(1 Peter 3: 13-22)
I guess I’m one of those people who considers taking an oath a serious matter. My word is my bond, and you can count on me to do what is right, most of the time. Yeah, like many people, I have my weak moments and doing what is right can be difficult if it has the possibility of harmful blowback or repercussions. I’ve taken that oath to protect, defend and preserve the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the states of New York, Texas and Washington several times as a police officer and an attorney. An oath that I always took seriously, even if it included a law I didn’t particularly agree with or think worth enforcing for one reason or another. Many years ago, when I was the District Attorney in a small, rural East-Texas county I had to make one of those decisions. Another elected official had broken the law and the complaining witness came to me after she had been assured by an out-of-county police officer that I could be trusted and would do the right thing. In any event, we investigated the complaint and put together a strong case, filed the charges and made an arrest. Prior to the charging I was approached by the District Court judge who had caught wind of the investigation and he recommended I take the case to the Grand Jury which could consider misdemeanor offenses involving elected officials. The problem was that the corrupt official had a couple of relatives on the Grand Jury and the chances of getting a true bill would have been slim, and as we used to say in Texas, you have two chances, slim and none and slim just left town. The judge advised me that if I went ahead with the charges there was no way I would survive re-election as “they” would come after me. Once the charges were filed the defendant’s wife wanted to know how much it was going to cost the county to bring in a special prosecutor. I told her not a dime as I was the prosecutor, the crime was committed in my county, and I was handling the case. And, here I am, not having survived my re-election for doing what was right for the sake of doing what was right, and not taking the path of least resistance.
And doing right for the sake of doing right is where we find ourselves in our scripture reading for this morning. 1 Peter is written by the Apostle Peter somewhere between 62 and 64 A.D. during the great persecution under Emperor Nero. During the reign of Nero, Christians throughout the Roman Empire were being tortured and killed for their faith, and the church in Jerusalem was being scattered. It was not a good time to be a Follower of the Way. And, Peter himself would eventually be executed during this persecution for his outspokenness. For doing good for goodness sake. Peter starts out by saying; Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. To me, asking who will harm you if you are eager to do what is right seems like a rhetorical question, a question that needs no answer, because the answer is obvious. Doing what is right is all well and good until it upsets somebody else’s apple cart, messing with their status quo. But hey, Peter says so what if you do suffer for doing what is right, consider yourself blessed. Well, since the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ these Followers of the Way were rapidly spreading and preaching a message of love, mercy and forgiveness. They were also worshipping someone other than the emperor which didn’t sit well with the paranoid Nero. There was a lot of turmoil in the empire and these followers of Christ made perfect scapegoats. Who better to persecute than someone who won’t fight back? Peter goes on to say; Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. The people lived in fear of the oppressive Roman government and the retribution they would face if they failed to praise and honor the emperor, for failing to fall into line. Peter is telling his readers not to fear what they fear, it’s just temporary, it’s worldly, and don’t be intimidated into not doing what is right as in your hearts you have set aside Jesus Christ as holy and supreme. Once you’ve done this, you’ve set yourself apart from the anonymity of the crowd. You’re different and stand out which will draw attention to yourself and your cause. So, Peter advises to; Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you, an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. People are going to ask you what you are doing and why. Be ready with an answer that you are doing what is good and right because that is what Jesus would expect you to do. You’re not doing it for yourself. You’re doing it in service to God as it is his will that the good you do be done, and for the hope of your salvation and eternal life with Christ in heaven. And, when you explain your actions, do it respectfully with gentleness and reverence. You’re not trying to show them up. By your actions you are trying to show them the way.
Peter knows there will be resistance and pushback. People will be put off by your behavior because it causes them to look at their own behavior, their own actions or inaction, and they’ll want to put you down to make themselves feel better. Oh, you think you’re better than me? Well, what about that time you did such and such? You’re not as holy or as perfect as you let on! Peter says to; Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. Our best defense to what we do as Christians, is practicing what we preach, walking the talk. Without argument, we can be our own worst enemies. All of our hard work can be undone in a moment with one misstep or misstatement, and we don’t even have to be the ones who inflict the damage. It’s imputed to us because we are Christians. So often, it seems as if doing God’s will is one step forward and two steps backwards. But Peter tells us not to worry about it. Keep your house in order and do what you do best and, hopefully, if someone maligns you or your church, someone else will call them on it and come to your defense. Peter reassures us that it is better to suffer for doing good, if that suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil, which is actually the punishment you deserve. He reminds us that Christ also suffered for our sins once and for all. He suffered for the righteous and the unrighteous, in order to bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh and made alive in the spirit. The suffering we endure in the service of God is merely a continuation of Christ’s work that he began in his ministry and continues on in us by his spirit.
John Wesley, the founder of our Methodist denomination understood this. He said that the gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social, no holiness but social holiness. He said that faith working by love is the length and breadth and depth and height of Christian perfection. Wesley was a big believer in social justice. The deplorable conditions he saw in 18th century England shocked him, and the fact that the Church of England would not push the crown to right the social wrongs and inequities visited upon the last, the least and the lost moved him to action. It moved him to do good and he saw the suffering he endured for doing what he thought was right as a blessing. He was fearless and not easily intimidated, if at all. He was actually assaulted for preaching the social gospel on more than one occasion. Jesus Christ was sanctified in his heart and he knew the suffering he endured was for good, and was God’s will.
Some Christians believe that faith is a personal matter that should be kept to oneself. It is true that we shouldn’t be boisterous or obnoxious in sharing our faith or lord it over people, but we should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our lifestyle, or our Christian perspective. We should be ready to explain why we do what we do, especially during these difficult and troubling times. I, personally, do not want us known either locally or globally, as the church that shuttered its doors during the pandemic hoping to reopen soon to business as usual. This is not business as usual and we should be stepping up our game in our eagerness to do what is good and right. There is no better time than the present for people to see our hope in Jesus Christ, and to tell them what Christ has done in our lives, which allows us to do the good we do for others in their lives.
In closing, suffering may be part of God’s perfect and wise plan for a believer. Just look at what Jesus told us in his Sermon on the Mount when he announced the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, verses 10-12. He said; Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you. God’s grace brings happiness, not the superficial happiness that comes from worldly pleasures, but the deep happiness arising from being restored to God’s purposes. Wesley calls the beatitudes “a sweet invitation to true holiness and happiness.”
Being a Christian, living a Christlike life is what seperates us from others. It may not be popular, expedient, the politically right thing to do, or easy, but it is the right thing to do. It’s not the path of least resistance, but it is the good and right thing to do for goodness’ sake.
Please pray with me.
Merciful and loving God, how eager we are to do what is good in your name, bringing you honor and glory. We are grateful for the blessings we receive from you even when we suffer as a result of doing your work and your will. Steel our hearts so that we will not be afraid or intimidated as we do what we know in our hearts is right as shown us by your son, our savior, Jesus Christ. Prepare us to be ready with a gentle and reverent response to those who question why we do the good we do in your name. Help us to live lives that do you honor and do not put a stain on the fruits of our labors. Help us to follow the lead of your son who suffered for us in order to bring us closer to you. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.