SUFFERING OR WITNESSING?

1 Peter 4:12-19

Have you ever played the mental game or even had a class discussion about what you would do if persecuted. Often classes do discuss whether they would bow the knee to a foreign god rather than being killed. After all, it’s established in law that compulsion is a defense against all sorts of things!

The early church had this discussion after persecution had passed. Some who had held firm, been arrested, perhaps tortured, lost jobs, and seen relatives killed thought those who had compromised should be booted out of the church. Others thought they should have been forgiven, perhaps after doing penance. Passages like this one in Peter played a part.

We often hear fears nowadays of the government taking our freedom of worship away from us. The intrusions we feel and the persecutions we think some of us undergo are nothing compared to the rest of the world. Get and read “The Insanity of God,” which I understand will be out soon in a movie, in which a SBC missionary goes incognito into various countries to explore their situations. He begins with Sudan and includes China and several other countries. In these lands people are regularly arrested, jailed, sometimes tortured, and occasionally killed just for being Christian. We’ve read in the papers and seen on TV the radical Islam approaches to beheading Christians. There is more persecution of our faith in the world today than ever before. AND THOSE CHURCHES ARE THRIVING! The author above, writing anonymously because he planned to go back, said Chinese Christians estimated between 10 and 100 MILLION Chinese Christians. Apparently the government doesn’t worry about churches smaller than 30. So when they approach that number, they start a new congregation. Further, after a pastor has his first arrest and usually short jail term, his authority and respect are enhanced, and he is far more influential.

In 4:12 Peter warns and comforts about persecution. “Don’t worry about the persecution that’s about to hit. It will be par for the course, so get used to it. Christ suffered, so we can expect to suffer also and even rejoice in it. (Was Peter in jail like Paul in Rome when he wrote this, or in hiding? Tradition says he was killed in Rome in the 60’s.) He reminds me here of the opening of the Book of James, where that man insanely says, “Throw a party when troubles come!” Well, if you’re holy and picky, you’ll translate is something like “Rejoice when you are tempted and/or tried, knowing that it all works out to strengthen you.” I like my translation better…

When Christ returns in glory, both he and you will be triumphant. So keep your eye on our victory, not the present trouble. In fact, if someone insults you for being a Christian, be happy that they could see the presence of His Spirit shining through you.  Make sure if you suffer, it’s for your faith and not because you’re a crook! If you’re jailed or derided or whatever, it’s no disgrace, nor anything to be ashamed of, but wear it as a badge of honor!

Beginning with v 17, Peter challenges the church. “Judgement begins with God’s own household!” We often condemn the world but the world knows no better, Christians do. We are held accountable. God holds us responsible. To whom much is given much is required.

But the world doesn’t escape. The reasoning goes on that if God judges even His own people, how much more will judgment fall on those rejecting the gospel? “How much more” is the argument a fortiori, from force. If I hurt myself tripping on a root, how much more if I fell off the house! So transform your suffering into an opportunity to witness and serve, and God will reward you.