Suffering and Evangelism

Selling stuff

When you sell stuff, one of the first rules is hide the flaws of whatever is you are selling.

The real estate agent will do his or her best job in distracting your eye from the fact that the paint job in the house is actually pretty dodgy.

The used car sales person will conveniently forget to tell you some of the issue that car has been having in recent times.

In the fruit section at the supermarket, they’ll place that little fruit sticker on the apple that will cover that imperfection.

When some new scheme is being sold to you, the terms and conditions are always really small and difficult to find.

Of course, if you want to sell something, it only makes sense that you’re going to highlight the good aspects and downplay the negative.

The best parts of Christianity

If I ask you to give me your best job and selling Christianity as something someone might want to consider, you might talk about the hope of future glory when we get to go to Heaven.

Maybe we’ll want to talk about the miracles that God can do in our lives. We all love hearing stories about the friend who had cancer, and then the doctors were baffled when at the next scan, they couldn’t find anything. And many of you will know, I’m not making that up, these sort of stories really do happen and it is incredible.

Or we might take a different approach. We might like to tell people about the wonderful welcoming community that you find… one where people know how to forgive… one that will accept people as they are - and for those who might be tempted to smirk at such an idea, Christian community really does do that. It truly is a beautiful thing to be part of a community when people live lives worthy of the gospel.

There are many ways in which we can show that Christianity truly is worth embracing.

Suffering?

But somethin strange happens when you read the bible.

Yes we read about the glorious future that is to come… and yes, we read of the miracles performed, including during the time of the early church… and yes, it talks about the wonderful communities that formed… but it also talks a lot about struggles and suffering and even persecution.

It’s kind of strange, but in the early church, and by that I mean the first few hundred years after Jesus, the pitch could almost come across as: come and join our community… you’ll probably be ridiculed by society, possibly even be limited with the amount you can trade at the markets. There’s a possibility you’ll be more than just ridiculed, and you’ll be tortured, potentially even to the point of losing your life. Oh, and the problems are not just going to be limited to the reaction of society around you. There’s a whole spiritual realm that’s going to be against you trying to cause havoc in your life.

So what do you say? Do you want to join our group of people who put their trust in someone who suffered the shame of dying on a cross? He tells us we need to pick up our cross and follow him!

When you lay out what a believer might expect you might wonder how the early church grew. Why would any one want to follow that?

Why would any one want to follow it today?

Interestingly, the reality of this suffering has persisted, and the number of Christians has seen rapid growth throughout the world. And if you look today, the really curious part about it, is that so often we see, the more persecution there is, the more growth we see in that region.

It defies logic.

When Christians suffer, something happens.

What is it? Well, that’s what I want to explore today as I go through our passage from 1 Peter 3.

Context

Now, remember that Peter is writing to a bunch of Christians who are familiar with suffering. It’s quite likely, that some of the readers would have experienced quite severe levels of persecution. All of them would have faced some level of struggle as their new found faith clashed with the culture around them.

Peter is aware of this, in fact, he mentions it in the opening paragraph of the whole letter, way back in chapter 1. But the letter started with hope. Actually, if you remember back to the message I gave on the first half of chapter 1, he gives us this picture of salvation.

Now, if I can just go back to that message briefly now because it’s going to become relevant, this picture of salvation that Peter gave us was so much bigger then the simplified version we seem to say today. Peter’s picture was one of hope. He described the joy of knowing and being with God. He talked about the faith that comes from the suffering we face, and how that faith results in glory and honour.

Because of this great salvation, Peter then calls his readers to a holy life. Now, I won’t go over everything we’ve looked at throughout this series, but it lead us to what we looked at last week when we considered the way we should be thinking about the husband and wife relationship.

1 Peter 3:8 seems to effectively conclude this section wen he says: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble”.

Now we could spend the time looking at each of these exhortations, and it would probably prove to be very profitable to do so, but instead, I want to show how verse 8 is going to lead on to verse 9, which is then going to turn the subject back to suffering.

