1 Peter 1:18-19 Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. 19 For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly.
This is a tough passage, contrary to human nature, but representative of the nature of Christ. Despite your nature is this your practice? When was the last time you practiced this verse? In response to a National Geographic program that said one in four people who live on the earth are Christians, I have to ask, really?
Those who say Christianity is a crutch for those who can't handle life have not read the Bible, but neither have most who say they are Christians. Do the two verses above look like a crutch to you? We are called to endure pain while suffering unjustly.
It's hard to keep your mouth shut when you have suffered an injustice, but what do we do when others are disrespected by the water cooler, in the hall at school, on the bus, in the grocery store, in the courts? This verse is not saying we should turn away from social justice. Rather, we should stand up for those who have no voice, but when it comes to you and me ... we should plead our case to Christ, not the courts.
I think George Barna is right when he says there are not as many Christians in this world, in our country, as you might think. God will ensure there will always be God seekers, those who follow after Christ. Do you think Christianity in its present form is sustainable?
God will always have a witness, but are you and I witnesses? Is poking your nose in other people's business and telling them what to do, they're going to hell, etc. being a good witness? Does the Bible say the early church was known for its love or for calling people to account?
Are you and I real Christians in the Biblical sense? Are we the bride of Christ? When an ancient bride and groom were married there was a custom of checking the bedding for blood to see if the bride was faithful. Are we faithful?
The world is looking at Haiti with compassion, as it should. What about before Haiti? What about after Haiti? What about the widow and the orphan, the homeless, the broken, those who confront us with their voiceless cry? Will we answer? Will we respond or do the wheels of compassion only move when suffering and pain are catastrophic, when the media stands by to herald our every effort?
Who left the sheep to find the one? Are we called to do the same ... when no one sees but God?
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