WEBVTT 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:01.600 Hello, friends. 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:02.879 This is Pastor Creighton. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:06.160 Thank you for tuning in to Newsong Church's Sermon Podcast. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:13.359 At Newsong Church, we want to see Jesus lifted high in Port Perry, Ontario, as we worship, grow, and serve. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:18.800 You can learn more about us and find contact info at newsongportperry.ca. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.359 The second lesson is from 1 Peter. 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:31.199 Finally, all you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:43.119 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. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:51.840 For whoever desires to love life and sees good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:54.880 Let him turn away from evil and do good. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:57.840 Let him seek peace and pursue it. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:04.079 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:07.920 But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:13.760 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:18.159 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:21.680 Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:32.159 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. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:42.400 Yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:49.200 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:02:01.519 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:03.519 The word of the Lord. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:12.319 Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:13.840 Let's pray. 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:27.120 Lord Jesus, we are here to abide in you. 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:40.479 And we pray that by your grace, by the word you have for us this morning, we would abide in you, and so prove to be your disciples by bearing much fruit. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:47.280 So, Lord, we invite you to do that difficult work of pruning our hearts where they need to be pruned. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:54.719 We invite you, Lord, to do that life-giving work of sustaining us and giving us new life. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:02.240 Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of all of our hearts be always pleasing in your sight. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:04.560 O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:05.520 Amen. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:07.439 Please be seated. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:28.719 Well, dear friends, nothing quite makes me feel like a stranger in a strange land as these last couple of weeks have, as the Leafs have done their very best in the Stanley Cup finals. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:29.120 I know. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:31.759 I'm not here to rub salt in the wound, dear friends. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:35.759 If you need any pastoral counseling, my office is always open. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.280 Just send me an email and we can work through this together. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:42.319 You know that I'm I'm from Ottawa, of course. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:49.039 And the thing about being from Ottawa is not that everyone cheers for the senators, it's that everyone doesn't cheer for the leafs. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:54.400 And uh that's the one thing that kind of unifies a very polarizing city. 00:03:55.039 --> 00:04:07.120 So I I confess I'm having some of my own indoctrination uh uh exposed and challenged, and I find myself, yes, even myself being a little disheartened by this last week. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:10.159 So we'll work through this together, friends. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:15.120 But I felt like a stranger in a strange land, especially last Sunday. 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:23.920 A number of us uh fellas got together, the men's gathering at uh Chuck's just across the street uh to um catch up and connect. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:29.600 And what I just hadn't really thought, because truthfully I don't follow hockey all that closely, uh, was it was game night. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:36.560 And so in Chuck's it was just a sea of blue and white, which I suppose is what seas look like now that I think about it. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.839 You catch my meaning. 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:49.279 It's a it's a pub just completely full of Leafs fans, ready to take in the game, and I realize I'm a I am a sojourner and an exile here. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:54.560 But even here I can, well, I I can find my place, I suppose. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:58.480 Sometimes we have these moments where we feel like strangers and exiles. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.120 We feel like strangers in a strange land. 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:06.959 Maybe uh uh, you know, living in a city that doesn't cheer for our team makes us feel like that in a small way. 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:13.040 But I I think there are times where it feels like in the world we live in we're wearing a different jersey. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:14.560 Do you ever feel like that? 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:21.680 Do you ever feel like I know I'm I know I'm supposed to be here, but it doesn't quite feel like home yet. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:23.360 You ever have that sort of feeling? 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:25.360 It's a it's a longing sort of feeling. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:30.560 It's it's uh it's an already not yet sort of feeling, isn't it? 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:36.240 This is a moment in Canadian history that's that's really quite unique, I think, in many ways. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:53.680 One of the ways it's it's unique is this is this is a moment where uh, as far as the surveys that I'm I'm reading, uh religious affiliation in Canada is at its all-time lowest since statistics like this were were gathered, which is a pretty remarkable moment. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:06:11.279 In fact, when it comes to uh Roman Catholicism, evangelical Christianity in in particular, Canadians broadly speaking were surveyed and asked the question uh does religions like like these uh contribute more good or harm to society? 