Times do not seem not good for Christians. On the one hand, we have sexual abuse, particularly of the Roman Catholic church, exposed by various commissions. But of course, its not just them. We know the sexual sins into which many protestant ministers have fallen.
But we feel for the Christian lambs offered up on ABC's Q&A to the hungry audience. Many from a secular point of view seek to ridicule or silence Biblical Christianity. It seems to us that as far as certain sections of our media are concerned, the Muslims are being pacified, while Christians are being pilloried.
Then we see and hear on TV militant Islamists beheading, shooting, crucifying, expelling, hating, killing, kidnapping. And the secularists say 'Religion is the problem. Get rid of belief in God, entrust yourself to science and tolerance, keep your mouth shut, and all would be peaceful. It is your fault our world is like it is. Get out of our State Schools. Stop infecting young minds. Gay is Okay. The church is full of paedophiles. Teaching religion is child abuse.'
None of this is being beheaded or crucified. But it is not pleasant.
Some suffering you don’t get to choose. You don’t choose your cancer, your arthritis, or your tumor. You don’t choose your car accident or your bereavement.
But there is a sense that Christian suffering is something you choose. By 'opting in' to Christ, by aligning yourself with Christ, we opt in to some suffering, or the possibility of suffering.
And so Christian suffering, if it is truly for Christ, is an investment. The only reason you are suffering is because of the hope held out for you by Christ. There is a cost for being a Christian now, but it will pay off later. You are looking beyond the suffering to Jesus Christ, who we believe to be God incarnate, who came down from heaven to suffer and die for our sins, who rose again to defeat death, and who faith tells us will come to Judge the Living and the Dead. And as you experience discomfort, lost opportunity costs, uncertainty, unkind language, exclusion, and hatred, you have a personal share and stake in Christ. You begin to own Christianity and Christ for yourself. Faith in the risen Christ ceases to be theoretical, a thought experiment, or playing church and going through the motions. As you suffer for Jesus Christ, you are transformed by the suffering you undergo. You have accepted suffering for Christ. And that changes you, and makes you more like Christ. You are more invested in Christianity, you have a greater stake in Christianity being true, because you’ve suffered for Christianity and because of Christ. And so Peter encourages his brothers and sisters in 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 1 and 2:
1 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. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
The one who has suffered with his body is done with sin. You have ceased to serve sin any longer, as shown by your decision to serve Christ. And it is not ,'good money after bad'. Following Christ was always 'good money', money well spent. And since you’ve invested your suffering in Christ, now keep investing, invest more in Christ. Don’t waste the suffering that you’ve already endured, by making it all for nothing. Just like as you get closer to retirement, you are told to salary sacrifice to put more away into super, so as you get closer to meeting Christ, invest more suffering into Christ, because you know the return will be great.
I know little about the world of high finance and investment. Nevertheless, I know that it is a mistake to get spooked and sell at the bottom of the market. You don’t want to be a vendor in distress, 'Quick, sell, sell, and crystalise your loss'. No, you don't want to do that.
So this is Peter's logic. Look at what you’ve endured so far for Christ. You have invested in Christ and his kingdom. Now, you are not just a bystander to Christ. You are now a stakeholder, because of your sufferings. And you are done with sin. Continue in what you’ve already invested, and don’t get spooked. Hold on, because over the long term, you will gain.
But just as suffering for Christ is a costly investment, serving sin is a waste. Think of all that wasted time in carousing and partying and sexual sin.
Now, of course, that is the exact opposite of what some people think. If they know a little bit about Christianity, they might grab hold of the thief on the cross (Luke 23). They are buoyed by the fact that the labourers who come to work the vineyard at the 11th hour get the same wage as that of those who bore the burden of work in the heat of the day. And they reason, ‘I will delay taking Christianity seriously. I will have my “fun” now. And then when I’m old, then I’ll repent. I’ll become a Christian. That way I can have my sins, and still have heaven. How clever I am.' But the stupidity of all this, beside the fact that you can't fool God, and nor can you simply 'repent when you want', is that this attitude sees sin as the best way of life, and godliness as what makes life dull and boring. Contrast Peter in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 3:
3 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. (NIV)
Sin is the waste of time. Pagan hedonism is a waste of time. That was the bad investment we made. The bad investment is in the late night drinking parties, the mardi gras orgies our young people are encouraged to embrace, the drug parties, the one night stand culture. All of it is a misuse of the time and energy that God gives us. And Peter says to his readers, 'You've spent enough time in that'.
