November 2, 2008

Peter’s Epistle of Hope

Suffering for a Good Reason

1 Peter 4:12-16

Opening Words: Clare Boothe Luce once wrote, “There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them.” Could it be that you have grown hopeless? The world in which we live is complex and the problems seem great. This morning‘s newspaper is filled with nothing but bad news. The morale of our country is low, the greatest shortage facing America today is hope. That is why I have preached this sermon series. This is sermon number four in a five part sermon series on Peter’s epistle of hope, First Peter.

Augustine once said, "Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand." We live in a time when many are trying to simply understand the faith. They are frustrated and the outcome is obvious. The church is no longer part of main stream society. We have been pushed to the side and written off as a part of history. Many haven’t just dismissed the church, they are angry with the church. For this reason we are facing a twenty-first century form of Christian persecution. If you don’t believe me then look at how the national media relates to the church today. This is actually why this morning’s scripture lesson speaks to us. The world has dismissed us but we know we are valuable to the God. Let us hear these words together from 1 Peter 4:12-16. Let me call this message Suffering for a Good Reason.

1 Peter 4:12-16 12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

When Carl Rogers, the famed psychologist, was 22 years old when he entered Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1924. While there, he participated in a seminar organized to explore religious doubts. Rogers later said of the group, “The majority of members...in thinking their way through questions they had raised, thought themselves right out of religious work. I was one.” They were not the only ones. That is the story of our time.

America has changed in many ways over the years. We have changed theologically. There was a time when America really believed! Christianity was the unchallenged champion in our land. There was a time when no one questioned the supremacy of God. He was the ultimate authority, the one who would hold you accountable on judgment day. There was a time when no one questioned the messiahship of Jesus. He was the Savior of the world! He was the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He was God, Himself, incarnate. He was the very manifestation of God. There was a time when no one questioned the Holy Spirit. No one really understood the Holy Spirit but no one questioned him. Everyone knew he was the life giving force in the world. There was a time when no one question the authority of the Bible. The old Bible stories were woven through the fabric of our land. There was a time when no one questioned the church. Everyone, who was anyone, belonged to a church. There was a time when America really believed! How much do you really think America believes today?

If you haven’t heard, Tuesday is Election Day! The good news is the study stream of political advertisement, mailings and phones calls is nearly over. (In my home we have both Republicans and Democrats so we get them all!) The bad news is you are now forced to make your choice. Are you ready to vote? The other day I voted. It was the first time I have ever voted with an absentee ballot. I have seen the ballot and it is filled with more than your choice for president. You will be voting for judges, county commissioners and the sheriff’s office. There are the issues. Do you want to change the Ohio constitution and bring a casino to the state? Do you want to fund public transportation? You are faced with many questions but before you step into the voter’s booth let me ask you just one question.

Do you believe America still believes in the faith of our fathers? Do you still believe or are you like Carl Rogers? He questioned himself right out of the faith. Do you have someone in your life who questioned themselves right out of the faith? Do you have someone in your life that used to believe but no longer believes? You have built your life on the foundation of the faith. You believe in the ministry of the church. You believe in the fellowship of believers. You believe the Bible is the sacred word of God. You have a personal relationship with Jesus and you know you are going to heaven. You believe it all but is there is someone you love in your life that stopped believing in the basics of the faith? Could it be your faith is the one thing you can’t share with them. Could it be the thing that frustrates them about you is your faith? If you have someone who stopped believing, then you are not alone. This is the newest form of Christian persecution.

Today I want to talk about three points of basic Christian theology that will frustrate the people in your life. They used to be part of the norm of our society but our society has changed. The truth is they do not sound radical to us but to our world they sound extreme and harsh. If you speak of them the people in your life will label you as judgmental and narrow minded. These three basic points of Christian theology now run counter to modern to American society. Simply their presence will ruin any Thanksgiving dinner, your family and friends will want to leave early, your host may ask you to leave. It really doesn’t matter. You are going to hold to these basic beliefs of the faith because you know they are true. You are going to hold to these basic beliefs because are ready to suffer for a good reason. So if you trouble makers are ready to make some create some tension in your world say, “Amen!”

