Sunday, May 13, 2007

“Sharing Hope”

1st Peter 3:13-22

Reverend David Wiggs

Senior Pastor

           

 

In this brief passage it is striking to me that the author mentions harm, suffering, abuse, fear and intimidation ten times in less than ten verses.  Ten times – it is obviously a current issue for these Christians to which he is writing.  But what do we know about the situation of these early Christians?

 

We know that in July of the year 64 C.E., or some thirty years after Christ was crucified, a relative period of calm for Christians changed dramatically.  It started when the Roman Emperor Nero blamed a great fire that destroyed much of Rome on Christians, as a group.  What ensued became a terrible time of suffering for Christians.  It varied in intensity in different parts of the empire, but Nero opened the gate for ongoing persecutions of Christians.  It grew from accusations to mob violence to government sanctioned torture and execution. 

 

Yet, even in the face of such suffering, torture or persecution, this writer also speaks of responding with gentleness and reverence.  I find that quite remarkable.  Even if you are the recipient of such conduct, even if it is done unjustly, as a Christian he says, it is best to respond with gentleness and reverence.  So, the early Christians are not only enduring various levels of suffering and harassment but are instructed to do so in such a way as to be an imitator of Christ when in his last hours he was unjustly accused, tortured and crucified.

 

In the very next verse, beyond where we stopped reading today, this letter goes on to say, Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention.  (4:1)  The intention, of course, is to reveal and glorify God’s magnificent love toward the world.  This author is arguing that to endure suffering in a manner of gentleness and reverence not only imitates Christ, but makes you a part of the saving work of God in this world.  Then he goes one step further to say in the midst of all of this, if someone asks why you would do such a thing, be ready to give a reason for your hope.  Be ready to be a verbal witness.

 

I was just a year or two beyond seminary graduation.  I had been out long enough to figure out that in the local church, people did not so much care if I could talk about theology; rather, they wanted to know if I could practically apply it in the real world.  I had all this newfound theological knowledge I was eager to share and nobody particularly interested in hearing about it.

 

So when a couple of young men targeted my neighborhood and began to go door-to-door to share their beliefs in an effort to convert others to their particular doctrine, I was delighted when they knocked at my door.  I invited them in.  I was ready to talk some theology and doctrine.  I had a great time trading Biblical quotes with them and throwing questions back to them that they did not expect.  It didn’t take very long before they were ready to excuse themselves.  That summer I think three different pairs of fellows came by, and I enjoyed grilling and confusing them all.  I was ready to be a verbal witness.

 

But what I missed was the part about witnessing in a gentle and reverent manner.  I didn’t yell or curse at them, but I was probably somewhat caustic in my approach.  I enjoyed their discomfort a little too much.  I wasn’t really giving my reasons for hope as First Peter suggests.  I was, rather, tearing at the fabric of their hope.  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 (sometimes translated humility) and reverence.  (v. 15b-16)

 

Are you ready to do that?  Give a reason for your hope, that is.  That kind of question scares most of us.  But First Peter tells us why Christians are full of hope even in the face of suffering.  He says it is because Christ suffered and died and yet God’s justice lifted him from the grave.  Peter says it his way in verse 18, He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.   We have hope because of the resurrection.  We have hope because of those who became resurrection conspirators, by proclaiming God’s mighty act of raising Jesus from the dead.  We have hope because we believe in resurrection to eternal life.

 

Jesus and Peter and Paul all take the long view on this.  Despite circumstances that appear to be evidence to the contrary, they all say God is at work for good and as Christians we take the long view, we see the bigger picture. 

 

Short term suffering maybe; long-term glory for sure. 

Disappointment now perhaps; but fulfillment forever. 

Earthly death is inevitable; but eternal life eclipses even that.

 

My niece shared this story about a typical American family celebrating Mother’s Day. 

 

Mom and dad, plus three young kids.  It’s Sunday morning -- a day of rest and especially on this glorious celebration of motherhood.  This mom says…well, not so much.  With a 4 year old, a 3 year old and 1 year old – not really too restful, even on Mother’s Day. 

 

She says we are getting ready for church and the time is getting away and everybody is starting to feel the stress.  The boys are fighting over who gets the toy in the cereal box.  I am trying to nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up.  I don’t know where their dad is. 

 

The middle one comes in and asks if he can use my chap stick.  He really loves chap stick. Ever since he was old enough to talk he has been asking for chap stick.  But whenever I let him use it, he loses it.  So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my chap stick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.  He uses it and leaves.

 

Finally we have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I am looking for chap stick kid.  I go back in the house; he is not in the living room, nor the dining room.  He is not in the den or his bedroom.  I head for my bedroom; I do not see him in there until I finally round the corner to go into the bathroom.  And there he is, with my chap stick, of course.

 

The only problem is that he is now applying my chap stick very carefully to our cat’s rear end.  He looks right into my eyes and with all seriousness says, “Chapped."

 

Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right – their little behinds can look pretty chapped.  The cat didn’t seem to mind… but I do!  Then it popped into my head:  “Is this the only time he has done this or… Oh No!”

 

But, you know what, that child is still alive because mothers take the long view.  They give their children another chance and another and another.  Because Mothers believe that their children can grow and learn and the future will be better.  Mothers are full of hope and share that with their children. 

 

It’s the right perspective for mothers and it is the right perspective for Christians.  First Peter says take the long view, live in hope because I am a witness to the resurrection and the future will be better.  Jesus Christ has gone onto heaven and is at the right hand of God (v. 22) and that is where your future is too.

 

Some of you are grieving your Mother’s loss recently; others may be missing your Mom, even though she has been dead for decades.  Some of us had great mothers, others of us may have moms that didn’t do so well.  Some of us are in a good place this Mother’s Day and others of us may be in a tough place right now.  But the Good News speaks a word of hope to us all. 

 

Trust in Christ and his resurrection. 

Look to the future. 

Take the long view. 

For Christ is alive.

 

And finally, when asked, be ready to share the reason for your hope with others.

 

Amen and thanks be to God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Peter 3:13-22

Sharing Hope                                        5/13/07       

 

…in July of the year ____ C.E.,

 

…the Roman Emperor ________ blamed a great fire that

destroyed much of Rome on Christians, as a group. 

 

…instructed to do so… way as to be an imitator of Christ

 

…to reveal and glorify God’s magnificent ________… the world.

 

…be ready to give a reason for your ________. 

 

…missed was the part about… a ____________ and reverent… 

 

v. 15b-16

 

Are you ready to do that?  Give a ____________ for your hope… 

 

He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. v. 18

 

We have hope because we believe in resurrection to eternal life.

 

 

Short term suffering maybe; long-term glory for sure. 

Disappointment now perhaps; but fulfillment ______________. 

Earthly death is inevitable; but eternal life eclipses even that.

 

 

…that child is still __________ b/c mothers take the long view. 

Mothers are full of hope and share that with their children. 

 

Jesus Christ has gone onto heaven and is at the right hand of

God (v. 22) and that is where your ____________ is too.

 

Trust in Christ and his resurrection. 

Look to the future. 

Take the long view. 

For Christ is __________.

…be ready to share the reason for your ________ with others.

 

Kid’s Question:  What is the reason for our hope?