So, suppose you do change. Suppose you come to see the stupidity of hedonism. Suppose you come to trust in Christ, thank God. How will your old drinking or druggy friends treat you? 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 4:
4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. (NIV)
'What’s wrong with you? I know what it is, you’re a Christian! You bigoted homophobe with your blind allegiance to a pre-scientific book.'
Of course, those who say such things convenietly forget about God. There’s no God to see and judge. As the advertising campaign on the buses in London said, ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life: https://humanism.org.uk/about/atheist-bus-campaign/
But of course, if the Atheists are correct, that means that Hitler and Stalin and Mao and Pol Pot, and all those lesser criminals, got away with all the fun that they had, too. They too thought that there probably was no God. And they stopped worrying and enjoyed their lives. And they were the greatest murderers of the twentieth century.
Whatever justice there is, is only to be had in this life, if there is no God. And it is dubious that there is any such thing as justice, because there is no external standard to judge morality. For if there is no creator, there is no absolute meaning to life. The only meaning to life is what you can construct for, what you can impose upon, your short, insignificant and ultimately meaningless life. But the reality, thank God, according to the Apostle Peter, is stated in verse 5:
5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (NIV)
For us to give an account to our Creator is our Creator giving our acts and choices great dignity. God honours our choices here and now with eternal consequences. God holds us accountable and responsible for what we have thought and said and done. And not only does this give every moment great worth and dignity, but it also renders humans moral beings made in the image of God. And even when human justice fails, as it inevitably does, there is a final court of appeal, where all rights will be wronged. And the judge of that final court is one of us, the man Jesus Christ, who is also God.
And it is this reality that gives Peter hope for those who have died. See, Peter doesn’t have vague platitudes for the families of dead Christians. Our sentimental culture has limp words of condolensce in the face of death. “Forever in our hearts.” "Always with us". But only if there is a God is there a 'forever'. Our hearts are not forever. And they are not there with us, that is why we are miserable. Science tells us we all die. So forever in our hearts for a secular person is a lie, an acceptable lie, like Santa Clause and the tooth fairy, but a lie all the same. “Grandmas gone to be a star in the sky.” But you won’t learn that in astronomy or astro physics. “We will remember them.” Yes, now, on ANZAC day, but what about when the headstones fade, and twenty other wars interpose? What about when a new people rise up who have a different agenda for Australia? In 200 years will ANZAC day means what it does now? Who can say? People change, and political agendas change, but God remains the same forever. And no matter how humans judge people, God will judge properly. And so that is why we need not worry for dead Christians. Verse 6:
6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. (NIV)
Those of whom Peter speaks who are dead are most likely Christians who have died. During their life, these people heard the gospel of Jesus and became Christians. They put their hope in Christ, and were waiting for Jesus’ return. But by the time Peter writes, they have died. And no doubt unbelievers said to them, ‘A lot of good waiting for Jesus did them. They’re dead. Jesus didn’t help them.' But they are not dead to God. They are still alive to God (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
People will still judge Christians how they like. 'See, Christianity didn’t help him. He died like the rest'. Or worse, ‘Look at how he was killed! That’s what happens to Christians. What folly, keep confessing Christ, and be humiliated and die like that'.
But that is judging like humans. Yes, Christians die like the rest of humanity, unless Jesus returns first. Sometimes Christians are killed because they are Christian.
But when the gospel of Jesus comes, and a person believes it, they have eternal life. Their body might die and undergo decay. Other people will still judge them stupid, or ignorant, or unscientific. But this is all judgment according to the body. The dead Christian still lives according to God. They live in the Spiritual realm with God. They go to be with Christ, which is better by far. And when Christ returns, he will give them a new resurrection body and himself usher them into the rooms he has prepared for them.