Do not repay evil with evil

You see, verse 8 is all positive things. They’re all items of working cooperatively with those around us.

Each of the things listed in verse 8 are going to be super easy things to do when everybody else around us are doing them to.

But as I think we’ll all be acutely aware, people are not always sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble. People care often mean and say hurtful things. People are going to disregard your feelings and do what’s in their own interest regardless of how it effects you.

When these insults fly our way, our every instinct is to get even. Some of us are pretty adept at giving as good as we get.

Verse 9 reminds us that those good attributes listed in verse 8 are not just reserved for those who are nice to us. They are how we are to treat everyone - and that can be hard.

You know, I think it can be very easy to dismiss Peter’s teaching here as all a bit innocent. It’s all well and good to teach this in Sunday School, but in the real world, if you act all sweet and nice, and actually turn the other cheek… well, you’re going to get walked all over.

The bottom line - you’re going to suffer.

Does Peter recognise that his advice is a recipe for our suffering?

Well, yes, it would seem he is very much aware of the consequences of what he is saying.

And he’s going to give us a few reasons why we carry on this way despite what appears to be advice that will end badly for us.

Your calling

The first reason he gives us comes in verse 9, and it might seem strange when you first hear it - but it’s what we’re called to.

In verse 9 we read: “On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called...”

So what’s a calling got to do with this?

You might even be thinking, if I’m called to suffer, I don’t really want to accept that calling.

Now, I just want to be clear here because as Christians we can use the word “call” in two different ways. We often use it to refer to a specific call that an individual might have. For example, a particular individual might feel God calling him or her to the mission field. I’m not talking about this specific kind of calling.

The other kind of calling is that which all believers receive - the calling to be a follower of Jesus. The calling to take up your cross daily.

Now, by recognising what we’re doing is a calling is to recognise that someone greater than us… someone who has all things in control… has chosen us and is saying I’ve got something better for you.

We’re not just doing this on a whim. We’re not just trying some new fancy trend. We’re following the calling of the one who holds all things in his hands.

Future blessing

This calling then draws me to the second reason we do this. And that is because we’re called to a future blessing. Just read it there in verse 9: “because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing”.

It is worth reminding yourself that every injustice and every evil act is going to be made right.

The suffering you face today is only for a time. A time is coming when there will be a new heavens and a new earth, for the old order of things will have passed.

With God, not against him

But there is a third reason which we find in the quote that Peter gives us.

Verses 10 to 12 is actually a quote from Psalm 34 which similarly says to turn from evil and do good. But you’ll find in this quote, the reason we do this is because when we do, we are working with God, and when we don’t, we’re against God.

If you want to be with God, you might need to put up with a bit of suffering. If you want to try and deal with it yourself, well, actually, you’re probably not going to avoid suffering anyway, and you’ll find the face of the Lord will be against you.

You are blessed now

Okay, I don’t know how convincing you find these reasons. The future blessing might sound good, but the struggles are real and we have to live in this present moment now.

Well, Peter’s about to shift gears. You see, it’s not just a future blessing, and it’s more than just some comforting thoughts about our calling or what God wants.

You see, Peter is about to make the argument that even in the midst of your suffering right now, you are blessed. And that is blessed in the present tense.

It starts in verse 13 when he says: “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?”

Now, that might sound like he’s going against what I’ve just been saying, that is, there are horrible people out there and you’re going to have to deal with them.

But you know what? If you follow those ideas back in verse 8, that is, be like-minded, sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble, you actually find most people will respond positively.

Sometimes you need to be the catalyst that brings about change. Will people take advantage of you? Sometimes… and we’ll get to that in a moment… but it really can be infectious at times.

Try practicing kindness even when no one else around you is - just see what sort of difference it makes.

So sometimes the blessing comes through the very fact that our actions are making the people around us nicer to be around.

