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  • The Tongue is a Fire! – Religion

    The Tongue is a Fire! – Religion

    The Fire of the Tongue, the Rhetoric of Politics and Religion

    In our previous look at public controversy in the media we began with the clash of politics, mentioning the trial of Socrates in 399 B.C. Today we begin coverage of the clashes of religion and the church with everyday culture.

    For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
    MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.

    First Letter of Peter to the Church 3:10 NASB

    Without digging a hole into some serious divisions of the church in our brief look at this opening quote of the Apostle Peter to the church, let me just remind us:

    Political parties and the church are all gatherings of disagreeable people more or less united in one thing.

    Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com

    Can you think of an application for followers of Christ in current election rhetoric for the (U.S.) election year to come?

    The church (saints or people) of this day and the past are all like you, like me and just like every candidate of every party in every country on earth. We are ALL SINNERS.

    Therefore, regardless of our politics of the moment or religion of the past, we all speak and do evil.

    The Tongue of the ‘Christian’

    But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

    Caution of Christ – Matthew 5:22 NASB

    Jesus Christ asks the crowds to examine our own hearts. So before we get to the controversy of Christ, let’s work back from Peter’s last point in this one verse [1 Peter 3:10] instructing “Christians.”

    Peter asks or suggests to followers of Jesus:

    1. If you desire LIFE, what is life?
    2. Do you desire LOVE, what kind of love?
    3. So you want to SEE GOOD DAYS, what path do you seek?
    4. Do you KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL?
    5. Would others find you guilty of SPEAKING DECEIT because you have fooled yourself?

    Do you speak foolishness in angry answers to others – your loved ones, those you work or worship with, a politician inciting opposition?

    How can you judge their speech when you do not even judge your own?

    The root meaning of deceit here is to decoy. In other words, deceive another by your words. Of course no politician would do that!

    But Jesus speaks to those who want to speak truth. When we do not, like the politicians and leaders of cultural religion we also become hypocrites, as are our accusers.

    Hypocrites

    Their audience is US.

    ὑποκριτής, ὑποκριτου, ὁ (ὑποκρίνομαι, which see);

    1. one who answers, an interpreter (Plato, Lucian).
    2. an actor, stage-player (Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Aelian, Herodian).
    3. in Biblical Greek, a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite:

    Followers of Christ must look in the mirror first.

    If you catch yourself speaking deceit you had best shut your mouth and seal your lips. (Nevermind the hypocrisy of your opponent, just find the beam in your own eye and fire of your own tongue.)

    The tongue of Evil

    The tongue of evil could be our own!

    Paul writes to church of the Romans:

    as it is written,
    “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

    Romans 3:13

    He continues in speaking of Jews and Hellenistic culturists (Greeks):

    THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
    THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.

    “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
    WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
    “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;

    “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”…

    “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

    Could this be a political treatise against Christians, Jews, Muslims, and ANY claiming God without love on their lips even in this day?

    Like Peter, Paul also shows why politics and religion mix in a murky cloud of hypocrisy.

    How do you seek GOOD DAYS?

    What is the platform of your faith? Your religion? Traditions? Good deeds?

    Your works of goodness certainly can not sway the politics of a fallen world or misled nation.

    Do you seek an honest path to righteousness? It would be a religion of works and false morality, a religion of philanthropic leading in your own ideals.

    … and I’m NOT going to take it anymore!

    Do any recall our ‘must elect my candidate’ arguments of religion for the 2016 election?

    How will you, being evil, do good for anyone?

    My fellow Christians, is your witness for the Gospel of Christ?

    Or is your shout to the crowds that you’re mad as hell as if Christ would be swayed by the fire of your tongue?

    Perhaps your opponents think that you feign madness before the media.

    What good is your shouting into the whirlwind? For the fire of your words fails to witness the compassion of our Lord Christ Jesus.

    Mere religion and righteousness never equate.

    Love of words or love of the Word?

    Here’s a question for so-called ‘christians’ embroiled in the politics of the day: Do you have a love of words or love of the Word?

    Surely the politician loves the stage of the world. Certainly the media twists words meant to incite supporters into indictments of political opponents.

    Satan works no differently than the internet in spreading false accusation of the believer; for Christ is the only Word of love who can save the sinner.

    The Apostle John instructs the church:

    Do not love G25 the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves G25 the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

    1 John 2:15 NASB – Strong’s G25 ἀγαπάω agapaō

    Life – ζωή – zōē

    Life’s meaning described by Peter is:

    1. life
      1. the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
      2. every living soul
    2. life
      1. of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic “logos” and to Christ in whom the “logos” put on human nature
      2. life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.

