The Ethic of a Christian- pt3

The Ethic of a Christian  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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The church in America is having an uncomfortable moment right now. Trust in churches, pastors, and people who consider themselves born again Christians is at an all time low. Survey after survey has highlighted this sad and frustrating reality. And it has sparked a lot of anger and backlash against people who bear the image of God, but who do not believe in Jesus, and who are calling Christians into question.
I got a bit of an education on this subject through a fascinating movie a few years ago. I have watched it several times (it’s one of my plane movies) and on each rewatch I am struck by one thing over and over again- the importance of integrity.
The movie is called Spotlight and it’s about a team of reporters at the Boston Globe who unearthed the pattern of molestation among a large number of Catholic priests in Boston- which eventually expanded to priests around the world. This gave rise, a few years after, to the Church Too movement which spun off of the Me Too movement focused on abuse by powerful people of those under their influence or authority or care.
As I watch where we are today, and my heart breaks over and over again for the loss of trust in the Body that Jesus died for, I am reminded again and again that part of our ethic must be integrity.
Webster’s defines integrity as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, and doing the right thing even when it's difficult or no one is watching. The Bible defines integrity as a lifestyle of honesty, consistency, and moral wholeness. There is a lot of crossover in those 2 definitions, but the important distinction for us as followers of Jesus is where that sense of morality comes from. Ours is not a shifting one, because it is founded in an unchanging God. This is a good thing, because we do not have to play guessing games, but it is challenging because those who do not share our faith can still know our source of judgment on what is integrity and hold us accountable, even when they do not share the same ethic.
Hence the challenge of living in this world with integrity as a follower of Jesus.
So how do we do this?
Well let’s start with what we can do. Go with me to Proverbs 4:25-27. This is about personal integrity. Who we are in the dark. Who we are when only God can see us.
Integrity starts with focus- what are we fixed on
It is maintained by acting out of wisdom- not acting rashly or out of mere emotion
And is committed to not giving in to temptation
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (5) The Fourth Exhortation: A Father’s Plea (4:1–27)

Of particular interest is v. 27, the warning to swerve neither to the right nor to the left. Deuteronomy 5:32; 17:11; 28:14; and Josh 23:6 are similar. The idea is that one should not be distracted from the way of wisdom (v. 25). Temptation to allegorize “right” and “left” in light of modern usage should be resisted. At the same time, the text can be taken to urge the reader to maintain the simplicity of biblical teaching

That all makes sense, most likely, because when you are a mature believer those are the basics of how we live life when we follow Jesus.
But how does this relate to those who do not know Jesus?
Peter had a LOT to say about this in his first letter, and that’s where I want to camp out for the rest of our time together. There are 2 passages that speak to living a life of integrity. First, turn with me to 1 Peter 2:11-12.
Integrity with those who do not follow Jesus, starts with realizing that we are on a different playing field. Peter calls us sojourners and exiles.
1, 2 Peter, Jude 1. The Christian Life as a Battle and Witness (2:11–12)

Abraham uttered these words in a context in which he had no property on which to bury his wife. Similarly, the Petrine readers had no permanent home in this world

So we do not belong- we are aliens in a lot of ways and how the world defines what is ok and not ok, may not always match up with what we know form Jesus. So we must pay attention to the conviction that comes from the Spirit so we are not falling back into the sin that Jesus freed us from.
1, 2 Peter, Jude 1. The Christian Life as a Battle and Witness (2:11–12)

Such desires cannot be confined to sexual sins or sins of the body like drunkenness. We have already seen in 2:1 that believers are warned against “social” sins like slander and envy. The depth of the struggle in which believers are engaged is explained by the words “which war against your soul.”

Further though, we need to think about our reputations. With those outside the church. To keep our conduct “honorable” means that we live our lives in a consistent and just way. We are not known as being divisive or cruel or seeking gain at others expense. In short, we are people who are above reproach.
What is the effect of this- when people begin to lob accusations at us, they don’t stick because how we live does not match what we are being falsely accused of AND it gives us the opportunity to point people to Jesus.
1, 2 Peter, Jude 1. The Christian Life as a Battle and Witness (2:11–12)

Such “good conduct” (RSV) will appear beautiful to “pagans” (lit. “Gentiles,” ethnesin). Using the term “Gentiles” for pagans indicates that the terminology of Israel is now applied to the church of Jesus Christ. Hence, even though unbelievers are inclined to revile Christians as those who do evil, they will be constrained by the godly lifestyle of believers to reconsider

But what if they don’t believe us or worse, what if they choose to say things about us that are not true because they do not like what we believe?
1, 2 Peter, Jude 1. The Christian Life as a Battle and Witness (2:11–12)

Unbelievers viewed Christians with suspicion and hostility because the latter did not conform to their way of life (4:3–4). Since believers did not honor the typical gods of the community, they were naturally viewed as subversive and evil in that social context

How we react to disagreement, slander, and persecution is the last part of integrity. Turn to 1 Peter 3:13-17.
1, 2 Peter, Jude (1) The Blessing of Suffering for Christ (3:13–17)

Suffering stalks the believer until this present evil age comes to an end. Instead, Peter assured believers that nothing can ultimately harm them if they continue to walk in God’s paths, that the pain inflicted on them now is only temporary, and that they will be vindicated by God on the last day

First, suffering for righteousness sake is a blessing. Jesus did it. We can too. So when we suffer for actually bring righteous (not for being a jerk) then we have an opportunity to put Jesus on display as well.
We do not have to fear
We do not have to be troubled
We must keep the faith in Jesus
And we must be ready to give an answer
And HOW we do it matters. Peter says we respond to unjust persecution with 2 words:
Gentleness
Respect
And the result will be that those who have accused us will be put to shame- either by being found out or when they face Jesus.
1, 2 Peter, Jude (1) The Blessing of Suffering for Christ (3:13–17)

Fear of human beings, even of those who persecute, is forbidden. The reason fear is prohibited relates back to vv. 13–14a. Since no one can ultimately harm believers and since even their suffering is a sign of God’s blessing, then it follows that they should not fear what others can do to them.

1, 2 Peter, Jude (1) The Blessing of Suffering for Christ (3:13–17)

Peter continued to emphasize that the conduct of believers is related to the Lord, where all conduct is in the sphere of Christ. Further, Christians should only be abused for their “good” conduct. Believers are to live righteously so that those who abuse their good conduct will “be ashamed”

Why does this matter so much? Because integrity is so lacking in our world that when we conduct ourselves with integrity we stand out- for the right reasons. And the reputation of the Body is enhanced rather than further tarnished.
1, 2 Peter, Jude (1) The Blessing of Suffering for Christ (3:13–17)

The heart is the origin of human behavior (cf. 1:22; 3:4), and from it flows everything people do. Hence, setting apart Christ as Lord in the heart is not merely a private reality but will be evident to all when believers suffer for their faith. The inner and outer life are inseparable, for what happens within will inevitably be displayed to all, especially when one suffers.

This life of integrity is not possible without a growing, vibrant relationship with Jesus. Without Him, we fall into ways that do not honor God, because our security is found in what others think of us or how they treat us. Jesus ends all that. Our worth and meaning and security are all found in Him.
As a result, He gives us the strength and wisdom to live differently, and that consistent life of integrity puts on display the power of the Gospel.
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