Is Suffering Required?

1 Peter 2:18-25

Many Gen Xers consider Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” an anthem for our generation. It certainly fits the rebellious nature of the 80s and the refusal to just accept what we’ve always been told. But consider this question: does this fit Gen X better or the American church that is sick of people always attacking our rights? Political leaders have been saying for a while how we need to stick up for our rights as Christians. I remember hearing a lot in 2016 about how the church’s non-profit status would have been at risk if Hillary Clinton had been elected. That would have forced a lot of churches to close! Scripture would back that legislation, correct? I’m not so sure and that’s certainly not the way Peter would have answered that question based off this passage.

Exiles are Servants

Servants, be subject to your masters: what a phrase to start with! The Hebrew root word “ebed” is used in the OT and is mostly synonymous with the Greek words “doulos” and “oiketai” (the word used in this passage) which all describe the ideas relating to servant and bondservant, official worker, and slave. Peter here is referring to someone who is “not free”, but that forces us to ask what the concept of freedom meant in that time. It can mean something much more like employee than a slave. And the concept of slavery in the Bible is much more along the lines of economic viability and could be considered a workable situation for profit or debt relief. In fact, the rules outlined throughout the slavery passages (especially in the OT) show that it is much more akin to a work contract than what we understand from the African slave trade. While forced labor and sinful practices certainly happened during Biblical times, they were because of the reality of the broken world we have thanks to sin. It is also interesting to note that the New Testament ties the idea of willingness in because of how many times these words reference a willing submission to Christ.

We all have moments where we don’t like our job. Money is required for survival, and work provides it. It is the economic system in which we live. Whether or not you feel like you got to choose your work or if you were forced into it because of family or health situation, reality is this—the economic world is it. Some people use that well and others use that sinfully. That’s not the problem according to Peter; it’s the attitude. He calls the exiles to treat their masters (bosses) with respect regardless of how they are treated. Ever had a degrading or ungrateful boss? One that expects the world from you while also ridiculing your outfit? Peter says as the servant, it is your attitude that matters, because this is how you represent Christ.

Unjust Suffering is Witnessing

Nobody wants to suffer; for any reason, let alone an unjust one. Whether it’s Jospeh in Genesis, Stephen in Acts, or Nelson Mandela and his years in prison for his fight against apartheid, unjust suffering is horrible. I even got detention for challenging the big bang theory in biology class in 9th grade. Obviously, my story doesn’t compare to the others named, but technically it was unjust. And the unjust qualification is important. Suffering because of something you caused doesn’t count; v20 makes that clear. While all suffering needs compassion, Peter is very specifically talking about suffering unjustly as it creates an example of a believer mirroring Christ. Because He suffered unjustly for our behalf, when we suffer unjustly, we look like Him. There may be no better way to represent Christ than by suffering unjustly—especially because of our faith. Think about what He suffered through for you: sinless, revile-less, continually trusting God, bearing our sins, healing our wounds, doing the work to return us to God. When you suffer unjustly, you look like that. As people living in America, we don’t necessarily have to take that. In fact, since the rise of the Christian Right (discussed last week), lots of legislation has been passed to ensure we don’t suffer unjustly. And that’s a good thing. Isn’t it? Maybe we should spend a bit less time fighting for our rights and more time allowing ourselves to be examples like Christ for Christ. Don’t look for it, but don’t run from it either.

Next Steps

Suffering isn’t fun, but it is meant for good. The goal isn’t to stop it but be like Jesus in it. Let people see Christ in us because we are willing to suffer on behalf of another. Suffering is your strongest way to be a witness for Christ.

1. Discuss with others why scripture doesn’t attack the ethos of slavery, but instead focuses on how we live in it. What does that mean to you?
2. Let go of the fight for our rights as Christians (politics, personal defense, etc.). God has always promised to be your defense; let it go.
3. Draw closer to and be a witness for Jesus by practicing suffering for others like He did.

God promises to fight your battles for you (Psalm 62). But He will allow you to suffer unjustly to show the world that you belong to Him.