The Truth

If you want to upset the people in your life, then bring up the truth. Jesus is our only hope of salvation. It is easy to stop believing in the truth. We live in secular human times. The world tells us there are many ways to get to heaven. Some believe you get to heaven by living a good life in this world. They would like to turn God into a massive book keeper who keeps track of everyone’s good and bad deeds. Others believe there are many paths to heaven. There is a Jewish path, a Hindu path, a Buddhist path, a Muslim path and the rest. It doesn’t matter what path you take. They all lead to the same place, heaven! That is a popular line of thinking in our world and it would be nice. I wish that was true. However, there is only one thing wrong with it. It is wrong! Basic Christian theology tells us the only way is by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It is not something I made up. It is Bible, that has stood the test of time. If you want to upset the people in your life then tell everyone they must accept Jesus to go to heaven. If you think that would upset the people in your life say, “Amen!”

D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don't like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example." Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation. "All right then," said the preacher, "let's take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!" The greatest need in our world today is for a Savior. If you believe that is true say, “Amen!”

The Mission

If you want to upset the people in your life then bring up the mission. Our primary mission as the church is to go out and win souls for Jesus. That is why evangelism is so important. The world is uncomfortable with evangelism because they world teaches us to respect other people’s customs and beliefs. The world would like us to live side by side smiling and holding hands. No one would bring up the topic of salvation or heaven. We would all in peace. That would be great, I wish it were possible. There is only one problem with that line of thought. It is wrong! It goes against the basic teaching of the Master. Jesus said in the Great Commission to go out and make disciples. The Bible tells us that we are not to stop until every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. If you want to upset the people in your life then tell them about the mission. Tell them personal evangelism did not die with Dwight L. Moody. Tell them you believe in personal evangelism. Ask them if they know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior because you want to spend eternity with them in heaven. If you think that will upset the people in your life, “Amen!”

The Albanian Palace of Congresses, in the capital city of Tirana, was once a virtual shrine to atheistic communism. But in December 1991 the featured attraction there was not communist ideology but the Jesus film, a Campus Crusade for Christ evangelistic project. An estimated 2,000 people turned out for the first Albanian showing of the film, including the country's top government officials. More than 700 indicated decisions for Christ. One of the government officials said, "What once was a temple of communism is now being used as a temple of the holy God." If you believe our world needs Jesus now than ever before say, “Amen!”

The Church

If you want to upset the people in your life then bring up the church. The church exists to help people live the Christian life, to help people practice today what they will be doing in heaven for eternity. The church is in the disciple making business. The world sees the church as old people in ancient buildings. The world sees the church as a collection of narrow minded judgmental people, who can’t get along but are always asking for money. The world sees the church as hip as your daddy’s leisure suit. There is only one problem with that line of thought. It is wrong! Yes, each one of us has experienced church at her very worst but each one of us has experienced church at her very best. It is in those experiences that we get a sample of what heaven will be like. And I wouldn’t miss these experiences for the world. If you want to upset the people in your life then simply invite them to church. If you think that will upset the people in your life, “Amen!”

Gregory P. Elder grew up on the Atlantic Coast. He spent long hours working on intricate sand castles; whole cities would appear beneath my hands. One year, for several days in a row, I was accosted by bullies who smashed my creations. Finally, he tried an experiment: I placed cinder blocks, rocks, and chunks of concrete in the base of my castles. Then I built the sand kingdoms on top of the rocks. When the local toughs appeared (and he disappeared), their bare feet suddenly met their match. Many people see the church in grave peril from a variety of dangers: secularism, politics, heresies, or plain old sin. They forget that the church is built upon a Rock (Mt. 16:16), over which the gates of hell itself shall not prevail. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Let me end with this story and a challenge.

Lord Halifax, a former foreign secretary of Great Britain, once shared a railway compartment with two prim-looking spinsters. A few moments before reaching his destination the train passed through a tunnel. In the utter darkness Halifax kissed the back of his hand noisily several times. When the train drew into the station, he rose, lifted his hat, and in a gentlemanly way said: "May I thank whichever one of you two ladies I am indebted to for the charming incident in the tunnel." He then beat a hasty retreat, leaving the two ladies glaring at each other.

We live in a dark world and a lot of none sense happens in the dark. Don’t compromise the faith in the dark. Hold to the divine truths that you know are true. First, Jesus is our only hope of salvation. Second, evangelism is still needed. Third, the church is still vital. These things won’t make you popular but they will make you faithful. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!“