The Best Argument --1 Peter 2:11-17

Introduction

What is the best argument for Christianity?

Since the beginning of Acts, the idea of the Christian apologist is scattered through the New Testament. It starts with the sermon on Pentecost in which Peter proves that Jesus is the Christ.

When Paul goes to synagogues, he forcefully argues from the scriptures to prove the premise that Jesus was God’s son.

But there is one kind of incontrovertible truth about Christianity. It silences any critic. It may not persuade him to change, but it is something that no one can argue with.

That argument is a godly life.

In this lesson, Peter wants to instruct on meeting the opposition to their faith that is coming. When opposition to Christianity comes, how should we respond?

How would you answer that question? How does Peter answer it?

Discussion

The Human Response

We live in a world of accusations. Talking heads on competing cable news channels throw mud at the “other guy.” Our political parties ignore governing in favor of attacking their opponents. And social media is the garbage dump of complaints and criticisms leveled against anyone who does not share the writer’s view.

All of these are human responses to pressure, criticism, and opposition. They come in two methods that are not mutually exclusive.

The first is when attacked, demonize and defame your opponent. Take them down a notch or two. Make them look like a dunce sitting in a corner. Or worse, paint them as the devil’s offspring cooking up all kinds of wickedness in the world.

But that starts a cycle because once attacked, the attack is traded in kind, barb for barb, insult for insult.

It generates all kinds of heat and little light. We grow farther apart, and more venom fills the system.

In this kind of world, the most significant fatality is the truth. No one cares as long as my side wins.

The second comes when the government passes what some in the electorate see as unjust, unfair laws. Then, the tactic becomes refuse and rebel. People dig in their heels on paying taxes, obeying traffic laws, or maintaining healthy safety guidelines.

As crowds become mobs, blood is shed, chaos ensues, and order is trampled. Tragically, we see those pictures today too often.

But what is the Christian’s goal? Is it to prove a point, win the argument? Is it to demonstrate how free they are?

None of those is God’s purpose for building his house (as seen earlier in 1 Peter 2).

The goal of Christians is to show the world about Christ who came to save them. It is to show how he changes lives in ways that no human institution can.

Christians need to be the diamond on dark cloth.

The Christian Response

Peter opens our lesson with an urgent plea.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11, ESV)

Our Identity

His appeal comes based on who we are. He says we are exiles and sojourners in this world. The words indicate a visitor for a short time who is always longing for home.

Our values differ from the world. Our actions reflect a different allegiance. We just don’t fit in with how the world and culture operate. That is what brings the opposition.

Because our lives and hearts are not part of this world, our actions are different. Because of that, we are fighting a battle that others do not fight.

Our Battle

We “abstain” from passions. While the typical approach to life is “if it feels good, do it,” the Christians do not give in to all the base feelings. They do not operate on urges but on obedience to Christ.

Everyone feels the tug of their desires. Many are innocent. Yet, many sledgehammer conscience and soul. Immorality destroys but so does gossip. Each flows from something that gives us something and feeds something in it.

Peter says not to give into them because they are the enemy and are continually waging a military campaign against our souls. They assault day and night, hoping for surrender. Fight back. Hold the line.

The sawdust trail evangelist of the early 20th century, Dwight Moody, said, ““I have more trouble with D.L. Moody than with any man I know.” We heartily agree. Our worst problem is the man in the mirror.

But Peter goes on to elaborate on what our lifestyle in an alien and hostile culture should be.

An Attractive Life

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12, ESV)

Our “conduct” or way of life should be “honorable.” Actually, the word means “lovely and attractive.” It describes a life that draws positive attention for its beauty.

If our daily lives do not show Christ, they cannot convince them of the power of Christ.

In the summer of 1805, several Indian chiefs and warriors met in council at Buffalo Creek, New York, to hear a presentation of the Christian message by a Mr. Cram from the Boston Missionary Society. After the sermon, a response was given by Red Jacket, one of the leading chiefs. Among other things, the chief said:

“Brother, you say that there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the Book?

“Brother, we are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.”

We become either assets or barriers to the gospel. Sadly, many know too many Christians to believe in the Christ they profess to know.

The best way to quiet accusations is to live better.