    Peter points not only forward to Christ, but by scripture back to David, a man after God’s own heart.

    Religion questions God.

    May I add that the politics of the world deny God’s saving grace. By our knowledge of good and evil we lost the fruit of the tree of life in Eden. Mankind spoiled God’s paradise by disobedient sin.

    Psalm 34: A Psalm of David

    when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

    David looks back at these dark days and praises the LORD.

    I will bless the LORD at all times;
    His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    Psalm 34:1

    9 O fear the LORD, you His saints;
    For to those who fear Him there is no want.

    13 Keep your tongue from evil
    And your lips from speaking deceit.

    14 Depart from evil and do good;
    Seek peace and pursue it.

    From advice for the saints of the Lord, David proceeds to the justice and redemption of the faithful.

    21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
    And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

    22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
    And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

    The Fire of the Tongue, the Politics of Jesus

    Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

    John 18:14 NKJV

    Jesus against religion

    John 2:

    14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

    John 8:

    42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

    54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him.

    58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

    a Word of witness to followers of false religion

    Jesus answered him,

    “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.

    John 18:20 NASB

    Jesus continues:

    “Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.”

    Truth has witnesses; yet how do unrighteous leaders of religion react?

    When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”

    Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

    So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

    Political reaction to Righteousness

    Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

    Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

    The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

    John 18:38; 19:15b NASB

    Righteous reaction to the Political

    Mark 12:

    Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?”

    coin head of Antiochus IV Epiphanes

    But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them,

    “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

    17 And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 

    Is Politics your Religion OR Religion your Politics?

    Psalm 2:

    The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

    Why do the nations rage,
    And the people plot a vain thing?
    2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    And the rulers take counsel together,
    Against the Lord and against His Anointed saying,
    3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
    And cast away Their cords from us.”

    Christ Jesus, the Messiah of the Lord God, warned of our anger against God.

    7 אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק יְֽהוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃

    8 שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

    10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
    Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
    11 Serve the Lord with fear,
    And rejoice with trembling.
    12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
    And you perish in the way,
    When His wrath is kindled but a little.
    Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

    To be continued...

  • Elders – a letter from Peter – 9

    Elders – a letter from Peter – 9

    Peter has just cautioned the church that judgment begins with God’s household. He encourages all the believers suffering for Christ to keep fervent in your love. And in an appropriate exhortation for leadership of the family Peter urges wives to be submissive to your own husbands. Now the Apostle specifically exhorts the elders of the church.

    Church Leadership

    Before we address this divisive denominationalized topic written to a first century church in terms of today’s church, let’s begin with a contemporized paraphrase of these verses from the first letter of Peter by J.B. Phillips.

    1 Peter 5:

    A word to your leaders

    5 1-4 Now may I who am myself an elder say a word to you my fellow-elders? I speak as one who actually saw Christ suffer, and as one who will share with you the glories that are to be unfolded to us. I urge you then to see that your “flock of God” is properly fed and cared for. Accept the responsibility of looking after them willingly and not because you feel you can’t get out of it, doing your work not for what you can make, but because you are really concerned for their well-being. You should aim not at being “little tin gods” but as examples of Christian living in the eyes of the flock committed to your charge. And then, when the chief shepherd reveals himself, you will receive that crown of glory which cannot fade.

    Who is an Elder?

    I am not an elder of my church. Is he writing to me?

    Certainly Peter will follow this public exhortation with expected application to those humble members of their churches. And in a larger sense, he writes not to an individual group of Christ worshipers, but to the church as the whole body of Christ.

    Peter is not their Pastor, Priest, teacher or even a member of most churches to whom he writes, yet he clearly claims his authority “as your fellow elder.”

    Before we address this position which Peter claims from the greek word which he uses, συμπρεσβύτερος [sympresbyteros], let’s look back a bit to God’s presence before elders.

    Elders of the Hebrews

    We first hear of the elders in Genesis 50, transition in the Books of Moses to the exodus of a captive Hebrew people enslaved in Egypt.

    So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. – Genesis 50:7-8 NASB

    Scripture refers to both ‘the elders of his [Joseph’s] household and all the elders of the land.

    Elders – zaqen – זָקֵן

    It is a description of older men, or men with familial and community authority. The LORD gives authority over families (households) and those with authority will be called before the LORD to account for those over whom they have authority. (We 21st century ‘christians,’ even Jews often struggle with such authority delegated from Almighty God.)

