Tanilba Bay Baptist Church
Worship

      • 1 Peter 4:12–19ANGLNIV2011

  • Suffering a faith blocker

    There are a some big questions in Christianity where we may be able to give an answer, but yet it remains a topic that can remain a great concern for the person seeking out Christianity.
    One such question is this: How could a good God allow suffering?
    It has been a question that has been a stumbling block to many.
    You see, here’s how it’s often framed… if God is all-powerful, then if he was to allow some of the horrific things that happen in this world, he couldn’t be a good God. Although, perhaps if he was just unable to put a stop to these horrific things, maybe he could be good, but just not all-powerful. So framed like this, we’re left with a dilemma, do we have an ineffective God, or one that actually isn’t all-loving?
    Now, some of you might be quick to say - oh, but it’s because God allows free will. Because he loves us, he allows us to exercise our free will even when our free will leads to evil and suffering.
    There is truth to that argument, however, I think we need to be careful with simple answers. You see, while horrific things happen in this world, we also see God intervening in miraculous ways.
    The bible never gives a nice clean cut answer to the question.
    Actually, it’s interesting when in the gospels, you see on a few occasions people come up to Jesus and try to draw a nice neat link between suffering and someone’s sin. For example, they ask of a man born blind whether it was the man who sinned or his parents that he was born blind.
    But what you find, is that rather than Jesus getting bogged down into the reasons why the suffering occurs, he instead focussing on what God is going to do through that suffering. In the case of that man born blind, Jesus says that God will be glorified through his affliction.
    Now we should be careful and not think that this blind man had to endure years of blindness just so Jesus can do a little trick and show off God’s power. Certainly not all afflictions are going to end like this - although some will.
    You see, in some ways we’re changing the question. Rather than answering the question, why does God allow suffering - a question which is perhaps beyond our little human minds - we’re answering the question - what is God doing through the suffering that we endure?
    From this perspective, when we look at the subject of suffering, we’re going to see how amazing our God is.

    Joy in suffering?

    Now, as we’ve gone through this series in 1 Peter, we’ve had a few different message that all deal with the issue of suffering.
    Peter is of course writing to believers who are living in a land that is predominantly pagan. As such, they would have suffered in ways specific to this - that is, rejection from society… exclusion from the markets… sometimes even worse, such as being mistreated because of what they believed. And so, this is why Peter decides to devote considerable time thinking about their response to suffering.
    Now, a few weeks ago, when we were still in chapter 3, we covered the idea of how suffering can actually be considered a blessing.
    The week after that, when we looked at the last half of chapter 3 and the first bit of chapter 4, we looked more specifically at the idea of the change that occurs in us when we face suffering.
    This week, while we’ll keep some similar ideas, I want to consider a specific question - can there be joy in suffering?
    Now let me just clarify something here, because sometimes Christians take the view point - oh well, I know I’m suffering now, but I know I’ll have eternity in heaven. In other words, let’s just grin and bear it now for the sake of the joy that is to come.
    Now, it is true, there is an age to come in which all things will be made right. But when I ask, can there be joy in suffering, I’m actually asking if that joy can be in the present? And if so, what does this joy look like.

    The inevitable fiery ordeal

    Well, let’s hold that question for a moment, because as we get into verse 12 where we’ll start this morning, we’ll see that Peter doesn’t just acknowledge that suffering might occur, he’s saying you should expect it.
    In verse 12 he calls it a fiery ordeal. Now, when he uses that word, he’s actually using the word that talks about fire and burning.
    It would seem he very much has in mind this idea of a refiners fire.
    Now, this concept of the refiners fire draws on the idea of the ancient craft of metallurgy where a smelter would have some raw ore, perhaps gold or silver, and they would subject it to intense heat. The precious metals would remain while the dross was able to be got rid of.
    It was a common metaphor that we see in the Old Testament prophets and carried through to early Christian teaching. The people of God are subjected to this metaphorical heat. The impurities in our lives are burnt away, while the pure life of the believer remains.
    It seems highly likely that when Peter uses this word for “firey ordeal”, it is this concept of a refiners fire in our life that is in mind.
    Now, if we keep with the metaphor of precious metals, then a refiners fire, or fiery ordeal, is actually a wanted process.
    For it to not occur, well… let’s just say we want to remove that which is impure.
    So, what might this fiery ordeal look like in your life?
    Well, let’s start with the people Peter was writing to.
    A new Christian convert is told by his family: worship the family gods or you’re no longer part of the family.
    It’s a refining choice - your faith is either found wanting, or your faith is strengthened.
    At the market, you’re shunned by the various craftsmen who make money selling household gods. They make your life hard.
    The local officials want to determine your loyalty to the empire - declare Caesar as lord. What do you do? It’s a refining fire.
    Here in Australia, our culture is quite different, and we face different challenges, yet I would argue we still face a refining fire.
    We’re often faced with ethical choices.
    Your accountant suggests you cheat on your taxes.
    The shows on the TV expose you to material that is really not suitable to watch.
    The blokes at work tells jokes that are racists, sexist, and downright rude.
    Now, perhaps we don’t think of these as a fiery ordeal. When we talked about suffering before, being faced in these scenarios probably don’t feel like suffering - certainly if we just go along with it, everythings fine.
    But if we think of it like a refining fire - is that which is pure in us going to shine bright?
    Or are these trials going to take us further away from God… to a dark place.
    We take a stand for what is right. Now things get difficult. Now we start to feel like we don’t belong.
    Is it perhaps we didn’t recognise the fiery ordeal because actually, we’ve been drifting?
    These trials are going to come, in fact, I’d suggest they’re going to be inevitable. Do not be surprised.
    At times they will be mild. At times, you’re going to be really pushed. At times, it’s going to result in suffering… in heartache… in real struggles.

