Should Christians live in a way that wins the favour of our community? Or should you follow Jesus in a way that shows your distinctiveness and causes people to accuse you of doing wrong?
Peter says: Why choose? Both are true! “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2v12).
We have reached an important moment in Peter’s first letter. To this point, he has spoken much about our new identity and new hope we have in Christ, and this reached a climax with his description of the church as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (2v9). Now he calls us to “live such good lives." He will give detail to this command by addressing citizens, slaves, wives, husbands, and “finally, all of you” (3v8). My own view is that this section on doing good is then followed by a section on suffering when doing good, which goes from 3v13 to 4v19.
Jesus did good, and He won both crowds and enemies. There is something deeply attractive about Christ’s teaching, but it also repulses some. As we follow the Lord Jesus, we should expect similar results.
On one hand, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” (3v13). On the other, some heap abuse on Christians when believers “do not join them in their reckless, wild living” (4v4).
Some will react angrily when the light exposes the darkness. Others will come to church drawn in by the wisdom of God made visible in obedient lives.
Some rulers will accuse the church of doing wrong because we live for a higher authority. But at the same time, perhaps they might recognise that Christians aim to be model citizens and subjects, honouring our rulers and caring for the poor.
Some people will hate Christians for our focus on submission – a big theme in the rest of this section of 1 Peter. Others will recognise the beauty of order infused with love and service.
Some people will be deeply offended by our views of marriage. But we pray others might see the beauty of a reverent wife and a husband who honours his spiritual equal.
So do not live in order to get the results you want. Live for Jesus. Peoples’ responses are not your department!
Peter is simply passing on the teaching of our Lord. Which is true? “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me”? Or “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”?
Why choose? Both are true (Matthew 5v11,16)!