They say a deadline focuses the mind. And Peter agrees. Verse 7:
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (NIV)
Don’t get drunk, and waste what remains of your life. Be sober as a judge. This will help you pray. So pray and love. Verse 8:
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (NIV)
As you love one another, you overlook sins and slights and inconsiderateness and hurts and offences. We Christians are all sinners. We still think, say and do all kinds of sinful things. Love enables you to look beyond a person’s sins to why Christ died for them. So love is necessary in church, because much sin must be overlooked, even in the church.
Now, I’m not talking about sin that harms the vulnerable, for which we need royal commissions and criminal laws. I am talking about the stupid every day sinful things we all say and do. A careless word here, a slight there. And the word is, keep loving God’s family despite their prickles, bear with them, and remember that is why Jesus died.
An example of this sort of love is generous hospitality. Verse 9:
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (NIV)
Be generous with the things God has given you. Share what you have. Love the stranger. Give generously.
In our newssheet, there are a couple of invitations to help other Christians from the Archbishop. He is talking particularly about Iraq and Syria and South Sudan. There is an opportunity to love the stranger without grumbling, and to give freely for other Christians. And maybe you would like to look at that opportunity in the news sheet, as an opportunity to give without grumbling. Verse 10:
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (NIV)
Think about how God has blessed you. Think about what you are good at, what you have received from God. That ability or gift was NEVER given to you just so that you could enjoy it and spend it on yourself That gift, that talent, that ability, was given for strengthening the church. Now use it for others. Be the hands and feet of God your Father and Jesus your brother. Administer God’s manifold and manysided grace. Go and do God’s grace to others.
Everyone has words. Our mouths and lips often betray us. We all stumble in many ways. We say stupid things for which we will be judged. Peter was aware of this. He who denied the Lord three times also drew back from the Gentile Christians in Antioch when he knew better. It was fear that felled him both times. So we need to see God behind our words and works. Verse 11:
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)
So think about how your words and works can strengthen others. God has given you gifts. Maybe its your strength, maybe your health, maybe your skills and training. Maybe its your knowledge, maybe your kindness, maybe your possessions. Maybe you don’t have a lot of money and a lot of strength. Maybe you have the opportunity to use words. Remember, you’ve only got a limited number of words to use in this life. But you’ve got words.
Well, speak so that God speaks through you, so that the message of God flows through you to others. Speak bible words, well chosen, in season, to others, to do them good. Serve so that God’s power surges through you, so that you are a channel for God’s blessing to others.
I don’t know what lies in the future for Christianity in Australia. Sure, I know what lies in the long term future: Jesus Christ will be seen as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, he will rescue his people and punish his enemies. Jesus Christ will bring in his Kingdom and wipe away every tear from his people.
But I don’t know what path our particular country with take to get there. But if the past is a guide to the future, Christians will suffer. Christians will suffer as Christians, for being Christians. At different times it has happened in the past. If Jesus further delays his return, it will happen again in the future. We need not fear, because God is in control of the whole situation. Verses 12 to 16:
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (NIV)
Here Peter is not talking about suffering for wrongdoing. The Royal Commission into child sex abuse is not persecution of Christians. It is punishing wrongdoing. Perhaps there are other motives behind it. I don’t know. But even if there is, it is right that institutional churches have higher standard than the world. Verse 17:
17 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? 18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (NIV)
Judgment starts with the professing Church. God won’t let us continue in sin. He will in kindness judge us NOW, so that we won’t come into judgment in the world to come. No matter what suffering comes from whatever place, the Christian always knows this. That suffering, as painful and unkind as it is, remains the loving discipline of our heavenly Father, who does not want us to be judged and condemned with the world, but to grow through our suffering. He wants us not to give up, but keep doing good. Verse 19:
19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (NIV)
This is God’s secret will, his permissive will, his will of decree. God allows and even sends suffering, though we do not always know why he chooses this person and why he chooses this particular time. But we know that God is good all the time, and God sends it for our good. So we trust him and continue to do good.
Brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let’s not give up Christianity because of suffering. Instead lets pray that God does not lead us into temptation and delivers us from evil. Let’s keep doing good.
Let’s pray