May 24, 2020 Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11
Dear Friends in Christ,
What is the great scandal of Christianity? The great scandal of Christianity is in its insistence on exclusivity. There is only one truth, only one way to salvation. Therefore, other religions are misleading and pave the way to hell. Some then see Christians as not friendly or understanding and it then causes some churches to compromise the tenets of faith with the hope that it will result in more stability and peace in society. But it never works that way. The more Christians water down the Gospel the more non-Christians want to take.
When we look at the history of the Church we see the suffering that many have gone through to preach the faith, teach the faith, learn the faith. It is a serious issue that makes it a matter of life and death. Shallow Christianity that is mostly fluff and little substance is doomed to provide nothing to the redeemed. We are being pushed to the front lines as the enemy inches closer.
“CAN WE STAND THE SUFFERING?”
Let’s make a distinction right away. We are focusing on suffering for the faith in our text for this morning. Yes, we suffer sickness and personal problems and financial difficulties and other types of suffering. Peter narrows the focus to what happens or can happen when we proudly bear the name “Christian.”
It has been asked if the Christian has suffered for the faith these last few months? How would you answer? We haven’t been able to meet together but worship has still continued. The Word of God has been heard and preached. Do you look at it like I do? Just 23 years ago I was in on this cutting edge technology known as the Internet. Shocked, aren’t you? The church I was serving at the time sent me to seminars to learn about this new technology making its way into our daily life. I used this experience to set up the church’s website and outreach. There would have been no way to stream worship back then.
By the mid 2000’s the Lord brought about the platforms we have been using to get this worship to your homes. Our Lord has seen to it that the resources are there to allow worship to take place where it could not have just a few short years ago. I pray we see the blessing in that. Yes, this has been a setback, but be careful what we view as suffering compared to our brothers and sisters in hiding for the Gospel.
As sufferings come they allow us to share in Christ’s sufferings. Some in the Church expect the crown without the cross. There is no depth to their confession and no endurance to their faith. Some around them may not even see them as Christians.
Some in the Church expect the crown because of the cross. But they are not bearing the cross of Christ but their own suffering. They confuse Christian suffering with worldly suffering.
But others in the Church know that they must expect the cross to come before the crown. They know that Christ teaches that the world will hate those who follow Him. They are not willing to compromise the truth of God’s Word for unity and less confrontation. In doing this it can lead to their persecution.
Not all suffering is alike. Suffering the consequences of our sin is not Christian suffering. Suffering the persecution of those we sin against by our meddling and gossip may lead to broken relationships and hurt feelings, but it is not suffering for the sake of Christ.
Christian suffering has to do with Christ and our relationship to Him. We are blessed if we are insulted. We are blessed if we suffer for Christ. Do not be ashamed. Stand firm in your suffering. You will be blessed in the judgment. The Christian will rejoice and be glad when Christ’s glory is revealed. We may suffer for a “little while” but we have been called to an “eternal glory” in Christ. The world may rejoice now but will suffer unending torment in the world to come.
God rewards Christian suffering. Humbly submitting to His will gives us His promise of exaltation. He cares for us in our anxieties. We can stand firm in our suffering for the faith in the face of the roaring lion. God blesses the final outcome. He will restore you. He will confirm you. He will strengthen you. He will establish you.
If you fail to confess Christ at a critical time and make a shipwreck of your faith, there is still forgiveness for you. Return to your baptism. As churches start worshipping again what an opportunity the Lord is giving us. We can witness to the power of the Word and what it means to confess it as one body of Christ in this place.
We have wanted to make these last weeks into a sprint. The Christian life is a marathon. Look back over what you have lived through before this event came into your life. Christ has risen and conquered death so that no matter what happens He is the triumphant victor and by your association and faith in Him so are you. Can you stand the suffering? You are already doing it through Christ – to Him be the dominion forever and ever.
Amen.