discipline of our nation.
When the Spirit of God rests upon us, we have the Glory of
God resting upon us as well. Think about that for a moment. The eternal glory
of God is a covering as you face fiery ordeals. That should put hope in your
soul.
It is in this context that sufferings and insults become joy
and blessings.
There is a warning to us here though. When judgement comes
there will be a temptation to respond in a worldly manner. Peter stresses that
we cannot go that route. He lists four sins that will place us out of God’s
will for this trial: murder, theft, evil doing, and meddling. The first two seem
obvious enough, but what are the second two?
An evildoer is a person who deliberately engages in evil
activity and is worthy of punishment of that activity. That is an extensive
list of things that is covered by this one term. I won’t list all of them but Galatians
5:19-21 contains a partial list of evil actions. One bible word study I did
I came up with a list of 55 different evil actions that would be considered
evildoing. Some that I would think are relevant to this conversation are
deceiver, insurrectionist, slanderer, sexually immoral, false witness,
pretender, false teacher, scorner, and oppressor. As I said the list is long
and I could go on. Perhaps I may publish the list in a separate post. The point
is this, evildoers do not participate in the joy and blessings of God’s
judgement. Knowing this then we must make every effort to avoid every evil as
we face trials. This can be difficult. For example, when facing insults for
example we may naturally have the urge to counter attack, spread lies, be
cruel, become proud, engage in slander, and so on. Peter is warning that our
response to these things must be upright.
What is meddling and how do we avoid it? A meddler is a
particular type of evildoer. Peter must see this as something that needs to be
highlighted as we face trials. another translation of this word would be
busybody. It describes someone who is more interested in the affairs of others
than attending to their own issues. It is a tendency to point out the wrong of
others to gain a sense of moral superiority. Well the Bible makes it clear that
you do not gain moral superiority, but that you are an evil doer when you
engage in meddling (See 1 Timothy 5:13; 2
Thessalonians 3:11). We avoid meddling by following the teaching we find in
Ephesians
No foul language should come from your mouth, but only
what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those
who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the
day of redemption. Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be
removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
This post is already long enough otherwise I would elaborate
on this a bit more. Maybe a future post.
Let me just be real for a moment. I have failed. The reality
that there are times of trials in my life that I have resorted to evil rather
than placing my faith in God and allowing the covering of His Spirit to guide
me. I say this with great shame and sorrow. To those I have hurt I am deeply
sorry. It is a shame that I carry and regret in the depths of my heart. God’s
grace rescues me from being hopelessly lost in regret. He is able to forgive me
when I confess my sin to Him (1 John 1:9).
Redemption from past mistakes is a blessing of God that even when we miss the
mark God is greater than all my sin and shame.
In the end the admonition of Peter is a good place to wrap
this post up.
So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust
themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.
God Bless You
~BJ
