Wholesome Thoughts in the Face of Persecution

Thank you again for the invitation to be with you,

and as I have done before,

thank you for your prayers and support

of the outreach and witness of Christian students

through the Christian unions throughout Scotland.

We're very grateful to you for praying for that evangelistic effort.

The door of opportunity for the gospel on the university campus

is still pretty much wide open.

Some pushback, and we're coming to look at that in 1 Peter.

But we're just off the back of five mission weeks

run by the CEUs throughout Scotland,

and we have seen a small number of people profess faith

and many more elsewhere in the UK,

and others now reading Mark's gospel,

which we have specifically produced in a version for students

with their Bible studies at the back of it,

and then others still engaged with their questions and struggles

and issues as they pursue truth and meaning.

So thank you for your prayers,

and do pray for the Christians at university

as they gather around the gospel

and seek to make it known to their campuses.

Well, we had our Bible reading here in 1 Peter 4,

1 Peter 4:12–19

verses 12 to 19,

and in one sense,

this is one of these Bible passages

where there is not much about the passage

that is difficult to understand.

As the Apostle writes,

and I guess you've been looking through 1 Peter,

is that right?

As the Apostle writes this letter,

and indeed as he writes the next letter,

which is known to us as 2 Peter,

he is writing,

and he says this explicitly about both letters,

in 2 Peter 3, verse 1,

2 Peter 3:1

he is writing to stimulate the believers

to wholesome thinking.

And he goes on in verse 2 of that chapter

to say,

I want you to recall the words spoken in the past

by the holy prophets

and the command given by our Lord and Savior

through your apostles.

Wholesome thinking for us Christian believers

is recalling what the Scriptures say,

the prophets and the apostles.

And the message of the prophets

was so often, wasn't it?

A day is coming.

Judgment is coming.

And the message of the apostles,

Christ will return again.

Look to the future.

A day is coming.

And you can live now

in the light of what you know is ahead.

And what Peter is saying

throughout both of these letters

is live today,

live this week,

live now,

not just focusing on the here and now

and being all consumed

by what you can see and experience,

but live today

with biblical perspective

in your mind.

Wholesome thinking,

remembering that what we do today

for the Lord Jesus

is lived out

with the day

that is still to come

very much in mind.

Now, part of that

living today

for tomorrow,

for the last day,

is

how do we cope

when people are suffering

for following the Lord Jesus Christ?

How do we cope

specifically

when there is

direct and overt

persecution

or action

against Christian people

simply because

they are Christians?

That's what

Peter is speaking about.

And as we look at the passage,

very simple

in one sense

in terms of what

we are being taught,

but very profound

in terms of how

we understand

such things

and respond to them

throughout the world

or in our own lives.

What is wholesome thinking?

That's what Peter

wants us to have.

What is wholesome thinking

with regards to

overt

persecution

of Christian believers?

I have seven

things that I want

to just briefly

run through

that might constitute

something of wholesome thinking

as we find it

in this passage.

And first of all,

this combining

of suffering

and glory,

that's a theme

in 1 Peter.

Suffering

and glory

are absolutely

held together

in the teaching

of the apostles.

Not just Peter,

of course,

but John and Paul

and the other

New Testament writers

as well.

it has been

this way

since the beginning

of the church.

As one

early church

writer put it,

and you'll have

heard this phrase

I suspect,

the blood of the martyrs

is the seed

of the church.

And so,

over the history

of the Christian church,

as predicted

and taught

in the scriptures,

when Christians

are most severely

persecuted

for following

the Lord Jesus,

far from

extinguishing

the Christian gospel

from society

or from a nation,

what the persecutors

inadvertently do

is spread

the Christian gospel.

Something happens

when Christians

act

as Peter

asks them

to act here.

And what happens

is that

their suffering

becomes a sermon

to all who look on.

I want you just

to turn

to the letter

of the Philippians,

if you can,

in your Bible

or on your phone

or press the buttons

backwards

and get to

Philippians

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1.

Just look at

the last

section of

Philippians chapter 1

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

with me for a moment

just so that we can see

a very clear

example of what

Paul is speaking

about here.

Philippians chapter 1

Philippians 1:27

verse 27.

Whatever happens

and Philippians

was written

just at the time

that Nero

was beginning

to come to power

and the Christians

were beginning

to be persecuted.

Whatever happens

and he means by that

whether I live

or die

conduct yourselves

in other words

current behavior

in a manner

worthy of the

gospel of Christ

then

whether I come

and see you

or only hear

about you

in my absence

I will know

that you stand

firm

united in one

spirit

contending

as one

for the faith

of the gospel

without being

frightened in any

way by those

who oppose you

this

in other words

this united

standing firm

in the gospel

this

is

a sign

to them

that them

being the opponents

this is a sign

to them

that they will

be destroyed

but that you

will be saved

and that by God.