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:14.160 And I thought the statistics were quite telling. 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:21.279 31% of Canadians surveyed said, yes, religion like these is a force for good in society. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:33.600 But that means the overwhelming uh majority of Canadians think it's either a combination of good and bad that sort of cancels each other out, or it's a harmful force in society. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:39.759 About 22% said it was a more harmful force in society than uh than than good. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.079 So it's a pretty unique moment, isn't it? 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:47.839 And it's easy to be a Christian in Canada and feel like I'm a bit of a stranger in a strange land here. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:58.879 I'm amongst, you know, of a country that doesn't understand perhaps the convictions I share or perhaps the the hope of our of our gospel. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:13.519 Now it would be easy, I think, to whine and moan about that and have a woe is me type of sermon, but I'm not really interested in doing that, because I don't think that's how the New Testament responds to uh the feeling of being sojourners and exiles. 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.079 Certainly not how Peter responds. 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:17.839 This is what I want us to catch. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:26.480 Here in the 21st century Canada, it's a little bit closer to the first century, perhaps, than we've ever been before in our Canadian moment. 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:29.839 Christianity is slipping more and more out of favor. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:37.199 It's regarded with perhaps with suspicion, broadly speaking, at best, perhaps hostility at its worst. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:40.480 But friends, there's tremendous opportunity here. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:47.120 I think the gospel flourishes, not when it's comfortable, but when it's most needed. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:53.920 So here's Peter's writing this letter that we've been studying the last couple of weeks, addressed to elect exiles. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:57.360 That's how he addresses his audience in chapter 1, verse 1. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:01.680 Folks who have a homeland but aren't quite there yet. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:08.639 He addresses it to elect exiles who've been grieved by various trials, chapter 1, verse 6. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:14.959 Those who do good but suffer for doing good, in chapter 2, verse 20. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:25.920 He's addressing strangers in a strange land, those who feel like they're wearing a different jersey than the one around them, and those who experience grief and suffering for it. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:34.320 The question is, how do Christians respond to suspicion and hostility? 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:48.080 How are Christians called to respond to suspicion and hostility, perhaps broadly speaking, in a world that might regard us with a certain degree of suspicion, a certain degree of hostility, but perhaps also personally as well? 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:55.600 Because I suspect we have those folks in our lives who do not understand our commitment to the Christian faith, or at least our interest in the Christian faith. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:57.600 We're here at church today, aren't we? 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.240 How do we respond to suspicion and humility? 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:04.639 How do we live as exiles and sojourners? 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:10.480 I think Peter wants us to see two things in particular in our passage today. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:13.279 How do we respond to suspicion and humility? 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:18.799 Number one, Peter says, we respond by blessing others. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:21.039 We respond by blessing others. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:26.240 And number two, we respond by honoring Christ. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:37.679 We bless others, we honor Christ, and this is how we respond to suspicion and humility that or hostility that we might experience. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:43.120 So the way Peter portrays it, Christianity is a pretty strange but wonderful thing. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:55.440 It's strange because it cuts against the grain of all of our deeply felt instincts of how to respond to someone who's suspicious or hostile towards us. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:10:10.080 It challenges us to consider the good of someone who might otherwise be in opposition, to will the very good and to love our enemy. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:12.639 It's a strange and wonderful thing. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.399 Let's explore how we respond to suspicion and hostility here. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:20.240 Pull out your order of service, if you will, or pull out your Bible. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:24.480 Turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 8. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.960 We're going to look at verses 8 to 18. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.480 How do we respond to suspicion and hostility? 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:32.720 We bless others. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:34.639 Verses 8 and 9 here. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:38.240 Peter says, Finally, he's wrapping up a thought here. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:47.919 Finally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:59.279 Do not repay evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:05.919 For to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:11.200 Don't repay evil for evil, but bless others. 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:16.799 Peter begins by saying Peter begins by exhorting us to five qualities. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:18.320 Did you notice that in verse 8? 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:23.200 Unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly life, uh, Philadelphoi. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:27.600 We get that word Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, right, from this Greek word. 