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Presence Weekly: The Result of Living Differently With Everyone

1 Peter 3:8-17 Living Differently with Everyone (Part 3)

Former British Labor leader and Christian, MP Tim Farron.

[First Things]

  1. Please let us know if you are interested in joining an in-person Washington discipleship cohort or reading group, have a pastoral concern, or are interested in our resources for churches.

  2. Faithful Presence is looking for two interns for the summer. Please reach out to us if you are aware of someone who might fit well.

[The Devo] The Result of Living Differently with Everyone

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For 

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, 
let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 
11 let him turn away from evil and do good; 
let him seek peace and pursue it. 
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, 
and his ears are open to their prayer. 
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 

13 Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 

As Peter wraps up his house table instruction for Christians, he anticipates an obvious question. When Christians live differently within common societal relationships that frequently come with power differentials: what response will the watching world, filled with seekers and skeptics, have when Christians live differently within common societal relationships that frequently come with power differentials: the governed and the governing, husbands and wives, bond servants and masters, and, in fact, everybody? 

Peter’s answer in verses 13-17 is not entirely encouraging. Somehow, despite adopting a default position of seeking to bless those we are in relationship with, we should expect to receive a fair amount of suffering and slander, since he says, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” 

The Response of the Public Square 

Peter opens the next aspect of his argument with a question that, on face value, seems wholly ill-informed to anyone serving and leading in the public square: “Now, who is there to harm you for doing good?” 

Imagine serving as a political appointee, which necessarily means that you serve at the pleasure of the president. After years in school and in Washington, you have the education, skill, and experience to perform at the highest level in your position as you work to enact the platform of the person who appointed you to serve. Rising to this level of public square leadership is a testimony to your talent and trustworthiness. Then you are asked to use your position to do something contrary to your deepest-held beliefs. Not your political ideology or innate strategic assessments that have gotten you here, but the Law of God. 

It would be easy to dream up any widely reported situation occurring in the current news cycle, but that would only confuse the issue. Christians serve in Republican administrations and Democratic administrations. To believe that people are compelled to act in a manner contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture by only one political party is short-sighted, ignorant, and wrong. As long as there have been governors, there have been sinful governors and sinful senior staff asking their servants to engage in sinful behavior. 

There are two possible responses. The first is acquiescence. David asked Joab to place Uriah in a military position sure to get him killed to accomodate his rape of Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. Joab, sadly, complied. The result was the murder of someone who had shown unwavering talent and trustworthiness to the one who governed him (2 Samuel 11). David later wrote Joab not to trouble himself about the whole affair because that’s just how war goes sometimes.  Joab remained in a position of power under David, and later used that power to murder two other men, Abner and Amasa (2 Samuel 17), two of David’s best military commanders, for his own reasons. Within the public square, embracing evil as a manner of gaining favor usually ends up corrupting the one who acquiesces to evil.   

The second response, regardless of the cost, is to “turn away from evil and do good… seek peace and pursue it,”.During their time in Babylon, the exiles Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were highly placed officials in the king’s court,  refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar. While this might have seemed a small thing, they rightly saw this directive as a clear instruction to violate God’s Law to have no other gods before him. The king’s response was to have them executed, or at least try to have them executed (Daniel 3). God vindicated them by bringing them safely through that judgment. 

One also might consider the response of Jesus to Satan’s offers of performance (turning stones to bread), privilege (throwing himself down the mountain), and power (the offer of all the kingdoms) during his wilderness temptation at the beginning of his earthly ministry (Luke 4). The eventual result of Jesus not flexing his position was his betrayal, torture, and execution. It was also the reconciliation of sinners to the Father, his resurrection, and exaltation to the right hand of God (Mark 16:14-20). 

In both cases, those who refused to go along with instructions that were contrary to the Law of God, and instead chose to live differently, received what they were promised from God - a blessing. Those serving and leading in the public square must decide whether to find their motivation in avoiding short-term suffering or pursuing the promised blessing of God. This leads us to another important instruction. 

The Response of the Christian

After instructing these exiled Christians to prioritize the ethics of the kingdom, Peter suggests that confusion over their actions and the motivation for them will play a large role in how others respond. The conflict that arises presents an opportunity for evangelism. Here, the elect-exiles are provided with an opportunity to participate in Christ’s mission of making all things new by “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” 

When Christians choose to suffer the earthly consequences for obeying God, they must also be ready to answer the question, “Why would you sacrifice your position, privilege, and power when doing so will be against what is perceived to be in your best interest?” Here, again, we are faced with a few choices. We can say nothing, or give the answer we gave when asked why we did something sure to get us in trouble when we were five, “I don’t know.” Instead, Peter expects followers to seize the opportunity to explain their choice to those in a position to mete out the consequences. 