The Invisible Muzzle

Peter says that others “speak against you as evildoers.” An evildoer will come before a magistrate because what he has done is so heinous it deserves punishment.

What could they say about Christians? The pagans of the time had a long list of charges they brought against their Christian neighbors.

Christians “hated the world.” After all, they condemned most of what was done in society. They held that they were in the world but not of it. The world was coming to an end, and only they would remain.

Another charge was Christians destroyed families. It is a sad truth that when someone becomes a Christian, they are disowned by their families. In the ancient world, a man might divorce his wife simply for obeying Christ.

I once stayed in a house in Vermont on a campaign. The house was a rented house occupied by two men and a woman. All had been converted to Christ, and all were booted out of their homes by their angry fathers. One of them said, “you are now dead to me.”

Many chose allegiance for Christ, but it might cost them their family. Few pagans could understand it, so they manipulated it into a charge.

Because many slaves became Christians, the church felt the sting of trying to turn slaves against masters. After all, it has a natural conclusion if you tell a slave that he is equal to his master. The Christians were tearing at the very fabric of Roman society.

But the one that was easiest to prove was that Christians were disloyal to the Emperor. When magistrates demanded they burn incense and say “Caesar is Lord,” Christians refused. For most, that proved they were trying to overthrow the government.

But Peter wants to give them another perspective. People are constantly watching. They take notice of the lives of others, whether we believe it or not. It has them questioning, “why do they do that?” And one day, when the judgment comes, they can glorify God because they have witnessed this dramatic truth in human flesh.

This kind of Christian living has an effect.

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” (1 Peter 2:15, ESV)

Notice that this is not a pragmatic way of dealing with the problem. It is more significant than that. It is the will of God. It means that you will live a beautiful life of obedience and cooperation no matter what happens because God wants you to.

But, Peter also knows that it will “silence” the critics. He uses a barnyard word for silence. In 1 Corinthians, Paul used the same term.

“For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?” (1 Corinthians 9:9, ESV)

It is the term for a muzzle, something to keep the mouth of an animal shut. Peter says that this kind of well lived life will hush the talk of those who are willfully ignorant and have never really examined Christian claims.

Plato said, ‘I will live in such a way that no one will believe what he says.’ When someone compares your life against the charge, they should find it too fanciful to believe it could be true. It silences the critics.

And it did indeed work.

One of the worst critics of Christianity was Celsus. In a book called The True Word, he accused Christ’s followers of ignorance, foolishness, and superstition. He did not say they were guilty of immorality.

With half a century, the slander stopped. Eusebius, the ancient church historian, explains:

‘But the splendor of the only true Church, which is always the same, grew in magnitude and power, and reflected its piety and simplicity and freedom, and the modesty and purity of its inspired life and philosophy to every nation both of Greeks and barbarians. At the same time, the slanderous accusations which had been brought against the whole Church also vanished, and there remained our teaching alone, which has prevailed overall, and which is acknowledged to be superior to all in dignity and temperance, and in divine and philosophical doctrines. So that none of them now ventures to affix a base calumny upon our faith, or any such slander as our ancient enemies formerly delighted to utter.’

The best defense is a well-lived and holy life. No one can deny it. But then, Peter speaks of a complicated relationship for the Christians of the time—what do they do with a hostile government that persecutes them.

The Christian and Government

This strange relationship with governing authorities was the spark of crucifixion. If they did not worship Caesar, they must despise him.

Yet, Peter is anything but a Christian anarchist wanting to destroy the Roman system. He is not an insurrectionist or a rebel who wants to take down the order of Rome and institute a Christian order. In fact, he says the opposite.

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” (1 Peter 2:13–14, ESV)

Christians accept that they are subject to authority, including human authority. A soldier submitted to his general. A slave stayed subject to his master. And Christians are to submit to the ruling powers.

God institutes government for a reason. It is necessary to prevent chaos. Even the worst governments (from our point of view) maintain some semblance of order. Without them, it is dangerous.

At the end of the book of Judges, we discover what life lived by personal terms means.

“In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.” (Judges 18:1, ESV)

In the following two chapters, Israel sinks into brutality and animal behavior. Women are gang-raped and dismembered. A civil war between brothers ensues. Chaos reigns.

