Attacking others' beliefs earns no converts to Christ
JOE MILLER JR.

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

The church is under attack from the surrounding culture. People who have converted to Christianity no longer seem to "fit in" with their friends. These Christians no longer party into the early morning hours, drinking heavily and engaging in promiscuity. Rather than try to make themselves seem important to society, they focus on feeding the hungry and caring for those in need.

Their humility in business makes them an easy target to former "friends" who now seek to be take advantage of them. People make fun of Christians and slander them. "You are just being self righteous by not recognizing the pluralistic society in which we live. You offend people of other religions by not recognizing their gods.

"You really don't believe that this man Jesus was raised from the dead, do you? That is scientifically impossible. Only an idiot would believe that myth."

That scenario is almost 2000 years old. It was the case of the churches in Asia Minor that Peter wrote to in the letter that we call 1 Peter. They were surrounded by a Greco- Roman (pagan) culture that was causing significant suffering among these early Christians.

It is amazing how much things change but remain the same. The Church today is also surrounded by a pagan culture. It is a pagan culture because society does not trust in God but trusts in money, power, and self gratification. America has come to depend on governmental support and military might rather than God for security. How should the Church of our era respond to our culture?

The power of scripture is its eternal quality. What Peter commanded the church of his era is still valid today. When we suffer for Christ's sake we suffer with him and rejoice rather than trying to cause the suffering of our abusers.

We win people to Christ by our love for them and not our hatred. Although we are commanded to witness for Christ, we must do that humbly and not from a position of self righteousness. Most importantly, Christians put their hope and faith in Christ and not in the powers and behaviors of this world.

We live in the world, but must not attack the world nor be corrupted by the world. The Church is in the world to help bring God's kingdom on earth; not to become like the society in which we live. If we become as the society around us, then why would anyone join us together with Christ?

Joe Miller Jr. is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Newton.