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:36.080 It's a fraternal, it's a it's a close and familial kind of love that we share within the body of Christ. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:39.600 Have a tender heart and have a humble mind. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.720 Regard others as valuable and conduct yourself accordingly. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:50.639 In a sense, Peter is exhorting Christians to bless one another in our conduct. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:57.519 This is the five ways that the life of the church is meant to be characterized within its gathering. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:08.320 When we gather together, these are the five things that, boy, wouldn't it be amazing to have a visitor come in and describe New Song as unified and sympathetic with one another. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:15.039 They share a love that's shared within the family, or they have tender hearts and they're humble towards one another. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:18.080 This is the kind of thing that Christians are exhorted to. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:24.399 And as we put these things into practice, we are actively blessing one another. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:26.399 What is a blessing? 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:34.559 The word used here in verse 9 to bless literally means to speak well of someone or something. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:39.679 It's the same word it's related to eulogy, eulogia, I think is the is the word. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:47.759 And we get the word eulogy from it, not because we hope someone died and now we're talking about them, but because uh but because we're speaking well. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:52.799 I mean, the best things of someone, the best qualities that we remember is what gets shared at a eulogy, right? 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:55.840 But what we're doing here is we're speaking well of one another. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.919 We're speaking life and promoting flourishing in someone's life. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:04.399 But it's beyond just our our speech, it's our actions coupled with that as well. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:13.840 And that might sound like a nice idea until we back up our biblical theology and we realize that it's through speaking that God brought the world into existence. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:17.679 It's through speaking that he's blessed the world and everything in it. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:26.960 It's by speaking that he's blessed human beings, created in his image, and commissioned them to be fruitful, to multiply, to live a life of flourishing. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:30.480 This is God's design for us, and he speaks well. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:36.159 He speaks life, he speaks flourishing into us and into our cre into creation. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:39.519 This is why we end the service, by the way, with a word of blessing. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:45.519 It's not just sort of like a, hey, we're done, you know, get this signals it's time to get out of here type of deal. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.960 It's because God actually desires our flourishing. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.799 And these words recognize it. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.720 These words speak that into action. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:56.559 Words make things happen like that in God's economy. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:07.840 So we bless one another when our conduct reflects this sort of willingness to bless one another in unity and sympathy and tenderness and humility. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:11.360 Sometimes this is the place to start, isn't it? 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:21.759 I mean, we'll go in the passage, Peter talks about not repaying evil for evil, but sometimes blessing needs to start right here in the church family. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:25.200 We can struggle to will each other's good sometimes, right? 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:33.279 I mean, like any family, there's dysfunction, like any family, there's challenge and difficulty, there's personalities that rub up against one another. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:36.080 That's that's all part of being a family. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:54.240 But if here in the church family, where we we both are called, both parties know that they're called to this sort of unity and sympathy, this love, tenderness, and humility, if we can't bless one another here, then how could we hope to turn around and bless those who don't meet us with blessing? 00:14:54.559 --> 00:15:00.159 I mean, this is part of the life of the church is to bless, be blessed, and to bless. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:03.200 This is part of why you're called here this morning. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:15.919 To be a blessing to those you're sharing, well, not pews with, I suppose, but those who are you're sharing chairs, you're sharing life with one another, and that's what we're meant to share, to bless one another. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:21.519 Share a blessing with one another, but share a blessing also with those who don't meet you with blessing. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:28.240 Peter says, Don't repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:34.240 Practice blessing, even when it's not returned. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:38.799 What's the reason for that? 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:43.039 Peter gives us a reason out of verse, pardon me, Psalm 34. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:16:00.320 He quotes in chat in verse 10 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. 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.200 Why? 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:06.960 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:11.840 But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:17.360 Why are we supposed to repay evil with blessing? 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:24.000 If someone strikes us on the cheek, why are we supposed to turn the other cheek? 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:28.000 Peter understands something pretty profound out of this psalm. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:41.360 He understands that the sort of attitude that repays evil with blessing is the sort of attitude that recognizes that ultimately God is in charge. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:44.480 Ultimately, what's the phrase? 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.000 He's large and in charge. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:48.080 Nothing goes unnoticed. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:53.600 That vengeance ultimately belongs to the Lord, that judgment is ultimately his to repay. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:59.759 See, there's something we can do when we're struck on the cheek and we strike right back, and we all do that in our own ways, don't we? 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:06.000 Maybe not literally, but we have our subtle and sophisticated ways of repaying evil for evil, I suppose. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:11.680 When we do that, aren't we ourselves sitting in the seat of judgment over someone else? 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:17.440 Aren't we ourselves taking the initiative to enact vengeance or judgment on someone else? 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:27.599 See, it takes an extraordinary sort of heavenly perspective to recognize that ultimately evil has to answer to the Lord. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:37.119 And I have an opportunity here when I've been struck to either repay that evil and perpetuate it, or to break the cycle of evil and repay it with blessing. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.319 Doesn't mean that we're passive. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:47.440 Doesn't mean that, because you know, it's it's a very like I can feel the objection here, right? 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:52.079 It's like, well, I thought all that evil needs to triumph is for the good to do nothing, right? 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:54.720 We we've heard that expression, there's truth to that, hasn't it? 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:02.400 I don't think that what we're talking about here is just simple passivity, that we just sort of look the other way when evil happens. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:15.440 But the kind of attitude to which we're called here is not one that wants to see our enemy destroyed, it's one that wants to will the very best, God's very best, for our opponent. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:19.039 Do we love our enemies? 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:21.839 That's what Jesus exhorts us to, isn't it? 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:25.119 Loving our enemies does not mean come on in for a hug. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.880 Not necessarily. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:30.000 But it does mean we will their very best. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:34.640 That we'd rather see them repent and restored than destroyed. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.480 This is what the psalmist is getting at. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.839 This is what Peter understands. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.039 It's this sort of attitude that can change the world. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:43.920 It's a strange and wonderful thing. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:46.640 One person who understood that is Desmond Tutu. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:19:05.839 You're probably well familiar with Desmond Tutu, the South African archbishop who was no small part of ending the oppressive regime of apartheid and establishing the truth and reconciliation commitment, that or uh uh truth and reconciliation um commission, thank you, that was the word I'm looking for. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:14.400 And um, and offered amnesty to those who've done wrong to their fellow citizens as a way of restoring the nation. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:21.519 I mean, when when a civil order is overturned, how easy is it for the former victims to become the oppressors? 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.680 And Desmond Tutu knew this. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:28.079 And because he was informed by his Christian faith, he said evil has to stop here. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:32.559 So what we're offering to our enemies is we're offering forgiveness. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:38.960 We're not going to repay evil for evil, we're gonna stop evil in its tracks by offering blessing. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:46.960 We're not blessing the evil, we're not saying what happened was okay, but we are saying moving forward we will not see this evil continue. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:55.599 This sort of thing can change the world, blessing others, not repaying evil for evil. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:20:01.599 I mean, maybe we're not South African archbishops and apartheid, I should think we're not. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:10.799 But we nevertheless are those who experience evil and reviling in even small ways, day-to-day, don't we? 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:14.400 We know what it is to get cut off in traffic, right? 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:23.440 And some folks, you know, I try and give examples from my own life that portray my own flaws, and sometimes I hear, oh, you're really not that angry a person. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.640 Like as if it's false modesty. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:29.279 But I'll tell you, if you were in my head when I got cut off in traffic, you would look at me very differently. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:31.920 I'm convinced that that's the case. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:38.480 In that moment, I tell you, there's a million things I want to do to that car, to that driver. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:55.279 But these are the moments where something like Psalm 34, if on a good day, and I'm listening to the Lord and his leading, I'm reminded that this is an opportunity, even in a small way, to refuse to repay evil for evil. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:00.559 Maybe it's not getting cut off on Simco, maybe it's being cut off in the parking lot on my way out today, right? 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.400 We refuse it. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:13.440 We refuse to see this evil perpetuate by instead conducting ourselves willing the good of our opponent, willing the good of those who have done us wrong. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:19.440 Maybe getting cut off in traffic is a small example it is, but maybe there are more significant examples. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:26.640 Seeing ourselves sabotaged at work or seeing ourselves completely thrown under the bus by a family member. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:33.599 I mean, these are moments that make something well up deep inside us that just wants to see someone squashed. 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:37.839 If we're honest with ourselves, I suspect that's how we feel. 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:43.839 These are the moments where we can do something strange and wonderful in obedience to God's word. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:49.920 We can refuse to repay evil for evil and instead will the good of someone else. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:59.759 Doesn't mean that we just we don't call it out, doesn't mean we don't recognize that harm was done, but it means we want to aim towards restoration rather than destruction. 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.880 And that can change the world. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:05.519 Peter concludes this thought by saying this. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:12.640 Now, who is there to whom, pardon me, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:17.839 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:40.480 When we put this sort of thing into practice, the suffering we experience, it doesn't shake that final conviction, that rooted conviction that blessing is guaranteed, that we are grounded in God's blessing to us, and being grounded in God's blessing to us, we can be those who bless others under all circumstances. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:45.279 So how do we respond to hostility or how do we respond to suspicion? 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:51.200 We respond by blessing others and refusing to pay evil for evil. 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:54.160 We respond by blessing others. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.960 We also respond by honoring Christ. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:59.039 Here's where we want to land for today. 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:02.240 Let's look at verses 14 and 16 here. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:09.440 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, pardon me, even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:14.880 Peter says, Have no fear of them, you know, those who cause you harm, nor be troubled. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:38.000 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, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:42.880 Don't fear, don't be troubled, but honor Christ. 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:46.480 I want to share a quote from one of my favorite philosophers. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.359 You might have heard of him. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.559 His name is Yoda. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:24:00.799 And uh Yoda has something pretty profound to say to uh to a young Anakin Skywalker, to Darth Vader before he becomes the Darth Vader we all know. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:03.680 He says, he cautions them against fear. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:09.680 He says, um, fear leads to anger. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.319 Anger leads to hate. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:14.880 Hate leads to suffering. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:19.200 The path to the dark side begins with fear, Yoda understands. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:23.279 And maybe we just think, well, that's a nice piece of Star Wars dialogue, and I suppose it is. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:27.759 But maybe if it rings true, it's because that's true of our own experience, isn't it? 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:36.240 When we are fearful, it's so easy to become resentful towards our fear or those who cause us fear, isn't it? 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:40.480 We seem to retract, we withdraw, we want to protect ourselves. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:48.400 Maybe even we start thinking less and less charitably towards someone else, and we're more and more convinced that they're out to get us. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.880 Because we're we're ready to protect ourselves. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:53.839 At any moment they're gonna lash out, and I'm gonna be ready for that. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:59.680 So fear seems to give way to anger, but anger seems to give way to hate. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:06.079 That this person is just a thoroughly awful person, and life would be better if they weren't in it. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:13.119 I mean, fear is a pretty powerful thing, and that's why Peter says, don't fear, don't be troubled. 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:19.200 Because we can't bless those when we are fearful and angry and hateful. 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:24.000 Don't fear, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:31.200 Christ the Lord has promised that in this world we will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:51.119 When we live in that hope, we are we find fear can be cast out, perspective can be gained, and suddenly we see our opponent not as someone to oppose, but someone to bless, all because in our heart we've made the choice to honor Christ and not repay that evil for evil. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:53.039 How do we honor Christ? 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:55.599 Peter gives us a couple of examples here. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:59.200 He says, Be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is within you. 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:12.799 And this word defense is this word apologia, which gives us our word apologetics, and that's a branch of Christian theology that wants to make a reasonable defense of the faith, and I know many in uh right here are interested in that sort of stuff. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:23.680 And I do think that, I mean, this verse lends itself to um to that sort of thinking, to being prepared to give an intellectual defense when you're met with an objection or whatever that is. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:28.559 But I think Peter's saying more than just intellectually, be ready to have a reasoned faith. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:33.839 You know, not the sort of faith that checks its checks the brain at the door, but a reasonable faith. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:43.279 But even more than that, be ready to make an answer within the relationships that you share, in the real life that you live. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:53.359 Live your life as a reflection of that hope that you have in Christ, and in living that hope, you will offer a defense for the hope that is within you. