But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

1 Peter 4:15-16

One can see on YouTube those who have committed heinous crimes such as murder or theft being sentenced to prison and watch as the terrible realization hits them that all the good they had in their lives as free people is now gone.  The “meddler” (allotrioepiskopos, literally one who sees themselves as a manager of other people’s affairs) oftentimes finds themselves alone without any true friends for obvious reasons.  Thus, it is very true that suffering comes in this life to those who do evil.  However, we who wear the name of “Christian” must make sure that our own suffering must not be because we have done evil.  Instead, recognizing that by bearing that honorable designation we represent Christ to the world, we must ensure that why we suffer and how we respond to suffering must always glorify God and stand out in contrast to how the world responds to hardship.

Consider all that Peter had taught about this thus far in his epistle.  After reminding us of the salvation and eternal glory waiting for us should we remain holy and faithfully obedient to Christ (1:3-2:10), the apostle exhorts us to “abstain from the passions of the flesh” and “keep your conduct…honorable” among “the Gentiles” who “speak against you as evildoers” so as to influence them to become Christians themselves (2:11-12).  Having given these commands in a generalized way, Peter then elaborated on how we should apply these divine directives to specific circumstances which would come up in life.

In response to governmental persecution, we should “be subject” to these governing authorities, choosing to “honor” even the “emperor” who was persecuting them while continuing to “do good” (2:13-17).  If the first century Christian was a slave whose master was “unjust,” he or she must “be subject…with all respect” and “endure,” thus following the example of the sinless Christ who “also suffered for you” (2:18-25).  The Christian wife whose husband did not “obey the word” must still practice “respectful and pure conduct” and “do good” while submitting to him, while Christian husbands must likewise “live with” wives who might be hard to live with “in an understanding way, showing honor” to them (3:1-7).

The apostle then exhorts us to purposefully practice the Christ-like characteristics of “unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind,” choosing to “bless” their enemies and “not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling” (3:8-12).  Pointing out that “those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” by our “gentleness and respect” as we continue to “honor Christ the Lord as holy” by “always being prepared to make a defense” of our Christian faith, Peter reminds us that we will be “blessed” if we “suffer for righteousness’ sake,” promising us that “it is better to suffer for doing good…than for doing evil” (3:13-17).

Reminding us that “Christ also suffered” for our sins and that His sacrifice and resurrection is why we were saved when we were baptized (3:18-22), Peter commands us to “arm yourselves with the same way of thinking” by choosing to persevere when our worldly companions “malign” us because we now abstain from the “flood of debauchery” in which we had previously indulged in our former lives (4:1-6).  This requires us to “be self-controlled and sober-minded,” while also giving our brothers and sisters in Christ continual love and hospitality as we continue to give God’s message to the world and serve His church (4:7-11).  While doing so, we must “not be surprised” and instead “rejoice” when we experience these various persecutions and trials, knowing that we “are blessed” and will be rewarded on the day of judgment “when his glory is revealed” (4:12-14).

Brethren, does the above describe you and me?

Christians, we represent Jesus.  We wear His name.  So let trials come because of our obedience to Jesus rather than because we sin and respond to these trials in ways that give God glory!

— Jon