“If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!”
1 Peter 4:15-16 NLT
In our consideration of the previous verse in 1 Peter 4, we reviewed the impact of insults because we “bear the name of Christ”, with the blessings of the Holy Spirit being upon us as a consequence. Peter continues in the verses we are looking at today by saying it is “no shame to suffer for being a Christian”. However, he pointed out that those committing a misdemeanour, no matter how trivial, may experience varying degrees of suffering. They could be a fractured relationship or embarrassment if the suffering results from “prying into other people’s affairs” or, at the other end of the spectrum, a capital punishment for murder. But Peter didn’t want to dwell in the negatives. There is a privilege in “being called by His name”.
Do we pilgrims suffer for being a Christian? Jesus Himself didn’t pull any punches. He warned His disciples about the problems and troubles that being one of His followers would mean. John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world”.
One of the ways in which we Christian pilgrims will invite suffering is through our uncompromising belief that the only way to God, and eternal life with Him, is through His Son Jesus. He said, “ … I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The world around us have all sorts of funny ideas about how they can get to Heaven. Many people consider that their good lives will be sufficient, because, as their logic goes, a loving God will never reject them. Others follow one of the world religions that often have some funny ideas about how Heaven can be reached. Someone in my family believes that Heaven is full of compartments, one for each religion and even one for those who don’t believe in God, because they are convinced that it doesn’t matter which religion mankind follows – all roads will lead to Heaven. I don’t know how they came to that conclusion but my efforts to correct their thinking have failed, sadly. But whatever other religions say, we have to be on our guard against those who more subtly try and subvert the purity of God’s Word. To take an example, the Jehovahs Witnesses, commenting on John 14:6, say that the only way to heaven is by praying to God through Jesus. Superficially correct until we realise that the JW’s don’t accept that Jesus is God, instead believing that He is a created being, and may even be the archangel Michael. Their beliefs reject the Trinity, God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, and there is only one God, Jehovah. To back up their unbiblical doctrines, they have retranslated the Bible and come up with their New World Translation. So, as an aside, if that is the version you have on your bookcase, then throw it away.
We pilgrims know what we believe because the Holy Spirit within us helps us. Romans 8:16, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” We are not parent-less. God is our loving Heavenly Father, and He is with us day and night, whether we are suffering or not. We praise and worship Him today.
Dear Lord, please help us to believe that You are with us even when we’re not sure. Please forgive us for our doubts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 