Persecution is bound to happen in the life of a Christian, but the way in which it will come is less certain. For many, persecution consists of violent acts and possibly martyrdom. For others, it may consist of verbal and emotional acts which seek to tear down the Christian in a different way. Either way, persecution is taking place.
Jesus gave us some helpful words in the Sermon on the Mount. They tell us of some of the ways persecution will take place in the lives of those that are poor in spirit, meek, pure in heart, and so forth. Jesus said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (KJV, Matt. 5:10-11). Jesus stressed the fact that His followers would be persecuted for righteousness’ sake and that this would come in many different forms. Peter helps us to see how to conduct ourselves in the midst of the persecution that Jesus promised.
In the midst of persecution, have no fear
Peter starts out by saying, “But if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled” (1 Pet. 3:14). Establishing a doctrine that is opposed to the fear of man is not hard to do. It does not come by way of a single text or isolated Scripture. The destructive nature of the fear of man can be found all throughout the Bible.
However, to talk about the subject, and shed some light on the matter, we need to expound on the topic to a certain extent. Do you remember the time when Peter, the author of the verse previously stated, fell into a state of fear? Peter had followed Jesus after Jesus was captured. Peter was questioned three times as to whether he was a follower of Jesus. He denied being a follower of Jesus each time.
Peter feared man in this moment. Peter did not want to die for Christ. He feared what man might do to him if he confessed Christ publicly. Elsewhere, Jesus is quoted as saying, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). Jesus tells us that the fear of man must be dispelled with an even greater fear, the fear of God.
In the midst of persecution, do not be troubled
While the believer is to guard against fear in the midst of persecution, Peter tells us at the end of 1 Peter 3:14 that he must also guard against being troubled. To be troubled is to be agitated. It speaks of a restless and disturbed heart. Being troubled in the midst of persecution is a sure way for the enemy to take the gaze of a believer off of Christ and onto his circumstances.
Jesus forewarned His disciples that in this world, they would have tribulation. But what was the surrounding context? Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus spoke comforting words to His disciples. He assured them that they must remember the words He spoke if they were to maintain their peace.
Previously, Jesus had stated, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The Christian should never let his heart be troubled. Rather, the believer should let the peace of God guard his mind and heart in Christ Jesus.
In the midst of persecution, honor Christ the Lord as holy
Peter moves from the negative statements of, “Do not fear,” and, “Do not be troubled,” to positive statements. This approach is common in the Bible, and it consists of putting off old behavior and putting on new Christ-like behavior. Peter says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…” (1 Pet. 3:15). This is a relatively confusing statement and needs an explanation.
To set Christ apart in one’s heart is the same as to sanctify the Lord in one’s heart. However, most likely this explanation does not do us any good, but instead we are still left confused. To “set apart” is to recognize Christ as unique when placed up against all others. When someone fears man, as we previously discussed, he has not set apart Christ in his heart. Rather, he has set man apart in his heart and thus “sanctified” man.
In the book of Psalms, David made a claim that can help us here. Scripture says, “The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1). This is, in essence, what it means to sanctify the Lord in our hearts.
In the midst of persecution, be prepared to make a defense
While Peter was concerned with his readers’ setting apart the Lord in their hearts in the midst of persecution, he was also concerned with their making a defense for the hope that was in them. First Peter 3:15 is the famous verse that supports Christian apologetics. Someone’s being able to give an answer of the hope that is within can be thought of as that same person being able to defend his faith.
It is interesting to note that Peter says that someone should be able to give an answer when someone asks. There will be times when a Christian is asked by another why he believes what he believes. Peter goes on to tell us that this must be done with meekness and fear. As previously stated, this fear is a fear of God.
In the midst of persecution, have a good conscience
Having a good conscience in the midst of persecution is a necessity, as well. It is impossible to love someone with a conscience that is riddled with guilt. Elsewhere, Paul tells us that his love toward others issued forth from a pure conscience.
Peter’s desire for the Christian to maintain a good conscience in the midst of persecution was there for a reason. He goes on to tell of the way that when someone maintains a good conscience, in the end, those doing the persecuting will be brought to open shame. In this, Christ will be exalted.
In the midst of persecution, do good and not evil
Finally, Peter brings his passage to a close with a longing for those under his care to do good and not evil in the midst of persecution. In reality, when someone suffers harm, he has a choice to make. He can choose to do evil and walk down that path. Sin is tempting, and in the midst of the pain, it can be tempting to respond to sin with sin. It can be tempting for someone to think that in the midst of experiencing pain and suffering, sin is a quick and easy solution that will make him feel better.
However, the Christian must not be deceived with this lie. Sin is a fleeting pleasure, as the author of the book of Hebrews declared, and sin will never satisfy. It will only leave someone like it David, whose bones wasted away with his groaning because of the guilt.
The other path that someone can choose is the good path. The path may not be wide. The gate to enter may not be broad. Many people may not find this path. Nevertheless, it is the right path. It may not be the norm, but Peter assures us that when we respond to evil with good, this will be the better path for us.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the many examples that You have given me in the Scriptures. I thank You that I can see Jesus as Someone Who endured persecution. I also see Him as Someone Who responded to evil with good. I see in Peter a man who gave into the fear of man, but You never gave up on him. He became a bold man, and I pray for that same boldness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.