    God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.

    “Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying,
    “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.
    Exodus 3:15-16

    How like a loving Father does the LORD show concern for those who worship Him.

    Yet Moses asked the LORD for help in governing these difficult people. (Aren’t we, the church, just as rebellious when it comes to Authority?) The LORD gave us elders to judge our own family, the followers of God.

    Exodus 24:

    וְאֶל־מֹשֶׁ֨ה אָמַ֜ר עֲלֵ֣ה אֶל־יְהוָ֗ה אַתָּה֙ וְאַהֲרֹן֙ נָדָ֣ב וַאֲבִיה֔וּא וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים מִזִּקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם מֵרָחֹֽק׃

    Then He said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance.

    Exodus 24:1 WLC [Hebrew]; NASB [English]

    4 Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord…

    7 Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” …

    9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.

    Moses prepares the followers with him, interceding as their Priest returning them to holiness (or pureness), making sacrifices and covenants before God. The LORD shows mercy to the sinful leaders of the Hebrews. Moses intercedes for them, then they see the Lord God!

    12 Now the Lord said to Moses,

    “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.”

    13 So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. But to the elders he said,

    “Wait here for us until we return to you…

    Elders of the cities and other lands

    The leadership of elders is accepted practice and culture at every level from family to city, from state or province to nation. Eldership is not exclusive to the Hebrews, Israel or later Judah. Neither is our tendency toward personal freedom and resistance to any authority by man or God.

    • Then the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be slain before the LORD. – Leviticus 4:15
    • The LORD therefore said to Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. Numbers 11:16
    • So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak’s words to him. Numbers 22:7
    • then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. Deuteronomy 19:12

    The LAW of the Hebrews is a higher Law from the Lord God. Furthermore, the Hebrews agreed to the Commandments of the LORD. Yet all sin and fall short of the Law.

    Moses had saved the Hebrews from Egypt, but he could not save them from their sin.

    Deuteronomy 31:

    Elders did not lead a people who just wandered in and out of the land or the Hebrew tent of meeting.

    Joshua, David, judges, prophets, elders of every generation — all are called by the Authority of God. The Hebrews they led had agreed to be led by the LORD.

    9 So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel…

    12 Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.

    26 “Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may remain there as a witness against you… Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.

    Deuteronomy 31:26,28 NASB

    The presence of the LORD has scattered them,
    He will not continue to regard them;
    They did not honor the priests,
    They did not favor the elders.

    Lamentations 4:16 of Jeremiah when Jerusalem fell & the Temple was burned ~567 BC

    Church Elders of the New Testament

    Elders – presbyteros – πρεσβύτερος

    Strong’s Definitions
    πρεσβύτερος presbýteros, pres-boo’-ter-os; comparative of πρέσβυς présbys (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter”:—elder(-est), old.

    A general description of elders in the Church would be: among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably.

    Although Bishops and Archbishops, Pastors and Popes may be called elders of the church, authority from the Lord is not exclusive to any. With no regard to title or station, Christ, the Head of the body of the church will judge all.

    Peter, then, addresses the elders of the church in terms of their own behavior as examples of Christ Jesus and responsibility to their own small flocks as Peter well-knew Jesus had shown to the Twelve Disciples.

    1 Peter 5:

    I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:

    Peter addresses these men as a fellow elder. He is not of their church or lording it over their church, but addressing them as a humble brother encouraging their leaders.

    Christians tend to look askance at the Jewish context of elders because of the Gospel record of the elders challenging Jesus. However Peter does not challenge any of the elders as if he is one who knows better or as even as an Apostle of higher authority.

    2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

    Peter then addresses our example of Jesus.

    4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

    Yes, Jesus IS resurrected, as witnessed by Peter, who knows directly from the Lord that Christ will give glory to those who serve Him faithfully.

    5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.

    Are you younger than the elders of your church? Of course. Therefore listen to their wise leadership.

    Humbly subject yourselves to them as Christ subjected Himself to the Father, even suffering death on a cross for our sins.

    All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because
    God resists the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.

    Peter asks every saint of the church to clothe yourselves with humility toward all members of the body of Christ. He then quotes a familiar Proverb, memorized between father and son.

    Proverbs 3:

    My son, don’t forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commands;
    2 for they will bring you
    many days, a full life, and well-being.
    3 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
    Tie them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
    4 Then you will find favor and high regard
    with God and people.
    5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own understanding;
    6 in all your ways know him,
    and he will make your paths straight.
    7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and turn away from evil…

    33 The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the righteous;
    34 He mocks those who mock,
    but gives grace to the humble.
    35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but he holds up fools to dishonor.