But verse 14 does recognise that this is not always the case, and sometimes your kindness will not be reciprocated.

But… you are still blessed.

“Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened”

You’re part of something so much bigger. When you do what is right, you are close to the Kingdom of God - and this kingdom is not just a future concept, it’s something that we are a part of right here and right now.

The world can be throwing insult after insult at you, and yet the presence of God can surround you, and you can know a supernatural comfort that defies logic.

That’s not to say what you face won’t hurt. At times, we might be brought to tears. At times, we might cry out ‘why God!’

We can be like many of the Psalms in this cry to God, but if you look at most of those Psalm, after they cry out to God, they look up, and see what God has done for them. That God has saved them. That they are blessed.

Part of something better

You see, here’s the thing, life can be hard. Being a Christian and living in the way that Christ wants us to can result in further struggles as we face a hostile culture and a spiritual enemy that doesn’t like things that way.

But we keep living that way because we’re part of something so much bigger. Something we’re we can be blessed, even in the midst of a great trial.

Sharing with others

Now, earlier, I mentioned the strange phenomenon where by the church has a habit of seeing it’s fastest growth during times of struggle and persecution.

This letter that Peter wrote was obviously quite early in the scheme of church history. But he’s seen enough to recognise this reality, and I suspect that based on where he takes his letter in verse 15, he’s actually got a bit of an insight into what’s going on.

You see, while we can point out some differences between the suffering faced by believers and that faced by non-believers, the reality is, everyone on the face of this earth is going to come up against some sort of difficult times throughout their lives.

People look at how other people react to hard times.

For the unbeliever, the struggles that are faced can seem so pointless. They don’t feel that higher calling. They don’t have an ultimate hope for a better future. They don’t know what it’s like to feel a supernatural comfort in the midst of the strife. And so they either rail against it, or find themselves in despair - or probably a bit of both.

They look at the believer and see a completely different response

What do they do? They ask.

So Peter says: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

It’s strange, but our suffering can be a means by which we can share the good news. Far from saying - become a Christian and everything will go your way… the message becomes, when you follow Christ, the struggles will continue, but you’re going to be part of something so glorious… you’re going to be part of a kingdom that is here now and is growing… you’re going to know a love so great that nothing can tear you from it.

This is the reason we have hope. It’s not a fanciful hope, it’s a hope based on a present reality. One that you can know now.

Now it might seem obvious, particularly once you understand the nature of the hope we’re talking about, but Peter clarifies for his readers, when you do answer those questioners, make sure you do it with gentleness and respect.

When you give your response, some people are going to answer that it is absurd. Some people are going to laugh at you. Some people are even going to feel threatened by what you say, because it’s going to challenge the heart of their worldview.

If they come back at us in a harsh way, that’s okay, we maintain the gentleness and respect. We keep a clear conscience because the contrast that we’ll show will start to be evident.

Being prepared

Now, I just want to pick up on Peter’s word “always be prepared...”

As the scouts say: “Be prepared”

We need to take some time and reflect on all of this. Because sometimes people can ask: Why do Christians put up with everything they do? And we’re like - “ummm, well… we don’t always”.

We fumble an opportunity to really express the beauty of what we’ve been given.

But if we’ve already reflected, and recognise the amazing thing that we’re a part of, and what it means to know a blessing even in the midst of a struggle, then we’ll be ready to spread the amazing news.

People are desperate for hope, and we’ve got it.

Share it. Let others know. Being part of God’s kingdom is the most amazing thing anyone can ever experience. Yes it will be hard, but the love of God is even better.

Conclusion

The reality is, suffering in one form or another is inevitable in this world.

But you’ve got a choice. You can suffer for doing good. Or you can suffer for doing evil.

One of these things is not like the other.

They are not the same.

As Peter says in verse 17: “For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil”.

Suffering for doing good brings you closer to God’s kingdom, and this is better by far.

Let me pray...