Isn't that a

remarkable thing?

As persecution

comes to

Christian believers

and those

who are

viciously

opposed to

the gospel

put Christians

through one

kind of suffering

another

the Christian

response to

that suffering

becomes a

sermon to

them

in which

they are

told what

they increasingly

know to be

true that they

are on the

road to

destruction

they see

the response

of a Christian

believer with

the help of

the Holy Spirit

in their lives

and they know

that these people

have something

before almighty

God that they

do not have

a remarkable

thing

and that is

just woven

into the

pattern of

the New Testament

and into the

pattern of

1 Peter

so that's

the first

thing

suffering

and glory

belong

together

and that

is not

unique

to this

particular

passage

secondly

there is

something about

being persecuted

for following

Jesus

that is

in keeping

with our

other

relationships

in the

church

in the

family

and in

society

as Christian

people

we are

constantly

conscious

of the

fact

that just

as Jesus

submitted

to the

costly

will of

his

father

for him

so we

reflecting

our union

with Jesus

are involved

in all

sorts of

relationships

where we

willingly

submit to

one another

it's the

turning upside

down of

the human

sinful

ego

when the

spirit comes

and we're

given new

life in

Christ

we become

those

who

are more

and more

inclined

to think

in a

Christ-like

way

about

kneeling

and serving

or

submitting

to a

God-given

authority

rather than

exerting

ourselves

over and

above

others

that is

part of

our

Christian

demeanor

and it

is that

part of

our

demeanor

that we

are still

portraying

if

Christians

are

persecuted

we become

like the

Lord Jesus

we are

willing to

be subject

to one

another

Romans

talks about

it being

subject to

those whom

God has

given us

in society

to rule

over us

that is

good for

society

Paul teaches

in our

church

family

we are

subject

to our

leaders

because

God has

given them

to us

to care

for us

and protect

us

in the

family of

the gospel

and so on

and so on

now that

kind of

language is

an abomination

to the

sinful

unbroken

human heart

but to

Christian

people

that is

just a

reflection

of how

the Lord

Jesus

submits

to the

will

of his

father

for us

it is

the

norm

it is

not

lacking

in

dignity

but it

is hard

and painful

in a

fallen

world

so it

is very

often

right

and possible

for us

to submit

to one

another

in church

in family

in society

and even

in persecution

for the

sake of

Christ

and being

subject

is not

the same

as being

silent

ever

being

silent

may mean

in this

case

where we

are being

persecuted

that we

are no

longer

willing

to

profess

the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

Peter

doesn't

call us

to be

silent

but he

calls

Christians

to be

subject

to

something

that's the

second thing

here's the

third

and now

more

into the

text itself

for

three

through

seven

suffering

like this

persecution

for following

Jesus

is

normal

Christian

experience

if you

take

the

global

church

and

if you

take

the

span

of the

history

of the

church

suffering

for

following

Jesus

is

entirely

normal

and that's

what Peter

says

isn't it

in verse

12

we should

not be

surprised

at the

painful

trial

you are

suffering

we should

actually

expect

it

we should

be

prepared

for this

to happen

and indeed

experience

teaches us

because we

have 2000

years of

history

since Peter

wrote this

letter

experience

teaches us

that what

Peter wrote

is indeed

the case

it just

is not

surprising

don't think

that something

strange is

happening to

you he

says

get used

to the

fact

that this

is

normal

Christian

experience

and you

folks

like many

of us

in our

evangelical

churches

will pray

for and

follow

the instances

of Christians

who are

overtly

persecuted

for their

faith in

Christ

you will

probably read

the magazines

and the

prayer leaflets

of the

likes of

the Barnabas

Trust

to name

but one

organization

that is

there to

encourage

awareness

and promote

support for

those who are

suffering

for following

Christ

and the

range

of

ministries

and churches

that exist

who pray

for persecuted

believers

should simply

teach us

that this

is what

happens

when the

gospel takes

root in a

culture and

in a nation

and is

proclaimed to

those who

don't know

the Lord

Jesus

persecution

is what

happens

it's normal

and we

know that

but still

in some

way when

we read

a passage

like this

we feel

slightly

distant

from it

and were

the day

to come

when you

were

persecuted

in some

way for

following

Christ

then

Peter says

just have

this in

your

foundational

thinking

don't be

surprised

it's not

something

strange

that's

happening

now I

would say

that we're

all well

aware

that the

days of

any notion

of Christian

privilege

in our

society

and culture

are well

passed

and indeed

we're probably

increasingly

living in

the context

of low

grade

Christian

persecution

