The Cruciform Life : Suffering Injustice in Order to Testify to God’s Grace

1 Peter 2:18-25 The Cruciform Life (Suffering Injustice in Order to Testify to God’s Grace) Introduction: I recently read Eric Metaxas’s biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was an extraordinary individual; a man of conviction, upright character, and astounding intellect. Bonhoeffer was a German theologian who lived during the reign of the Nazi’s. As his story unfolds what you also come to see is that Bonhoeffer was a man who suffered; a man who suffered because he did what was right. A man that eventually lost his life for doing what was right. At one point in his story, Bonhoeffer writes this in his journal, "We simply cannot be constant with the fact that God's cause is not always the successful one, that we really could be "unsuccessful" and yet be on the right road. But this is where we find out whether we have begun in faith or in a burst of enthusiasm." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer That we could possibly suffer for doing the right thing, and doing so glorifies and even pleases God is a hard concept for us to square with. We live in a culture that is so concerned with individual rights. We cannot imagine how this would be evidence of God’s work in our lives. After all isn’t the gospel about justice, love and mercy? Remember Peter is teaching these churches of the dispersion what it means to be the people of God in exile. He is teaching them how to live. He wants them to engage rather than flee from society, he wants them to love and respect those who are opposed to the gospel, rather than fight, and he wants them to transform the culture through holy living, rather than be conformed to the culture. Peter might have taught the church these principles based upon a misunderstanding of how the gospel frees us from social distinctions - “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Peter is reminding these Christians that they are totally free in Jesus Christ and yet they are to use that freedom to glorify God and spread the message of God’s good news through submission to every human institution. Although in this section, Peter is talking about slaves and masters, the heart of his message is living a life patterned after the life of Jesus Christ -Who was sinless, yet suffered greatly. 1. Suffering injustice. a. “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” b. It is so important that we understand the ancient world of slavery and don’t assume that the New Testament has in mind the New World slavery that was institutionalized in the United States. i. Slavery was diverse in the ancient world. The Roman and Greek worlds anchored their whole economic system in this institution. Some estimate that that one-third of the population in urban areas was slave population. In the Roman world slavery was not usually a permanent condition of life. It was a temporary condition on the road toward freedom. Many ancient people voluntarily chose to be slaves of a Roman citizen so that upon being freed, through good behavior or adequate savings, they could become full Roman citizens. ii. To be a slave was not to be assigned to a specific, especially low class, station in life. Slaves had the status of their masters; if their master was powerful, they indirectly inherited that power too, making it desirable at times to be a slave. Being a slave also meant protection, security, consistent work and pay. The tasks characterizing slavery were immensely diverse- not all slaves worked manual labor. “Doctors, teachers, writers, accountants, agents, bailiffs, overseers, secretaries, and sea captains” all comprised the slave population. It should also be noted that slavery had nothing to do with nationality, or skin color. iii. The idea of slavery as the economic foundation of Roman society needs to be stressed. This foundation may well lie at the heart of early Christian exhortations to remain submissive to masters. 1. Many wonder why the writers of the New Testament did not teach against slavery and exhort the early church to reform Roman law? (It also should be noted that the Bible although assuming slavery, does not commend it as a social structure.) 2. If Christians became known for opposing the institution, the Roman authorities would immediately, and perhaps even irreparably, damage the movement. It was important for Christianity, and for the gospel’s sake, for it’s slaves to be good slaves. 3. The NT writers were not social revolutionaries. They did not believe that overhauling the social structures would transform the culture. Their concern was the relationship of individuals to God, and they focused on the sin and rebellion of individuals against their creator. By this the culture was changed and eventually society reformed. History shows us that wherever the true gospel is preached social reform is brought about. a. So Peter says, it doesn’t matter if your master is a good master or a bad master, a good boss or a bad boss, submit to him and respect him. i. We cannot disobey our employer simply because he’s a bad employer or an unjust, immoral person. Though we can disobey if he called us to do something illegal or immoral. ii. We are to obey those who have authority over us, whether good or bad. The work you do should be the same, it should be consistently good work, no matter who your boss is. b. Why? How could this be glorifying to God? How can this further the gospel? Would God actually let me suffer unjustly? 