Lessons in our culture: Life with Christ as Lord
Today in this series of blogs, we turn to 1 Peter — where the context is suffering for doing good. Peter reminds us that we will be overlooked, misunderstood and mistreated for our belief in Jesus and the life we live as a result. This just can’t be avoided.
In fact, it’s more concerning to find yourself living an easy, comfortable life because it provokes the question, “am I too assimilated into this culture?” It’s the feeling we don’t quite fit in that reminds us that here is not home, we’re destined for somewhere greater!
In 1 Peter 3:15-16, Peter teaches that the way to live in the midst of this tension is to live with Christ as Lord. Such a life, Peter says, provokes a question about the hope that we have. Questions we should be ready to answer.
So what does it mean to live with Christ as Lord?
One thing it doesn’t mean is being an overly dogmatic person who loves to trumpet truth. That’s not the gentleness and respect Peter was after (1 Pet 3:15). Nor does it mean someone who frowns at everything they don’t agree with. This is a life that shuts down all questions, conversation and friendship.
Living with Christ as Lord means letting your life do the talking. That’s the life that provokes a question.
For a start, if this is the case, you’re living with a completely different sexual ethic. Faithful marriage, celibacy, dating honourably and not sleeping around. A guy who doesn’t stare at a woman in a low-cut top. A woman who doesn’t complain about her husband. Standing out in this area is not even that hard.
From there, just look through the Sermon on the Mount. We don’t just treat our friends well but we love our enemies (Matt 5:43-47). How would it look when we don’t talk behind another’s back? What about continuing to be kind when we’re insulted or honouring your boss rather than undermining them?
What about our anxious age? We’re worried about the cost of living, increasingly anxious about the climate, and bereft of contentment because we just can’t live up to social media’s view of what our lives should be like. Has there ever been a greater need for the church to show what it’s like to be generous with those in need and to live with an abiding trust in Him rather than the harassment of worry?
Let’s live with Christ as Lord and with an unshakeable hope that He will soon return to bring about a world made right. Let’s live lives that show Jesus’ way of life so that some — maybe many — might be invited into it too.
Much love,
Simon
Questions to ponder:
Can you think of a time where someone has noticed or commented on how you live your life differently as a Christian?
How are you doing in the areas mentioned: sexual ethic, loving others (including “enemies”), contentment and generosity? Does your faith in Christ show in the way you live?
Can you think of any other areas where it would be easy to stand out as a Christian?
What is one step you could take this week to be different (in a good way!) from the world around you?
This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the the blog feed >>