    Conclusion

    Peter concludes his letter advising this same humility which so often eluded him as a Disciple of Jesus. The Lord led with such humble gentleness and exemplary grace.

    Peter advises the saints of Christ’s body not to become fools in your actions toward your brothers in Christ. And do not mock the fools of this passing world so filled with sin. The saints must become Christ-like in all ways.

    Hebrew Scripture would have easily come to mind for these members of first century churches. Yet Peter’s exhortation applies aptly to you and to me.

    Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

    1 Peter 5:6-7

    ‘You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day. – Deuteronomy 5:15 NASB

    Now the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. – Joshua 3:7

    Psalm 69

    Perhaps from this excerpt below we might look into the hearts of Peter’s persecuted first century readers of his letter, lifted up by a song of their familiar worship.

    A Psalm of David.
    Save me, O God,
    For the waters have threatened my life…
    I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
    My eyes fail while I wait for my God…
    Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;
    Dishonor has covered my face…

    But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time;
    O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness,
    Answer me with Your saving truth…

    Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it;
    Ransom me because of my enemies!

    But I am afflicted and in pain;
    May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high.
    I will praise the name of God with song
    And magnify Him with thanksgiving…

    The humble have seen it and are glad;
    You who seek God, let your heart revive.

    Resist temptation

    8 Be sober-minded, be alert.

    Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

    Did you know that you are not the only one who suffers for Christ?

    Do you acknowledge the same powers and principalities who opposed Jesus also tempt you?

    Not all angels and spirits bring good news from God. Some heavenly messengers to mortals follow the fallen and deceitful angels of darkness and rebellion against the Lord God. If they oppose Jesus and you suffer for His Name, certainly you will join other saints faithful to the Lord.

    an Encouragement and Praise

    10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.

    11 To him be dominion forever. Amen.

    a Postscript

    Once Peter concludes his letter to the church exhorting its members and elders and closes with a general praise, we learn more about others who support the delivery of Peter’s good news to the churches.

    12 Through Silvanus, a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God.

    Peter likely dictated his letter to Silvanus, also known as Silas. Christian leaders like Silvanus and Timothy often worked with Peter or Paul. Letters to the church often express an understood Spirit-led leadership of like-minded elders of the church. We see this also in Peter’s next greeting.

    13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son.

    That is, John Mark, writer of the Gospel, much dictated by Peter and other Apostles.

    Who is ‘she who is in Babylon?’ Some suggest that it may be a veiled reference to Peter’s wife, who accompanied him in his journeys to spread the Gospel. As to the true location of ‘Babylon,’ commentators differ. At least three viable locations seem possible, including Rome, a Roman outpost in Egypt and a city in the area of ancient Babylon (Mesopotamia).

    Final greetings

    14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

    φίλημα ἀγάπη – philēma agapē. It is the kiss with which, as a sign of fraternal affection, Christians were accustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in the faith. And agapē love, demonstrable affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love in Christ finds its root in phileō and philos – to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend; one who associates familiarly with one, a companion.

    This personal love of God becomes evident in every relationship between brothers of the body of Christ; that is, the Church of which He is the head.

    Peace to all of you who are in Christ Jesus, Amen.

    1 Peter 5:14b

  • Judgment begins with God’s household – a letter from Peter 8

    Judgment begins with God’s household – a letter from Peter 8

    Our Attitude in these Last Days

    For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

    1 Peter 4:17 KJV

    I begin with Peter’s pointed call to account of the church and Christians from the King James Version of the Bible, judgment of our own actions first.

    Previously, Peter referred to the end of the living and the dead. He urges us:

    So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude… 1 Peter 4:1a NET Bible

    Now Peter will point every believer toward service and suffering in these last days when our attitudes must match that of Christ Jesus, as well as judgment of all for our words and actions after this brief mortal life.

    Living Stones

    Do you recall that Peter has called us; “faithful followers of Christ,” that is; living stones of the Temple of God with Christ as the cornerstone?

    If you follow Peter’s imagery of our saved souls building upon the foundation of Christ’s love, then every Christian believer in the living Church of His Body and Blood must adopt an attitude like Jesus.

    Peter has already urged us (the church):

    As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God— you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

    1 Peter 2:4-5 CSB

    Therefore, Peter now tells us how we must live as holy priests representing the Lord God before an unsaved and evil world.