2. The Motivation for Suffering Injustice. (a Life that stands out) a. “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” i. I love how practically Peter explains this: ii. Is there anything extraordinary about suffering when you do something wrong or stupid? iii. Not only that but when we bring about suffering upon ourselves through sin, God is grieved and the Gospel is shamed. iv. But if you endure suffering (patiently) when you’ve done good or righteousness, (or literally because of your relationship to God), now that’s extraordinary. That kind of life stands out. v. It is a sign of God’s grace at work in your life. Especially in a culture like ours that is so obsessed with individual rights. 1. “In a world driven by litigation(which is itself driven by the desire to sustain personal rights), it is hard for us today to see that sometimes it is best not to assert our rights but to endure some kind of social pressure. That is, it might be best for a Christian man to endure the shame of not being promoted or getting a raise, or of a Christian woman asserting her equality or fighting for equal pay, because of the Gospel.” -Scot McKnight vi. The assertion of rights is not always wrong, but our society is dominated by these assertions. And yet the way of Jesus was not the way of assertion, it was the way of self denial and of suffering, it was the way of the cross by which he received the greatest glory of all. (Philippians 2:5-11) 1. Peter wants the Christian slave community to manifest a kind of behavior that transcends the norm of society and demonstrates its supernatural origins. In doing so the economy will not be threatened and Christians will be seen favorably. 3. The Foundation for Suffering Injustice. a. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” i. Let Peter’s words sink down...”to this you have been called”. If you are a Christian you will suffer injustice. Why? Because as Jesus said, a servant isn’t not greater than his master, if they hated me they will also hate you. ii. If you think this unfair, remember Jesus suffered injustice so you could be saved. iii. When he suffered, he didn’t make others suffer with him... No threatening, no slander, no gossip. iv. How did he do it? He continually trusted himself to him who judges. 1. Jesus had had the ultimate judgment in mind...and even then his prayer was, Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing... Do not hold this to their account. Consider the love and grace of Christ in those words. 2. Only the Gospel presents us with a God who would repay his enemies with this great kindness - “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 3. Only the gospel produces people who would suffer unjustly so their enemies can be spared ultimate judgment... What I mean is only God’s grace can make us be what Jesus became for us -a suffering servant who does so to bring(or in our case point) others to salvation. Conclusion: As Christians the primary question to suffering injustice should not be what are my rights as a human, or as a citizen of my particular country or as an employee. But what honors God, what bears witness to the character of Christ, what bears witness to God’s power in my life? How does suffering injustice glorify God? 1. What if your trial, your suffering, your pain is not for your own sake but for the sake of someone else? For their salvation? a. Is this not also what Jesus has done for us?! It was not for his own sake that he came to earth, it was not for his own sake that he was despised and rejected a man of sorrow who was acquainted with grief; it was not for his own sake that he suffered the gruesome death of the cross! It was for the sake of his brothers!!!! You and I! 2. By refusing our rights we cast ourselves upon the mercy of God, we bring our case before him the ultimate judge and bringer of justice. This humility pleases the Father, this weakness allows his power to be shown in us. a. I talked with a friend on Friday that told me about a situation at work where he felt that the lord told him to submit even though he could have pushed for his rights. He said it has caused him to literally get on his knees before work asking God for strength and grace. b. The Father is so pleased with this kind of humility, this kind of dependence on him, not only does it glorify him, it actually strengthens us, and it gives God that opportunity to be more seen, and more known through us. 3. “If Christians obey the biblical command to follow Christ’s example, they will refuse to regard oppressors as enemies to be reviled and hated. Rather, precisely as they remember that Christ died for their sins while they were still enemies of God, they will imitate God’s unfathomable love for enemies incarnated in his son’s cross” -Ronald Sider Peter’s words are not just a piece of pragmatic advice: live orderly and you will not cause trouble for the church. Nor is it a piece of power: live orderly or God will punish you. Rather it is a piece of Christian theology: Live orderly because that is how Jesus himself lived and that is the kind of behavior God wills. - For in this way of living we will be able to further the gospel the most.