by some

that I

don't think

would come

as a great

shock to

us

we see

the battles

that go

around

particularly

in the

university

world

around

the

issues

of

free

speech

and who

is allowed

to say

what

and who

is allowed

to say

things

that might

upset

someone

else

and the

responses

to that

one of our

small

Christian

union

groups

here's

just one

example

put on

or wanted

to put

on a

lunchtime

discussion

around

the theme

where was

God

when the

terrorist

bomb

went

off

and the

university

said no

somebody

could be

offended

by that

discussion

and it

was shut

down

now

the

the kind

of

notion

that

some

others

might be

really helped

to come

and talk

about that

doesn't

count

for anything

the notion

that we

live in a

society

where nobody

has to

come into

that discussion

they're just

invited to

if they

want

that doesn't

count for

anything

no

that's

not

happening

interesting

and yet

in other

universities

some of our

Christian unions

are being

given

awards

by the

students union

body

for being

a really

welcoming

and open

and genuine

and upfront

and transparent

organization

and part of

me thinks

could the

people in

this

students union

not speak

to the

people over

here

but there

is the

beginnings

in the

university

world

of this

kind of

persecution

this kind

of

closing you

down

action

there will

be many

cases

and here

you can

follow

the

news

produced

by

CAIR

or the

Christian

Institute

and others

of people

being

passed

over

for

promotion

because

they're

a

Christian

or people

indeed

being

put out

of work

because

of

Christian

beliefs

so there

are lots

of examples

there

and my

guess is

that as

we see

society

being

increasingly

cowed

and swayed

into only

being able

to say

and articulate

and think

what is

the approved

social norm

of the day

only if you

fit in

with the

cultural

beliefs

of the day

with the

up-to-date

doctrine

of our

culture

will you be

accepted

that I

think

is

gaining

ground

where

will it

end

who

in the

world

knows

the

Lord

knows

so it

is

normal

Christianity

but look

on beyond

verse 12

and here

fourthly

suffering

like this

for following

the Lord

Jesus

is actually

part

and parcel

and here

is something

even more

profound

of our

core

identity

in

Christ

look at

verses

13

and 14

so

don't be

surprised

but instead

rejoice

that you

participate

in the

sufferings

of Christ

so that

you may

be overjoyed

when his

glory is

revealed

if you

are insulted

because of

the name

of Christ

you are

blessed

for the

spirit

of glory

and of

God

rests

on

you

that is a

remarkable

sentence

isn't it

something

profound

is happening

when

you are

targeted

or singled

out

for following

the Lord

Jesus

at that

moment

you are

participating

in

you are

united

to the

Lord

Jesus

and his

sufferings

and the

spirit

of God

Peter

says

rests

on you

at that

moment

now that

is very

spiritual

and very

profound

but I

think

we could

do a

very

very good

job by

equipping

our

children

and young

people

to understand

that

when they're

at school

I think

we forget

unless we

are parents

of young

children

we forget

just how

cruel

the playground

or the

classroom

can be

by way of

an environment

that is very

quick to slap

someone down

who sticks out

for whatever

reason

and we

forget

because

it's

unpleasant

and it's

hard

and we

move on

in life

but

probably

for most

of us

if we

paused

and took

time

to remember

the most

difficult

things

if you

were

following

Christ

as a

school

people

the most

difficult

things

that occurred

because of

that

no wonder

we forget

but for

all of us

who have

kids at

school

today

the atmosphere

is no

different

in fact

it's probably

harder

how do you

equip a

six year old

a ten year old

a thirteen year old

to be willing

to say

yeah I follow

Christ

I believe

what the Bible

teaches

I have a

church family

that I belong

to on Sundays

to say

any of

those things

even

something as

low grade

as I'm

going to

the

scripture

union

group

do you

want

to

come

with

me

those

things

are

really

tough

and

persecution

in that

context

can be

fairly

undetected

below the

radar

parents and

teachers

may or may

not know

about it

but to

train

and

encourage

our

children

that if

just because

they believe

in Jesus

people are

going to

say

cutting

damning

offensive

critical

things to

them

then

God

himself

their

heavenly

father

says

when that

happens

we are

very close

to Jesus

in his

sufferings

and his

spirit is

with us

what a

wonderful

thing

to be

taught

by the

scriptures

and how

much more

profound is

that than

just reckoning

it to be

normal

it is part

of our

core

identity

in the

Lord Jesus

we follow

someone and

belong to

someone who

did not

stand on

his rights

to be

treated in

the way that

we would

expect him

to be

treated

remember

his trial

remember

his

responses

yes it

is as

you say

I am

the

Christ

simple

straightforward

