Bible Talks - Family Church (9:45am)
Series: Christian Calling · Talk No. 2
Called to Suffer
Sunday, 17 July 2005
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Our society is on a happiness kick.
There is the strong suggestion in our culture that we should always be happy, comfortable, and successful and that we should go to great lengths in order to make our lives be that way.
But of course, the reality is, it ain’t necessarily so!
We know that this is a fantasy, but still we allow ourselves to be sucked in by it as it pervades the society and culture around us.
But… we need to recognise that we show our Christians maturity not by indulging in the fantasy, our culture lives by, but by handling reality properly.
The Bible is sometimes almost brutal in confronting the reality of this world.
It talks about the things that matter, and it addresses life as it really is. A good example is the passage before us from 1 Peter.
1 Peter is a letter written to a wide range of churches, who were likely to experience suffering and persecution, or who were actually going through it.
Peter in writing to encourage these struggling Christians and reassure them of God’s sovereign love and concern for them.
And he seeks to do that knowing that they were living in a world that was – and is - far from ideal.
Everybody can list dozens of things that are wrong with this world. In a fallen world people do wrong things, and so we suffer for it.
In a sinful, less-than-ideal world, all kinds of painful things will happen. So there is nothing strange about having a tough time, and we must not think it is unusual when we encounter trials.
But Peter here is concerned not so much with the broad fact of suffering in the world – as tragic as that is.
Rather, he is focusing on Christians suffering because they are Christians… and he says in v12 that we shouldn’t be surprised at that either when it happens.
In fact, he goes further than that, and implies that it should be obvious to blind Freddy that ‘painful trials’ will happen to people who are serious about following Jesus.
So this passage is grappling with what it means to suffer because we are Christian, and what our response should be.
‘Fiery trials’
We get a strong hint right at the start of our passage in v12 as to one of the reasons that Christians will suffer.
The words that we read as ‘painful trial’ are more literally ‘fiery ordeal’.
Which gives us a clue as to the thinking behind Peter’s words here.
Back in Proverbs 27 and in numerous other places, fire is referred to in the sense that fire is used to purify silver and gold
And so Peter is referring to the suffering, the ordeal that his fellow-believers are or will experience as potentially positive experiences!
That is a real smack in the face to us 21st century pleasure-obsessed westerners. Don’t know about you – but I’ve not usually found pain and discomfort in themselves a really positive thing!
But the clear picture that Peter is starting to build here is that this suffering is like a refiners fire, purifying and strengthening Christians: “Burning off” ungodly things in our lives, helping us concentrate, to rethink our priorities, to focus on the job at hand, which is living godly lives, serving Him, honouring the Lord Jesus.
So Peter’s readers are being strongly encouraged to see God’s good purpose behind their difficulties, enabling them to grow stronger in their faith and trust in God, and therefore able to serve and honour God all the more.
We see how this works as we move on, but to the logic of our world (and Peter’s), this is stuff from the lunatic fringe!
To the happiness-culture that rules in our world, ‘positive’ suffering seems to have little place in any sane person’s thinking! But it does get better (or worse, depending on your angle), because the very next verse begins to explain things – if we have ears to hear...
In v13 Peter says: “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ…”
This is really at the heart of understanding suffering because we are Christians.
Instead of being thrown off balance by trials and problems, Christians, says Peter, are to “rejoice”!
It is truly extraordinary that increased suffering because you’re a Christian should increase your joy in Christ, but the fact is, Scripture testifies that this is the case.
Acts 16:25 is a perfect example when Paul and others are imprisoned in Philippi and they are raising the roof with singing songs of praise to God!
Why? Why should these things be so?
Because suffering as a Christian, says Peter, confirms to us the fact that we indeed belong to Christ. Therefore to share in a very tangible way, in Christ’s suffering here and now, is a good sign that we are on the right track in our relationship with him.
Why?
Because union with Christ (which all Christians have) involves not only union with him in his death and resurrection. (Romans 6:5), but also union with him in the whole pattern of his life, which includes his suffering for righteousness…
This is really another case of making sure we are seeing things in this life from God’s perspective.
Rejoicing as we participate in suffering for Christ now will certainly lead to great rejoicing in his presence when he returns: “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” V13.
Peter is encouraging us to take the long term view of life.
When we find ourselves up against it because of our trust in Jesus, the first thing we need to do is stop and do a Biblical reality check, which is what Peter is suggesting here.
What kind of suffering?
So what kind of suffering and trials is Peter actually thinking of?
v14 tells us and then continues to suggest what the outcome of this is: “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
‘Insulted’ has the idea of being reviled, abused and slandered for the name of Christ.
Now, this verse stops short of suggesting actual bodily harm, but other places in Scripture certainly include that.
ASK: Under what circumstances can you envisage this happening to you?
Well, if you happen to live in Victoria, you may, under certain circumstances find yourself fined or in jail for speaking out about the truth of the gospel.
In December last year two pastors of ‘Catch the fire’ ministries in Melbourne were found guilty of ‘mocking Muslims’ in a church seminar under Victoria’s controversial Racial and Religious Vilification Act. Without going into all the details, this should ring alarm bells for us.
