Priorities for a Pilgrim People: Unity

Last week, “Priorities for a Pilgrim People” looked at an overview of 1 Peter, with some of the major themes of the letter. We’re exiles. And that means Calibrate your expectations, think about heaven a lot, pursue holiness, and be prepared.

Another particularly relevant passage. 1 Peter 3:8-12

Can we “love life” in this season? Can we “see good days”? Scripture says “Yes.”

The Attitude: All-in Unity (vs. 8)

Unity of Mind: A like-mindedness. This doesn’t mean we agree on every single thing. This means there’s a deep-seated unity on what really matters - Christ, the gospel, the mission of the church - that enables us to disagree on shallow things.

Sympathy: Sum-pathos. To “feel with.” We’re not insensitive toward one another, we embrace one another. We feel with one another. The church is a place where we know that we will not be mocked for our pains, our griefs, our losses, our concerns.

Brotherly Love. This is a family word. Imagine best friend brothers. It’s friendship, but it’s beyond that. It’s true relationship. It's a genuine concern.

Tender Heart. Literally “with healthy intestines.” That is, your heart is caring, feeling, warm, understanding, and compassionate toward others. You’re drawn to them.

Humble Mind. The ancient world thought this was a weakness. This was not a noble trait. The ancient world was always surprised at such a high value Christians placed on humility. “Count others as more significant than yourselves.”

Before unity is a reality in a church, it is a mindset for every individual. “All of you.” Every single one of you. You each need to embrace this attitude of all-in-unity.

In the 7th century, Islam was spreading like wildfire - a force that would threaten Christianity and almost extinguish it several places. In 663-64 AD, church leaders gathering in North East England for a serious discussion. The famous (infamous) meeting came to be known as the Synod of Whitby. What was the topic?

Two things. First, a rigorous discussion about when on the calendar Easter should be celebrated, and secondly, the proper shape of the tonsure worn by priests and monks. What’s a tonsure? It’s a certain monk-haircut.

Now there’s a time for discussion of dates and haircuts. But there are times when such questions can distract us from the great question: How can we continue to obey the Great Commission?

Remember, we have marching orders. King Jesus says “Go therefore into all nations and make disciples - baptizing them and teaching them!” Imagine soldiers, marching into war, bickering about how they’re wearing their uniforms.

The Action: Bless

Verse 9: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called.”

We band together to bless the world.

If evil is committed against us, we do not repay evil.

If we are reviled, we do not revile.

Rather: we bless!

What does it mean to bless? Greek: “eulogeo” - eulogy - “good word” “to speak good”

Involves our words - Lk 1:64 Zechariah spoke, blessing God

Involves our prayers - call down God’s favor on someone. Lk. 6:28 “bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you”

Involves our action - Eph 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”

How often are your words, your prayers, and your actions blessing other people? Even your enemies and opponents?

I’ve read that holding bitterness is like eating rat poison and hoping it kills the rat. We don’t retaliate, we return curses with blessings.

The blessed church - that we love life, that we see good days - is the one that is all in with unity, never repaying evil for evil, but rather blessing, knowing that this is the way to honor God and enjoy his love.

Why? We have been so perfectly loved by Jesus Christ. We understand ourselves to be wretched sinners. We understand ourselves to deserve nothing good. And we also know that God has given us the fullness of his glorious grace. He saves the undeserving who can do nothing for themselves, so they trust in him to save. We believe Jesus came for us. Jesus lived for us. Jesus died for our sin. Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus is alive right now. We are perfectly loved - and being secure - we love our enemies.

Let’s work hard for unity. “United in mind, sympathetic, brotherly love, tender hearted, humble mind.” And then, let’s work hard to bless others - even those who do us harm. Why? Because it glorifies our generous God who has blessed us in Christ.