On Wednesday, I started a short series about my thoughts relative to the recent decisions coming from our Supreme Court. Today is Sunday, the holy day for Christians, part of our weekly passion play where we relive the joy of our Lord’s coming to meet with us. Yet, as I prepare to meet with my little church family, I do so in a world that is vastly different than just two weeks ago. The country has changed, and not for the better.
Trying to figure out how, or even if, I should share my thoughts ultimately led me to the first letter from the Christian leader Peter. As I read the fourth chapter of his letter to Christians throughout modern day Turkey, I gained confidence at least in these thoughts that I’ve shared. And, maybe Peter is the best person to turn to in this time…when he wrote this around 60ish AD, it was the start of a time of great persecution of Christians under the Emperor Nero. Peter had already been told by Jesus that he would personally die while being tortured, so Peter at least understood that this time was mostly likely his time. It would be. So he wanted to leave his people encouragement as they faced opposition, as they would be ostracized and criticized.
This fourth chapter is where I landed, and it helped me to find balance in my thinking. Peter’s words have given me insight that helps me express my thoughts about this new reality that I find very challenging, very troubling…this change to our country. I hope you’ve read all five postings. They are perhaps more of a challenge to my Christian friends, church members, loyal readers….though I hope my other readers will consider my thoughts too. So, with that, here’s the last idea I want to share.
I Peter 4: 1-5 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do–living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
In closing, I wanted to loop back to the start of this chapter of Peter’s that as been helpful to me in trying to articulate some thoughts about the recent troubling decisions from our government. And let me be clear, too, that the two big decisions on healthcare and homosexual marriage are not the only things that happened last week that were transformational in our time. The Supreme Court also ruled that a state cannot ask for identification in order to vote….if you want to get cheaper movie tickets as a student…for that you need an ID. Or to get a certain drink. But to vote about the direction of the country? No, that needs no ID. There was also a decision by the President to sign an economic trade deal that many think could be the true ruin of our financial future. I think future historians may look back on this week and note it as one of the most impactful in our national history.
In my post from yesterday, I had pointed out the warning to those who are celebrating the decisions, especially the homosexual marriage decision that in the end God will judge. That is Peter’s initial warning here in verse 5, and it is a critical warning to everyone. Of course, for many, they don’t believe in God anyway, so if you are one of those people, then you are already rolling your eyes at me for being so silly.
That fact, that you may think me silly or foolish or even evil for basing my life on the Bible, though, becomes one of the most important things I have wanted to say, especially to my homosexual friends and their supporters. In the name of tolerance, the fact that we disagree on a point, even one core, should not mean we become enemies. Since God will be the ultimate judge, and even many non-Christians will toss that around as a way to suggest, “don’t judge me.” Then yes, right, don’t judge me either. When I give my opinion, which will be based on my view of life which is God-centric, then don’t hold me in contempt or believe you should silence me. Don’t be hateful or intolerant or dismissive. Rather listen, as I should listen to you.
Clearly, neither of us should expect the other to change their minds, at least not casually. We believe diametrically different things about this issue, holding deeply different core systems of values, and yet in a civil society, we can move along together. Don’t allow your rejection of the Bible to mean that you can then simply attack my views or treat me hatefully. To do so betrays your own supposed desire for tolerance or the statement that “love wins.”
To my Christian friends, we end where Peter starts….carry the same attitude as Jesus. Paul said much the same to the church in Philippi, writing that the attitude we need to emulate is taking on a servant attitude, living for others, rejecting any selfish or arrogant attitude, and being obedient to God’s ways. If you do this, you honor God. Right now, what non-Christians in the USA need to see today is not hate or bitterness coming from the church, but rather a people whose entire life attitude is the same as Jesus.
Your non-Christian friends, and probably many of your friends who claim to be Christians, will “think it strange that you do not plunge with them into” the various actions and beliefs of our day that all run counter to God’s ways. Whether those actions and beliefs of our day that involve a gluttonous desire for more and more possessions or a lust of the flesh involving another person’s spouse or just a casual attitude about sex…if you don’t live that way, most around you will think that strange.
Live His ways. Don’t do it just because of the warning that everyone will have to give an account for how they have lived. That is true…each of us will give that account. But live His ways because they are the path to true life success. I’ve written here many times before that the passion of my life is helping others learn to live well.
This is how to live well. Live by God’s ways. In this changed world, this is the only way to ever find wellness in living.