For Starters

What is a Christian supposed to do, when life really stinks? What is a Christian supposed to do, when people are taking advantage of you, persecuting you, mistreating you, being unfair to you? Every disciple will find themselves in just such a position on occasion, and the temptations will be great, when they are--strong urges to "fight fire with fire", avenge self, or never help anyone again. These aren't the right things to do, but what are we to do?

So, What's the Story?

The New Testament book of 1 Peter likewise teaches these important principles of how to deal with suffering for Christians. He begins by reminding them to be prepared--"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:13, NIV); that they were not their own-- "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18-19, NIV); that they were special in the sight of God-- "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10, NIV); and that they should consider themselves as aliens in this world-- "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. " (2:11).

Then he follows these reminders with a powerful principle: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (vs.12) and then gives several specific examples.

Q.--"What should I do, when my government oppresses me?"

A.-- "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men...Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king." (1 Peter 2:13-17, NIV).

Q.-- "What if my employer or boss is unfair?"

A.-- "Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God." (1 Peter 2:18-20, NIV).

Q.-- "What if my husband is a jerk?"

A.-- "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." (1 Peter 3:1-6, NIV).

Q.-- "What if my wife is a nag etc.?"

A.-- "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." (1 Peter 3:7, NIV).

Q.-- "What if people are just insulting to me as a Christian (I hate being called a 'goody-two-shoes')?"

A.-- "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, 'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.'" (1 Peter 3:9-12, NIV).

"But how can I do that?" someone might ask?

Peter gives us a few things to remember:

Remember Jesus' example: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:21-24, NIV).

Remember that those things that you're tempted to do are all part of the "old man", the old life, and that that is not who you are anymore! "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry." (1 Peter 4:3, NIV).

"The end of all things is near." (1 Peter 4:7, NIV). You don't want to be caught doing the wrong thing when Jesus comes back. Remember that when you're tempted to retaliate against those that are persecuting you.

Do be surprised at the trials! Jesus warned us from the beginning that He Himself was hated and that we would be too. Did we really expect that being a Christian was going to be a "cake walk"? "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12, NIV).

Be on guard and realize that Satan will be attempting to destroy through trials and persecutions. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, NIV).

So What?

* Share a time when you took abuse as a Christian and tell what you did.
* Discuss Joseph's story. What do you think were the temptations in his life as he was (1) taken unjustly and sold as a slave, (2)falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, (3)forgotten by the king's cupbearer, (4)given the power to avenge himself of all the wrongs done to him. Do you think that one of his temptations was despair? Why or why not?
* Do you think that Joseph was tempted to do what works to get himself out of the predicaments he was in? What could he have done to get out of trouble with Potiphar's wife? what could you do to get your peers off your back about being a Christian?
* How does faith in God defeat the temptation to avenge oneself or to despair?