    But rejoice

    Okay, so this then brings us to the question I posed before. Is it possible to have joy in suffering?
    You see Peter immeidately goes on to say: “But rejoice”
    Except that he seems to be keen to highlight that he’s talking about a very specific type of suffering.
    As this section of the letter goes on, he’s going to distinguish between two different type of suffering.
    The first, is what he describes as participating in the suffering of Christ (v13). I’ll come back to this in a moment, but let’s just briefly look at the alternative.
    Verse 15 notes the suffering of “a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal or even as a meddler”.
    He doesn’t elaborate on what this kind of suffering would be like, but the implication is that it is very different to when we suffer with Christ. I don’t think there is any joy to be found in this type of suffering.
    Okay, so the rejoicing in suffering that Peter is talking about is the suffering with Christ.
    It’s the suffering that results from going through the fiery ordeal that we’ve just talked about - that is, the refiners fire type of trial.
    It’s the suffering caused by people who don’t want to see God’s kingdom grow.
    It might be mild. It might be severe.
    It might be a mocking sneer. It might be exclusion from certain activities. In some countries, it could even mean torture or even death.
    But whether mild or severe - why should we rejoice?
    Actually, Peter is going to double down - so that you may be overjoyed...
    Peter’s really seeing the positive in this...
    The reason Peter gives for us to be overjoyed, is that the glory of Christ is revealed.
    Perhaps that sounds like a rather abstract kind of idea - and maybe you don’t like getting excited by something so abstract...
    I want to suggest that the glory of Christ is actually something we can experience.
    It’s something more likely to be experienced in community.
    I’ve spoken many times before about the concept of shalom - it’s the type of peace that Jesus brings - the way things are when people live with Kingdom of God values.
    When we move closer to shalom, the glory of Christ shines brighter.
    The glory of Christ is experienced in a supernatural way as we feel his presence around us.
    When those fiery ordeals come our way, it can be hard and to stand for Christ takes courage… but when we take our stand for Christ, what happens is that we find it is actually Jesus working through us.
    It’s not us that is taking the stand. Our sinful nature directs us away from God. But because it’s Christ that enables that stand in us, as the dross is burnt off, the precious metal which is Christ, becomes more pure, and that glory shines in our lives.
    When you realise that this is what is happening - of course we are going to be overjoyed!
    Of course, this is not to disregard the real suffering that may happen.
    If we take the extreme examples from countries where persecution against Christians is very real, the turmoil that these people go through would be excruitiating.
    I’m not suggesting that they would just take it and say - wow, that was fun, let’s do it again.
    No, the experience of it would be horrible and I can’t imagine what they must be feeling. But yet, this is where the joy of the Christian can take shape, because there is a joy that can happen that can transcend even our most painful moments. It’s the joy of knowing Christ in your life.
    Even if we don’t take the extreme example - it can still be hard when pople are working against us. It’s not nice being mocked.
    But yet, the joy of knowing the the glory of Christ is being revealed in us can transcend these feelings.
    Just look at verse14: “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you”.
    Insults will come. They won’t feel nice. But know that you are blessed.

    To the ungodly

    Now, earlier I mentioned some of the ethical dilemmas that we may face. The one where we’re placed in a situation where the easy choice is to go with the flow even when it involves unChrist-like actions.
    I’ve spoken about the joy we face when we stand with Christ, even if the result is suffering.
    But let’s for a moment consider the alternative.
    We cheat on our taxes because we know we won’t get caught and we’re saving a bucket load of money.
    We begin to enjoy that unsavoury content on the TV and on our computers. It makes us feel good, and after all, we’re not hurting anyone.
    We join in on the edgy jokes. Sure they’re racist, but it’s not like we’d actually harm people from another culture.
    But judgement is coming.
    Not just for the ungodly… in fact, as verse 17 seems to suggest, it’s actually going to start with God’s household.
    But for God’s household, when judgement comes, what they’re going to find is Christ working in the life of the believer. It doesn’t mean their perfect (this is not about perfection), but there will be evidence of the work of Christ in their life.
    But for those found wanting… that is, where Christ is not to be found, there will be a very different outcome.
    Now, here’s the thing… the final judgement is one thing, but even in the mean time, while making what seems like the easy choice might appear to be more pleasurable in the moment, the superficial delight is nothing in comparison with the joy of the believer.
    Viewing pornography might evoke certain feelings in an individual, but it is not joy.
    Coming across large amounts of money might sound appealing, but it is not joy.
    Do not confuse the superficial happiness of this world with the joy that comes from God. They are two very different things.

    A call to reflect

    Now, I’ve been talking about what Peter describes as fiery ordeals.
    As I’ve discussed, at times they will be really obvious - that is, someone directly challenges you about you faith.
    But sometimes they’re subtle, and might not even seem like one.
    For those who do a morning quiet time, (something that I would encourage each of you to do), take the time to reflect on the challenges you face each day.
    Reflect on where you feel tempted and drawn away from God.
    Reflect on how you responded. In what way did you notice Christ working in your life? Was his glory being revealed?
    Now if you failed or stumbled, know that we have a forgiving God. Just repent, and ask God to help you.
    And remember, God has placed you in a community as well, one where we’re all trying our best to follow God as best we can.

    Conclusion

    The conclusion to all of this really comes in verse 19.
    So let me read this to us now: “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good”.
    The key to this is our commitment. Not a committment that we’ll never fail, but rather a commitment to God.
    We continue to do good, not because we have it in ourselves to do good, but because our commitment to God means that Christ will be working through us.
    Suffering is not easy, but yet the kind of suffering we’re talking about here means that the glory of Christ is being revealed in us, and this is truly a matter for great joy right now.
    So let me pray...
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