1 Peter 4:12-16 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; (13) but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (14) If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified. (15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. (16) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”
We have seen in the previous section the example given to us by our Lord Jesus, as to what type of suffering we as believers, are to endure in this life. The above-quoted passage of scripture clearly reveals to us the reason that believers are called to suffer in this life, i.e. they are meant to suffer for being Christians. In this passage the Holy Spirit through the apostle Peter tells us clearly what we are not meant to suffer for in this life, i.e. we are not meant to suffer as murderers, thieves, evildoers and busybodies. Make no mistake, as mentioned by Peter, believers can suffer for the wrong reasons, but that brings no glory to Christ. However if believers suffer for being Christians, then that does glorify our Lord Jesus in the earth. In fact it is only our suffering for being Christians, which does glorify God. Any other type of suffering that we may encounter in this life, does not glorify God at all, and in fact can even blaspheme His name in the earth, i.e. if we were to suffer as wrongdoers. So what does it mean to suffer as a Christian? It simply means that we suffer not for what we do, but rather for who we are. Our Lord said that the world hated Him without a cause, and so it is Christ in us that the world hates, and it is for His sake alone that we suffer persecution. This type of suffering, and only this type of suffering, brings glory to God. But for believers to encounter this type of suffering, they have to take a stand for Christ. In other words the world must know that you are a Christian and that you make no apology for belonging to Christ.
Galatians 5:11 “And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.”
Galatians 6:12 “As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”
In the above-quoted passages of scripture the Holy Spirit teaches us two things through the apostle Paul. Firstly, He teaches us that the cross of Christ is offensive to the world. And then secondly, He teaches us that Christians suffer persecution because of the cross of Christ. The reason that the cross is offensive to the world is because it points to the fact that Jesus is the only way to the Father, and that every other way is excluded. In other words the message of the cross is an exclusive message, rather than an inclusive one. Many Christians draw back from such a stance, rather trying get along with others in the world in an attitude of “love”, thus avoiding the persecution that the message of the cross brings. However, Christians are meant to proclaim the message of the cross of Christ to those around them, and it is in doing so that they will encounter persecution in this life.
Michael E.B. Maher
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