A CHRISTIAN IN A NON-CHRISTIAN WORLD
1 Peter 2 and 3
“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”
At the heart of it all is Peter’s core principle: “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
He goes on to apply it to one of the most extreme situations in his day—a slave to a harsh master who is often unjust—and he calls the slave to submit even though he is being unjustly treated. His basis is simple: suffering is not shameful or sinful and in fact can be commendable—Christ himself went through such an experience. Whatever else may happen, he is raising his own profile in the eyes of God and choosing to live as a slave of God.
The other situation he focuses on is the wife married to an unbeliever. Her submission is beautiful and pleasing to God and can bring about positive change.
In his day, slaves and wives have little power and yet Peter calls on them to not live as victims or become aggressors but to find their justice, their strength and their power in God.
We live in very different times from Peter but God remains the same. Submission and dependence on him is beautiful and pleasing to God, much more than strength and power to take control of our lives. Suffering is not necessarily something evil in itself to be avoided at all costs and the courage to endure for God’s sake is something he commends. When there is nothing more we can do about our circumstances we can still choose to live positive lives and draw on the affirmation from God.
At the same time we must appreciate that modern values have changed, modern laws have changed, and the structure of society has changed so that a lot more power is in the hands of individuals to effect change for the better and as slaves of God we must not shrink from the opportunities that God gives us to better our lives, our circumstances, our society and even our nation.
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”