By Sarene Kushdilian
Issue #10: Summer 2006, CAMP AREV NEWSLETTER, USA
Are Christians different than others in the world? Is there something that sets us apart from our non-believing friends? In the book of 1 Peter, Peter addresses heavily persecuted Christians and instructs them to “keep [their] conduct...honorable.” In fact, he speaks to these Christians saying, “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God...” (1 Peter 2:11-12).
Here, Peter addresses Christians as “sojourners and exiles,” separating them (and believers now) from being a part of this world. Urging Christians to “abstain from the passions of the flesh,” Peter makes clear that we should avoid “impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger,” and things of the like (Galatians 5:19-21). These things, he teaches, “wage war against your soul.” I am sure that at one point we all have experienced this. We know the right thing to do, and yet, the wrong thing is so appealing.
In this way, a type of civil war is roused within us and we debate amongst ourselves what course of action we should take. The Bible makes it clear over and over again that as Christians, we must take the path of the righteous...and we can (Romans 6). Ultimately, God instructs us to “keep our conduct among the Gentiles honorable.” Why? “So that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God...” Notice the word “when.” Peter does not say, “they may persecute you;” he says they will.
Likewise, we, too, should be ready, always eager to keep our conduct honorable. For it is not for ourselves we do this, nor for any other worldly reason, but truly for the purpose of glorifying and honoring God.
Issue #10: Summer 2006, CAMP AREV NEWSLETTER, USA
Are Christians different than others in the world? Is there something that sets us apart from our non-believing friends? In the book of 1 Peter, Peter addresses heavily persecuted Christians and instructs them to “keep [their] conduct...honorable.” In fact, he speaks to these Christians saying, “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God...” (1 Peter 2:11-12).Here, Peter addresses Christians as “sojourners and exiles,” separating them (and believers now) from being a part of this world. Urging Christians to “abstain from the passions of the flesh,” Peter makes clear that we should avoid “impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger,” and things of the like (Galatians 5:19-21). These things, he teaches, “wage war against your soul.” I am sure that at one point we all have experienced this. We know the right thing to do, and yet, the wrong thing is so appealing.
In this way, a type of civil war is roused within us and we debate amongst ourselves what course of action we should take. The Bible makes it clear over and over again that as Christians, we must take the path of the righteous...and we can (Romans 6). Ultimately, God instructs us to “keep our conduct among the Gentiles honorable.” Why? “So that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God...” Notice the word “when.” Peter does not say, “they may persecute you;” he says they will.
Likewise, we, too, should be ready, always eager to keep our conduct honorable. For it is not for ourselves we do this, nor for any other worldly reason, but truly for the purpose of glorifying and honoring God.