SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD
We move now to 1 Peter 3.8-22. We’ll look first at verses 8-14.
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[; do not be frightened.”
There is a popular teaching that has captured the Christian imagination particularly in North America and its economic opposite, Africa. It is called the HEALTH AND WEALTH GOSPEL. In a sentence this gospel teaches that if you are a faithful follower of God you will be physically prosperous and healthy. It is the counterpoint to 1st century Judaism’s teaching that any sickness was the direct result of personal sin. It is important to note that neither are the Gospel. These verses give lie to such a concept by preparing the believer for the reality that they will suffer for doing good.
1. Peter opens this section by describing five things or characteristics that a Christian needs to possess and exhibit. What are they?
2. Why is it important to make these an integral part of our lives?
3. We already know that this section is focusing on witness. Why are these five characteristic necessary for effective witness?
4. What does it mean here when he says, “Do not fear?”
Steve wrote: “These verses give lie to such a concept by preparing the believer for the reality that they will suffer for doing good.”
I do not seem to read these scriptures as you do.
Verse 14 “But even if you should suffer” … “But” “even” “if” are huge words in this verse. They do not say “when you suffer” and they do not say “you will suffer”.
How do you pull your statement quoted above out of these?
Verse 17 has the answer in it “if it is God’s will”. I believe ALL are born to prosper, to be blessed and to glorify God with those blessings but of course those blessings come in all shapes and sizes. One persons blessings may be another persons curse. Take for instance people winning the lottery, some use the money to glorify God while others spend the money on wild living and go bankrupt. For one person the money was a blessing to the other it was a curse.
Even in chapter 4 Peter uses “If you suffer” and “do not be surprised” not “you will”.
I am rather confused myself now!!
Help me out Steve!!!
Tim Clutter - December 12, 2011 at 10:29 pm |
Fair enough, Tim. Forgive my hyperbole. I think that too many Christians have bought into the health and wealth guys who basically see physically and material prosperity as the mark of a “good Christian” (which would be a totally alien and misleading idea to our brothers and sisters in Haiti).
You are right about the qualifiers “if” etc. I was more trying to make the point that being a Christian by Christ’s own example is a “way of suffering” and if you are too worried about or too afraid to suffer, there will reach a point where you will be unwilling or unable to go where Jesus is going.
sdunnpastor - December 22, 2011 at 10:14 pm |
Got it!!! Thanks for clarifying. God bless you and all my fellow “net mates” in this internet classroom.
Tim Clutter - December 23, 2011 at 8:40 am |