Five years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that Christians could be jailed in Australia for speaking forcefully about the absolute truth of the gospel.
Now, it’s possible.
So what are we to think if this does happen to us?
Should we slink away and resolve never to raise our Christian voice again?
Should we fall for the world’s trick of always seeking the easy path – the path of least resistance?
Peter says no!
Why?
Because Peter continues to explain how if this happens, we are actually blessed, because it means it confirms our relationship with the Lord Jesus.
What an encouraging thought! - well, at least it should be...
The blessing mentioned in v13 –rejoicing with Jesus in heaven – is in the future. Which is something to look forward to.
But the blessing in v14 is something we can enjoy here and now!
It may not be the world’s idea of being blessed, but for us who love the Lord Jesus, the idea of being reminded of the presence and reality of the Holy Spirit in our lives should be a great encouragement.
But of course, developing and living out this mindset is the real challenge. Even within churches, it’s common to find people saying “It’s just too tough, I can’t cope with the agro of being ridiculed, I’m going to change jobs/change school/change ministry, etc”
But we need to understand that this is what it means to have a foretaste of heaven, a foretaste of what heaven will be like, so perhaps we had better get used to it!
Now when we hit v15-16 we have another reality check.
These verses highlight how suffering bought upon ourselves by our own sinful behaviour is not part of this situation. If we do the wrong thing, we deserve to suffer, and we should be ashamed.
But if we suffer specifically because of Christ in our lives, then we should not be ashamed, rather we should “praise God that we bear that name”.
But how do we praise God...
...in this instance?
We praise God in this instance as we should always praise God: By so acting and speaking that God is continually honoured in our lives.
Now keep that idea firmly planted in your mind, because v17 – on first reading – tends to bring us sliding to a halt:
“For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
What Peter does here is put what he’s just said in v12-16 into a broader context.
It’s easy to wonder what is going on in the world:
God’s people suffer (and they really are in some places), and evildoers go unpunished! It just doesn’t seem right!
So Peter explains here that the ‘painful trials’, the refining fire that he refers to in v12 is really a fire of God’s judgement.
In fact, Peter seems to have the prophecy of Malachi in mind as he writes this. “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.”
Peter seems to have this passage in mind in particular because it combines the thought of God’s coming to his temple with the double purpose of his judgement: that is, to purify his own people, and to consume unbelievers.
So Peter is saying that God has already begun judging, and his starting point is the church, his people!
Does that surprise you?
It shouldn’t – if you’ve read your Bible and hung around enough good Bible teaching...
We know that judgment comes on all people. The difference is the purpose of these ‘fiery trials’ that God allows his people, church to go through, verses the purpose of the ‘flames’ of judgement that unbelievers will face on the day that Jesus returns.
This is a big topic, and one that SNC is touching on in our recent series in Joel and the current series in Revelation. But consider this: the ‘fiery trials’ of persecution are a token to Christians of the faithfulness of God who will deliver them from the wrath to come.
For us, a symbol of God’s faithfulness.
For those who continue to reject Jesus Christ, it means utter destruction!
If you want a glimpse of how this plays out in the future, read Revelation 6:9 through to the end of chapter 7. This is the image of Christians who have died because of their witness to Jesus, and when they ask “how long Lord, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” the answer is not yet, because a whole lot more have to die for the faith... A sombre thought, until you read on into Revelation 7 and the astounding picture of all the saints gathered in heaven – a remarkable picture, and one that helps illustrate this section of 1 Peter.
So how should we respond...
...when we find ourselves in circumstance of being persecuted?
Look at v19: “So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” We should:
1. Rejoice. Not in an empty, fake way. Real praise and rejoicing comes from deep within us, regardless of our circumstances. It shows in the hearts of mature, godly men and women who react to the harsh realities of life with a quite assurance – because they know what’s really going on, and how it will all end.
2. Be content. Peter says you are blessed if you are insulted because you are a Christian. Really content people are very rare in our culture, but we should be cultivating contentment in our lives, knowing that God has us in his hands and that he has the future under his control.
3. Be considerate. When talking about jusgement and Christians, Peter shows great sensitivity when he says “If it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” v17. Christians can end up being so comfortable being together, that we can develop a real sense of isolation from the world around us that us going to hell. If we confront the harsh reality of judgement in the way Peter urges here, we must be driven to compassionate action that leads to others hearing the good news of salvation in Jesus.
4. Be committed. “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator...” v19 Jesus the same kind of words on the cross when he said ‘Father into your hands I commit my spirit’. As we struggle in a world that will fight us, lets be encouraged by committing ourselves afresh into God’s hands – the same hands that saw Jesus through his time of deepest and greatest need.
Even in the depths of suffering for being Christian, we are not alone. We can depend on the care of our faithful creator, we can rejoice in the fellowship of a Saviour who has also suffered, we can praise God in the presence of His Spirit who delights to rest upon us.
Life for followers of Jesus is almost certainly going to get tougher. Each time we make a stand for what we know is right, we risk the kind of suffering that Peter speaks of here.
But lets take Peter’s challenge, and press on, confident in our faithful creator who loves us and equips us for life with Him forever!
