"First Peter at First Presbyterian"

First Presbyterian Church
Peter S. Buehler
May 4, 2008
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

We're privileged to have as our guest today a man who truly needs no introduction. He has traveled all the way from Rome to be with us -- not to mention time travel across more than nineteen centuries. Peter, welcome.
How was the trip?

It was good, but it was long. From the start, the airport security people weren't very friendly to me. Can you imagine, they made me take off my sandals! I asked if they were going to wash my feet, and they looked at me as if I were crazy!
And they didn't like my beard, or my hair, or my robe; they asked why I didn't have a last name. I told them that Peter was my last name, and my first name, and that some people called me Simon Peter, two first names -- but they weren't satisfied. They asked what I did for a living, and I said I was an apostle of the Lord Jesus, formerly a fisherman. Let's just say that then there was another long delay. So it has been an interesting trip. Air travel is actually more difficult than walking on water, and that wasn't easy for me either.

Peter, we're glad you're here. And you mentioned to me driving from the airport that Santa Barbara looks a lot like southern Asia Minor -- modern Turkey to us -- where you wrote your letter to the churches, is that right?

Yes, Santa Barbara, with the beautiful mountains right near the ocean, is not that different from the eastern Mediterranean coast. In fact, I brought with me enough Roman gold coins to purchase a home here -- the equivalent of at least 1,000 of your dollars. That will be more than enough, I'm sure. Well, we'll talk about that later. Right now I have questions about your New Testament letter that members of our congregation would like for me to ask you. Is that all right?

That would be fine. My life is an open book, as you know.

Thank you. The first question is from a person who describes himself as a "Christian with questions." He asks: "In your first letter, in the 4th and 5th chapters, you talk about some scary things: a 'fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you.' Further on you compare the devil to 'a roaring lion' who 'prowls around, looking for someone to devour.' My question is this, Do you think people have to be scared into believing?" The questioner adds: "Which I don't like. I don't think you need to scare people. Why can't you just tell them Jesus loves them?"

And it's an excellent question. Though obviously your pastor hasn't done a very good job explaining what I meant. He should go back to school. You're right that I use strong language, but you miss my point if you think I'm trying to scare people into trusting in Jesus. It's the opposite: I'm giving them comfort. Because these people, these Christians, are already in the midst of trials, of scary times -- their neighbors, their friends, even their family members are disowning them because of their faith. What if your family refused to speak with you, how would you feel?
What if you lost your job, or your business failed, all because you joined one of our house churches? It would seem like a "fiery ordeal," I can assure you; it would be a time of testing. And believe me, the members of these churches were human beings just like you, they were tempted every day to disavow their faith and go back to following the pagan gods which were socially acceptable, so my saying that this was a serious temptation -- as formidable as a "roaring lion" -- well, that's just saying it like it is.

In addressing what the Christians were already facing -- in telling them that being strong in their faith would lead to blessing, that Christ's own Spirit will give them strength -- I was encouraging them. Maybe it's a different way of saying Jesus loves you.

We have another question. Our questioner asks: "You speak a lot about humility.
You say in your letter that we should 'humble (our)selves.' You quote the Hebrew proverb, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34). You say that God will exalt us if we are this way (5:6). What do you mean by humility? Are you saying that we should never stand up for ourselves?"

Another important question. But let me make an observation here. When you get a letter from someone, or an email -- which, by the way, I wish I'd had: finding good quality papyrus was never easy -- but today when you get a written message from someone, you read the whole thing, don't you? You don't read the first sentence and then delete the rest of the message. You understand each part in the context of the whole letter, right? Same with my letters -- with all the scriptures, really. You remember that earlier in the letter I wrote: "…do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord (3:14-15)." Does that sound like letting people walk all over you? Hardly. Sanctifying Christ in your heart, believe me, when you do that -- when you trust him and don't deny him -- you gain his courage. I learned that the hard way. You need to speak up, to say what you believe -- only when you do, be gentle and respectful. It's amazing how people will listen when you speak in this way.

And later I write: "Cast all your anxiety on God," and "discipline yourselves," and "stay steadfast in your faith" (5:7-9). Because this is what humble people do! Truly humble people are not weak. They are not diminished by others, and they certainly don't put themselves down -- that's not humility, that's giving up. Christians do the opposite. Christians know they are loved by God, they know in Christ they are forgiven, they know they're carrying on his ministry -- they don't need to promote themselves. Christians don't try to be humble. What any of us tries to do is think about what God wants of us and to be obedient to that.
Jesus shows us how. Pay attention to him, and your humility as well as your pride will take care of themselves. Oh, and by the way, remember to read my whole letter before you get fussy about its parts.

Wait, your pastor is whispering something in my ear -- he says, He hates it when people do that, when they take what he says out of context. (Peter pauses)You know, if that's as bad as it gets, you have nothing to complain about!

I should have known better than to expect sympathy from an apostle. Anyway, Peter, we have another question, this one has to do with what you say about suffering. It reads: "You talk a lot about suffering in your letter, about going through "various trials." You go on to state that being tested in this way is a good thing for us, 'so that,' as you put it, 'the genuineness of your faith -- being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.' I have a lot of trouble with this idea. You almost make it sound as though God wants us to suffer. Please explain."

Ah, the tough question! I'm glad you asked it; I was hoping someone would. We mustn't just toss these words around -- "suffering" and "testing" -- as if they were some spiritual gymnastics that God puts us through. Because the experience of suffering and of being tested go to the core of what it means to be human, don't they -- and to what it means to be connected to Jesus, who himself suffered and was tested. So we don't take such things lightly. We don't speak of suffering without recalling our own times of loss and loneliness, our own experience of fear and pain. How easily we forget what it's like.

And while it may not seem to be the case, and some people are convinced it isn't so, what God truly wants for us is joy. As David prayed in his Psalm: "May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy" (126:5). Sometimes it's with our tears that this illusion of control over our life gets drained out of us. Sometimes it's through our tears, it's in our times of helplessness, that God reveals his love for us. Sometimes it's when we've done everything we can and it's still not enough that we finally acknowledge that it is God who is strong, God who is good, God who is love, God who is at work in our lives.

You're right, no one should suffer for the sake of suffering. Unless there is absolutely no other way to get our attention, God is not harsh. It is not God's nature; it is not God's way. But there is joy even in times of suffering when we know God's promises. That is why I wrote in my letter: "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power for ever and ever." (5:10-11)

What I'm saying to you is what Jesus said time and again, Do not be afraid.
Keep your faith, especially in hard times, and when you find yourself rejoicing don't be surprised as though something strange were happening to you. For joy can be a strange thing, you know.

Now excuse me, but your pastor is giving me a look. I believe we are out of time.
Thank you for your excellent questions and for your attention. I would like to offer a blessing -- if you read ahead to my 2nd letter, you will recognize it. It goes like this, very simple: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)