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:27:01.759 I mean, when we refuse to repay evil for evil, when we refuse to strike the person who struck us, that's a weird thing. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:04.000 That's a strange and wonderful thing. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:08.799 And when someone notices that and asks, what's the deal with that? 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:11.839 Why do you refuse to enact justice for yourself? 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:15.839 Well, it's because I have a hope that's within me. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:21.759 It's because ultimately I believe that the face of the Lord is with the righteous and against those who do evil. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.599 Ultimately, this belongs to Him. 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:29.519 And the choice I'm making in my heart is to honor Christ and to will the very good of this person. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:34.319 Be ready to make a defense for the hope that is within you with gentleness and respect. 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:47.920 What if every opponent that we met, everyone who slanders the Christian faith, whatever that is, what if they knew that no matter how fiercely they were in opposition or disagreement, they were only ever met with gentleness and respect? 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:51.519 Can we say that that's all we ever offer to our opponents? 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:53.279 Don't know if we can. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:57.599 What if that is what we ourselves were to offer someone? 00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:00.240 When they object, when they ask, why do you think this way? 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:04.079 I can't help but disagree so strongly with what you think about this. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:09.599 What if no matter what our answer is, it's done with a spirit of gentleness and respect? 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:21.359 I can't help but think that that wins some that even if if we're not interested in winning this battle, there's something about that that wins the heart, isn't there? 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:24.400 It's something about that that wills the good. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:28.319 Keep a good conscience, keep your conduct godly, is what Peter says. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:33.200 Your godly conduct is a counter witness to slanderers, is what he says. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:41.119 When people speak ill of you, your life can your life can provoke this sort of, well, I don't think that sounds like so-and-so. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.960 You know what I mean? 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:49.920 It sure doesn't sound like the kind of person I know this person and I know they will the good, even of those they disagree with. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:56.000 Gentleness and respect, a good conscience, godly character. 00:28:56.240 --> 00:29:11.440 All of this, Peter understands, is grounded not in a sense of do all this to earn God's favor, do all this to earn your salvation, but do all of this as a response to the sort of heart that's been shown to you by God in Christ. 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:18.400 Friends, there is nothing asked by Peter in this passage that our Lord Jesus hasn't already led the way in. 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:22.720 When he was reviled, he blessed. 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:26.400 When he was hated, he loved his enemies. 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:31.200 Even while we were still his enemies, he loved us to the cross. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:43.759 And he calls us to do the same, not to earn our salvation, but to follow his example in causing life and flourishing in the world where otherwise wouldn't. 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:48.480 Friends, this is a strange and wonderful thing to be a Christian. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:52.240 It means surrendering our fear and our hatred of our enemies. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:56.480 It means surrendering the right to repay evil for evil. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:04.400 It means choosing to honor Christ, who's overcome the world, and in our trouble turn over to him. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:14.000 But it's a strange and wonderful thing to see evil stopped by blessing, by willing the good of those who might not will our good. 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:16.799 It's true that we are exiles and sojourners. 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:23.119 There's an already not yet-ness to the Christian life, and it will be so until the kingdom comes. 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:27.920 But, friends, how do we respond to suspicion and hostility in the meantime? 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.759 We bless others. 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.680 We honor Christ. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:36.880 What if Port Perry knew that New Song was a church that blesses others? 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:43.279 No matter the circumstance, we will the very best for our community and those in it. 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:50.960 What if above all things we honored Christ and followed his example even at our own expense? 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:55.200 Because God has willed the very good of, he's willed our good. 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:59.200 Turn away from evil, dear saints. 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:07.279 Seek peace and pursue it, and discover the life and flourishing that's in our Lord Jesus. 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.240 Amen. 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:12.079 Thank you for listening today. 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:17.680 We worship a generous God who calls us to follow Him in giving willfully, cheerfully, and sacrificially. 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:24.400 Newsong Church's mission and ministry is 100% funded by the generous gifts of those worshiping and journeying with us. 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:32.079 If you'd like to offer a gift towards Newsong's ministry, please visit Newsongportperry.ca giving for more information on how to do that. 00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:35.440 May God bless you and keep you today and every day.