First, we must do so clearly, directly, and with a reference to the hope that we have. This is an opportunity to explain that our hope is not in pursuing something that is tied to a particular political platform or an administration’s temporary stay in power. Instead, as Peter has already stated, our hope comes from the reality that, 

“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3–7

In his Spirit-led brilliance, Peter has already grounded them in the truth of the gospel and the promises of God for such a time as this. As elect-exiles often serving (and leading) on the weak end of a power differential, they are set free from the politics of politics. We can pursue the flourishing of our neighbor from within our God-appointed positions without the enslavement of self-protecting and power-seeking “strategery” that exhausts so many who do not have our hope. 

Second, we are called to answer the questions that come, “with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience.” This requires restraint that comes only from the Holy Spirit. So often, in situations where we have done the right thing for the right reasons and find ourselves facing unjust suffering, which might even include being fired by someone whose motivations are clearly evil, there is a strong temptation to vindicate ourselves. Trying to vindicate ourselves, while enduring unjust suffering, often leads to adopting an attitude of belligerence. But Peter has already covered this. We are called not to vindicate ourselves, but instead, 

"have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For 

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, 
let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 
let him turn away from evil and do good; 
let him seek peace and pursue it. 

Tim Farron, a British MP and strong Christian, was faced with just such a situation in 2017, when, after rising through the ranks to serve as the leader of the Labor Party for two years, he tendered his resignation. In his resignation speech, Farron said,

“From the very first day of my leadership, I have faced questions about my Christian faith. I’ve tried to answer with grace and patience. Sometimes my answers could have been wiser. The consequences of the focus on my faith is that I have found myself torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader.”

Living differently with everyone is difficult. The only reason for responding the way that Peter is proposing is that we are seeking the promised blessing that comes from embracing the full implications of the paradox of our hope, the paradox of our obedience, and the paradox of our values that we covered earlier in this study. 

Application questions

How does your anticipation of the response to your actions shape your behavior as you engage the public square?

How does serving and leading in the public square, motivated by the promise of receiving a blessing, alter your perception of work?

How well-prepared are you to answer for your Christian-ethics-guided behavior in response to the contrary expected or directed behavior? What steps will you take to improve?

[Faithful Prayer] 

  • President Biden and his family are processing his recent diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Pray for an effective treatment plan with minimal side effects and discomfort.

  • Cabinet Agency: The servants and leaders at NASA who are leading the study of Earth science, including the climate, our Sun, solar system, and the larger universe, and conducting cutting-edge research to advance technology and aeronautics.

  • Think Tank, Lobby group, NGO: The Planetary Society, as they educate and encourage policymakers to invest in space science and exploration. 

  • Weekly delegation: For the servants and leaders with the congressional delegation of New York

  • Agency News: NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, to launch the agency’s Aspera mission, a SmallSat to study galaxy formation and evolution, providing new insights into how the universe works. The selection is part of NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This contract allows the agency to make fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity launch service task order awards during VADR’s five-year ordering period, with a maximum total contract value of $300 million.

  • Personal requests: For a couple who both work in government, who are hoping to conceive their first child. For a former Cabinet agency official considering career options. For a Hill staffer overseeing three interns this summer. For two interns who are looking for permanent opportunities in Washington. For a senior Cabinet official facing overwhelming pressure to navigate an extremely difficult situation well with the least amount of unintended consequences. For a lobbyist working on an urgent issue for a high-profile client.  For someone still working through the sadness of a recent divorce. 

[The Page, The Pod & The Stack]

  • → Read this first → The Ciceronian Society has a wonderful piece on the importance of intellectual and ideological formation in discipleship, Intellectual Discipleship.

  • → Listen to this first → Comment Magazine recently released an episode with Russell Moore that is well worth the listen, “Evangelicalism in Crisis.”  

  • Mere Orthodoxy has an article on the “Origins of the Christian Right,” which traces some of the well-known and lesser-known actors and their role in our present state of affairs.

  • The Dispatch has an intriguing piece that explores possible insights into the new pope’s perspective on several cultural issues, Pope and Change: Politicizing an American pontiff.

  • The New York Times posted an interesting story about faith-based access to the president that has drawn opinions about as mixed as those on the plane gifted by Qatar, White House of Worship.

[What’s Happening]

This Week 

Next Week

[Two Thumbs Up] Album: The Price of Admission, Turnpike Troubadours

Following up on their 2023 album, Cat in the Rain, Turnpike is back with another excellent roots-country crossover album. The Price of Admission is an 11-track studio album that doubles down on two-stepping honkytonk beats mixed with just the right amount of bluegrass, sure to produce a strong urge to sing along. The album’s authenticity and stripped-down production are a tribute to lead singer and songwriter Evan Felker’s continued sobriety and willingness to allow the band to be the band. Felker has a god-given ability to paint a picture and bring the listener along right into the scene in a way that is reminiscent of some of the best singer-songwriters.  Our favorite tracks are Heaven Passing Through and Searching for a Light, which includes the line, “I could spend a lifetime making something out of sorrow.” 

The Turnpike Troubadours played Red Rocks last week to a standing room only crowd, and fans will be happy to know they are currently on tour and will be at the Anthem in Washington, D.C. on November 7th. Those who have seen them live will likely snap up available tickets quickly. 

[Last Things]

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