uncomplicated

responses

in the face

of those

who eventually

put him

to death

and the

Lord Jesus

our risen

king

knows

and is

with us

by his

spirit

every time

something like

this happens

that's very

wonderful I

think

number five

suffering

for

Christ

is not

to be

confused

and here

Peter is

very wise

and

shrewd

in his

teaching

is not

to be

confused

with suffering

because we've

been sinful

or stupid

look at

verse

15 and

16

if you

suffer

it should

not be

as a

murderer

or thief

or meddler

however

if you

suffer as

a Christian

do not

be ashamed

but praise

God that

you bear

that name

I wonder

how many

of us

can

relate

to this

and think

of situations

where the

other Christian

in our

workplace

or the

other

Christian

in a

context

is actually

behaving

badly

in a way

that makes

our toes

curl up

in our

shoes

and we

think

for whatever

reason

that Christian

is giving

out all

the wrong

signals

about following

Jesus

we get

angry

we lose

our temper

we have

a reputation

of being

the person

who is

short

with others

or who is

overbearing

with people

we line

manage

who is

constantly

ducking

out of

work

that others

have to

pick up

and so

on and so

on and so

on

well then

that Christian

will suffer

because naturally

people will turn

on them

won't they

either subtly

or overtly

but they're not

suffering for

following Jesus

in that case

they're suffering

because they're

being sinful

and unwise

and Peter

says don't be

confused

between these

two things

or similarly

you may have

known people

who have

suffered

terribly

in their

lives

and faced

ferocious

persecution

and as far

as they know

before the Lord

they've done

nothing wrong

but they're

consumed

with the

question

what have I

done wrong

Lord

to have

brought this

upon me

and Peter

says no

no

don't be

confused

about these

things

don't

get

sinfulness

and suffering

muddled

up all the

time

some

suffering

is because

we are

sinful

some

persecution

is just

because

you are

Christian

and if

it's just

because you

are Christian

the chances

may well

be that

you've done

absolutely

nothing wrong

it's just

normal

Christian

experience

do you see

what he's

saying there

how wise

of him

to put in

that caveat

don't you

descend

to the

behaviour

of everybody

else around

you

if you

suffer

for goodness

sake

don't

let it

be

because

you've

been

wicked

in some

way

or another

no

if you

suffer

as a

Christian

hold your

head up

high

do not

be ashamed

and praise

God

that you're

worthy

of owning

the name

of the

Lord

Jesus

that's a

very

challenging

thing

isn't it

because

the

pressure

is to

just

creep

back

put your

head

down

beneath

the

parapet

step

back

from

proximity

to

Jesus

and then

the

suffering

will

go

away

that's

how it

was

with

Peter

who wrote

this

letter

right at

the very

point

when the

Lord

Jesus

was being

crucified

you were

with him

weren't

you

from

Galilee

no

no

no

no

I

don't

know

him

at

all

see

lessen

the

association

and we

can soon

stop

the

suffering

why there

are many

many of

our

brothers

and

sisters

in

glory

now

aren't

there

because

they

were

told

either

renounce

your

faith

in

the

Lord

Jesus

or

lose

your

life

and at

that

in

those

extreme

situations

believers

are given

extraordinary

ability

by God

himself

to

have

that

perspective

which

sees

glory

and

honors

the

king

and

knows

that

death

if it

comes

will

simply

be the

gateway

to

eternal

life

in his

presence

but

2nd

Peter

again

if you

turn

over

the

page

to

chapter

1

of

2nd

Peter

Peter

himself

is very

conscious

of this

chapter

1

verse

13

I think

it's

right

to

refresh

your

memory

as long

as I

live

in the

tent

of

this

body

because

I

know

that I

will

soon

put it

aside

as our

Lord

Jesus

Christ

has

made

clear

to

me

he

knows

the

end

is

coming

well

Jesus

told him

that

didn't

he

when he

reinstated

him

he

told

Peter

how he

would

die

he

knows

the

end

is

coming

he's

writing

these

letters

to help

others

be

strong

in their

faith

even

to the

point

of

death

and

he

knows

that

that

road

is

the

one

he's

on

himself

and

he

was

as

legend

has

it

crucified

upside

down

in

the

city

of

Rome

and

put

to

death

as

one

of

the

first

Christian

martyrs

so

Peter

is

not

writing

this

first

letter

with

some

kind

of

blissful

distance

between

himself

and

the

theory

he

is

writing

these

letters

knowing

that

he

will

walk

that

road

and

that

the

Lord

Jesus

and

the

eternal

life

given

to

him

in

Christ

and

the

proclamation

of the

gospel

in the

world

means

it's

worth

it

number

six

suffering

this is

verses

17

and

18

suffering

is to

be

viewed

in

keeping

with

and

in

proportion

to

the

judgment

and

justice

of

God

listen

to that

again

suffering

is to

be

viewed

in

keeping

with

and

in

proportion

to

the

judgment

and

justice

of

God

look

at

verses

17

and

18