It's all about the grace

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.  --1 Peter 2:19

"It's just not fair!"

Our human nature demands that our rights not be violated.  From the American Revolution forward, our basis of government has been based on an emphasis on individual rights.  Those rights have evolved over the last 200 years, and have grown to include women's rights, then civil rights, and now LGBT rights.

Those who fought for gender equality a century ago were called suffragettes, and they demanded voting rights as a symbol for political and economic equality.  The struggle for civil rights was similar, as it culminated in legislation 55 years ago to give political and economic equality to people of color.  However, some are still fighting the evil of racism, because the heart of man is sinful.

However, because the heart of man is sinful, the more recent battle is for moral acceptance of sexual sin and some people's inclination to identify themselves by their particular sexual perversion.  These people already have civil and political protections--they can vote, they can earn a fair living, they can assemble and speak/write publicly about their lifestyle.  I believe that the thing most Social Justice Warriors are going to war about is changing the morals and religious beliefs rooted in Christian tradition and doctrine.

Add to this culture of selfishness the theology of those who preach a health and prosperity gospel, and we have some so-called Christians who are no different than the world they are called to change.  This particular heresy teaches that those who believe in a God of love should expect blessings in excess.  Not only is this elevating personal gain to a level of idolotry, it causes true Christians to doubt their faith when they experience physical or financial hardships.

In his first epistle, the Apostle Peter reminds us that Jesus calls us to submission, not selfishness.  He called for servants to submit to masters (1 Peter 2:18), wives to submit to husbands (1 Peter 3:1), as well as husbands to their wives (1 Peter 3:7).  He goes on to exhort elders to be submissive to the needs of their Fellowship of believers (1 Peter 5:1-2), and younger believers to submit to elders in the faith (1 Peter 5:5).  Finally, Peter tells us all to be submissive to God (1 Peter 5:6).

Although there are many good reasons given for each of these submissive relationships, the best reason I see is given in 1 Peter 2:15: "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one ensures sorrows while suffering unjustly."  You see, it's all about reflecting the grace of God in Christ to us. 

When the pastor of our church this morning was preaching on this passage, I was attracted to this verse in particular.  He was saying that the servant-master relationship in the first century more nearly reflected the modern employer-employee relationship than the racist slavery that existed in our country before the Civil War.  He explained that Peter was exhorting those of us with jobs to do the right thing, even if we have a bad boss.  Why?  Because "if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God." (1 Peter 2:20).  By using Jesus as our example, we take the focus off ourselves (not seeking our own comfort or revenge), and point others to the gracious act of sacrifice that Jesus did for us.

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.

Some of you may know that I wrote a book a little over four years ago about grace.  I thought that the book was out of print, but I recently discovered that I could still find it online.  I was able to purchase a few dozen copies, and am giving them away as gifts.  By God's grace, my book about grace can continue to bless others.  If I ever write a sequel, or a second printing, I would like to add a chapter about this kind of grace: the grace that unjust suffering can reflect what Jesus did for us, so we can be an example to the people with whom we come into contact today. 

As our pastor pointed out this morning, this is true Christianity: not demanding our rights, or expecting excess blessing just by Name dropping, but rather enduring unjust hardships and even persecution for the glory of God in Christ.