No matter how bad we think government can be, it is worse without it, where every man sets his own rules and ways.

How do we relate to a government that is hostile to Christianity?

Christianity lives outside of a political system and is not dependent on it. It has survived through tyrants who oppressed it, kings who bent it for their purposes, and legislatures who caressed it and protected it. But it is Christ, not the government, that directs the affairs of the church.

Peter disapproves of a special kind of government. He supports no party. Instead, he supports order provided by governments of any stripe.

But he warns us against thinking we can do as we please.

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16, ESV)

Freedom is not to be used as we please but as God pleases. We are never entirely free. As Christians, the only personal freedom we have is to obey God. We are always servants of God.

Peter warns of using Christianity as a “cloak” to hide evil. People claim Christianity so they can avoid paying taxes. A lawbreaker can say, “I serve God, so I don’t have to obey the law.” God is not served, and the law remains broken.

Christians are to obey the laws, not seek a loophole around them. But it happens.

I knew a church member who owned a radar detector. The box, which sat on the dashboard of his car, warned him when police radar tracked his speed.

I rode with him once. If the speed limit was 60, he would drive 80. I asked him, “isn’t the speed limit 60? You seem to be going a little faster than that.”

He was irritated with my question. Instead, he said, “if they can’t catch you, it’s ok.”

If you can break a minor law, you become able to violate any law. Christians are to be known as those who obey the law, not those who flaunt them.

Christians give up their freedom to serve others. We look to the welfare of others rather than our own set of wants and demands. It is the devil’s tactic to persuade you that you have liberty as he slips the shackles of selfishness on your soul.

Peter sums up this discussion about our relationship to those that rule with a staccato sentence of four imperatives.

“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17, ESV)

Honor. Love. Fear. These commands are something that should always be true in a Christian’s life.

Honor is giving something value. We treat all men as made in God’s image. We value them. Our world is fond of using descriptions to damn people. It may be a party or political name that is anathema. It may be a culture or country of origin. If we do that, we are not making them valuable. And that is what Peter says about everyone, even the person who opposes you.

We love the brotherhood. Our fellowship brings us together. We care for each other in special ways. When one is down, we lift up a fellow Christian. Together, we stand.

Fear God. Hold God in awe as both creator and judge. He rules over all things. He establishes all things. To dishonor others, dishonor the rulers, and ignore our brethren means we do not fear God. This is the core that gives the others meaning.

And then, he says, “make the emperor valuable.” You have to like the ruler or love him. But you must honor him.

Sadly, much on social media, even posted by professing Christians, is drained of honor. It is filled with poison, hatred, and division. While it generates likes from the likeminded, it disgraces the name of Christ and dismisses Peter’s words with the flick of a key. Be careful to honor those who govern us, even those you did not elect. Every post reflects whether you obey God or turn your back on him.

Remember, when Peter was giving these instructions, the emperor was Nero. He engineered the persecution of the church. His edicts condemned the innocent to death, destroyed whole households, and reduced honest and godly people to poverty.

Do you have to honor someone like that? Peter says, “yes, honor the emperor.”

How could you not say you are different indeed?

Conclusion

This lesson provides the backbone for Peter to lay muscle over in the coming classes. He will elaborate on them and make them intensely and uncomfortably practical.

But it starts with a single idea. A well-lived Christian life argues for Christianity more powerfully than an orator. It is the evidence. It is the proof. And without it, even the best intellectual reasoning will fall.

You are the evidence Christ needs in this world, so don’t spoil it.

But two points shine through.

We live for Christ, regardless of what others do. It is easy, especially in our supercharged politically polarized climate, to say, “I don’t have to honor the king because they didn’t when….” Peter never makes it contingent on what others do or don’t do. Live for Christ. Have a lovely, attractive life that draws the curiosity of people.

We live for Christ, regardless of response. We must remember that many Christians who read this letter perished in arenas in the Roman world because of their faith. Their lives were sterling, but death still happened.

We don’t live well to escape pressure. We live well because we face pressure. We show the life of Christ to a world that doesn’t know him. Maybe they will know him better because they know us more.