    End Time Ethics

    1 Peter 4:7-19

    The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.

    Be alert (pay attention). Be sober, reads the KJV; defined in this context: to be of sound mind and exercise self-control.

    What do you think of your church leaders… our local leaders… even national leaders? Do you ever wonder if they pay attention and are of sound mind? For some certainly exercise little self-control.

    Paul instructs the church not to be like those who are not sober and to ‘watch unto prayer’ – KJV

    The same Apostle to the Gentiles who often asks, “pray also for me,” urges the church to be on watch (while others sleep in this present darkness). And pray to God concerning the things yet to come, even death — even judgment of all souls.

    The Love of Christians

    Peter next begins, “Above all things; that is, what I am about to say is of superior importance to you in these last days, beloved brother in Christ.

    ἔχω ἐκτενής ἀγάπη εἰς ἑαυτοῦ
    echō ektenēs agapē eis heautou

    … fervent in your love for one another …

    … have fervent charity among yourselves…

    1 Peter 4:8b NASB, KJV

    Above all things… Maintain constant love; Christ’s fervent brotherly love between each other, my fellow ‘Christians,’ We MUST love one another as Jesus has loved us.

    Do WE do that – this agape love for each other in the church?

    Charity is a true definition of this much maligned love – kindness and tenderness, a true caring among all the family of Christ’s body, the church.

    We all sin just like unbelievers do, so Peter tells us (the saints of the church) to do this as witness of Christ’s love for His body the church.

    8 [NASB] Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.

    I certainly have a multitude of sins Christ covers. Do you?

    Jesus also told us why this agape love between Christians is so important.

    And because iniquity shall abound, the love G26 of many shall wax cold.

    By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love G26 one to another.

    The words of Jesus: Matthew 24:12, John 13:35 KJV

    Serving each other

    Peter instructs us:

    9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

    And just as Peter has instructed us to watch what we say and be careful in what we do, he applies this to God’s will.

    • 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words;
    • if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides…

    Peter provides motivation for our specific service to God within the body of Christ, the church:

    … so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.

    To which the Apostle adds a praise:

    To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

    Suffering & Persecution

    Beloved – ἀγαπητός agapētos

    We see genuine examples of Christ’s agape love in all the Apostles. Although we tend to think of the tender heart of young John and of Peter as a brash follower of Jesus, here Peter addresses those he loves of the church in the same way that an older John does in his letters.

    We feel the compassion of Peter’s approach to these brothers (and sisters) who like him are persecuted for the sake of Christ.

    Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

    1 Peter 4:12 KJV

    Some versions of the Bible begin this: “Dear friends,” which we tend to dismiss so casually, as if in the salutation of an impersonal letter. This appeal of Peter’s is far from impersonal. Beloved, a true Christian attitude and appropriate translation of ‘agapetos‘ fits perfectly into the context of our relationships in the body of Christ Jesus. He IS the head, beloved, and sore wounded for our sins.

    Christ’s sufferings and ours

    13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

    Christ’s glory will be revealed to all the world when the judgement of the end has come. Will you be with Jesus then because you are for Jesus now even in your suffering?

    Once again the translation of the King James Version is more pointed in comparing our motivations now to those who suffer for doing evil.

    15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

    16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

    Judgment must begin in the house of God

    For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

    1 Peter 4:17 CSB

    It’s time for judgment!

    Judgment, you ask? Why does Peter tell persecuted Christians that the time for judgment has come? And more pointedly, what does Peter mean by saying that judgment begins with ‘God’s household,’ specifically us?

    We tend to think of judgment only as a sentence by a judge or worse, the punishment of a law-breaker; but this narrow view is not entirely correct and does not encompass Peter’s meaning.

    κρίμα {from κρίνω}

    From a greek root meaning to separate, approve, judge or resolve; Peter’s meaning here [krima] may also mean: condemnation of wrong, the decision (whether severe or mild) which one passes on the faults of others.

    Peter calls on the saints of the church to judge ourselves first. Jesus, in fact, used the same word calling for self-conviction before the accusation of others.

    “For in the way G2917 you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

    Matthew 7:2 NASB

    Peter points back to the wisdom of Proverbs 11:31, calling on us to be righteous, for righteousness in Christ is our redeemed measure of God.

    Proverbs 11:

    30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
     and a wise person captivates people. 
    31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth,
     how much more the wicked and sinful.

    Peter’s application of Judgment

    18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

    19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

    King James Version (KJV)
    Public Domain

    To be continued...