All too often, I hear this phrase from Christians: "I don't like it, but I understand." This is usually a catalyst of compromise. I think Christians take two very broad, and both equally destructive, stances on things that buck against Christianity: Protest, or cave in. I think Christian Protest is absolutely against God's word. The ONLY times the Bible speaks of speaking out is when the poor and needy. We do not see Jesus speaking out against the Government, no as a matter of fact, we see Jesus protesting the Pharisees and Sadducees. What moved the Apostles was this same zeal for God's people. No where in God's word do we see Christians complaining or shouting down a Christian Business, or an Atheist who attacked a Christian, or anything like that. Jesus and the Apostles stood up against corruption in the Body, and people in the church whose beliefs were contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, we see the opposite reaction, over and again. We see people compromise (I don't like it, but I understand), and in the process lost their identity in the land God gave them. He told them that if they lived a life of compromise, He would remove His blessing, and thus the land He gave them. What both of these stances lack is humility. Humility is the hallmark of a disciple of Jesus. It is when we say "Not our will, but yours be done." The only cause for complaint we have is when we see that WE have fallen short of His standards. And so, we should come with repentant hearts, and ask the Lord to make us new, that we may make Disciples, and seek His will and glory in all things. Everything else is a celebration of self, and there's no room for selfishness before the throne of Grace!
1 Peter 3 English Standard Version (ESV)
Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered[b] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which[c] he went and proclaimed[d] to the spirits in prison, 20 because[e] they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Footnotes:
b. 1 Peter 3:18 Some manuscripts died
c. 1 Peter 3:19 Or the Spirit, in whom
d. 1 Peter 3:19 Or preached
e. 1 Peter 3:20 Or when
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