Are Christians Gutless, No Courage to Face Reality?
Summary of a David Pao Sermon
Christians rest their hope in a life beyond this world. Does that mean they don’t live in reality? Let’s learn from 1 Peter.
Peter characterized this Christian hope like the mindset of exiles, not living in their real home (1:1-3; 1:13, 17). They don’t escape the current culture, but rather subvert it, including its ethics, religion, politics, and society. They don’t focus on their rights, desires, and power because they are foreigners living in foreign land. Instead, such hope enables Christians to courageously confront and change their world.
The Christian hope subverts ethics, defining right and wrong by what’s holy and not conforming to evil desires. The opposite of Christian hope isn’t despair, but rather a desire for present things. If they are obsessed and controlled by their worldly desires, they will focus on themselves, living entirely for the present. Instead, Christian hope focuses on the future, separating them from their worldly desires (1:13-16).
Christian hope subverts religion, changing how they approach God. God is building Christians into a spiritual house as His chosen people and royal priests. Such a drastic transformation in their identity changes how they view and approach God (2:5, 9).
Christian hope subverts politics. Christians only fear God, but they submit to and honor human authority, not out of fear, but out of hope (2:13-17).
Christian hope subverts society. They aren’t controlled by others’ opinions of them. To Christians, beauty is defined by one’s inner self, not outward appearances. The prevailing culture at that time encouraged wives to submit to their husbands; Peter also encouraged such behavior so as to bring husbands to God, like Christ suffering quietly to bring us to God (2:13-17, 3:1-6).
Christian hope brings peace to those who are suffering. Rather than fear pain, they only fear God and are prepared to bear witness to the source of their faith (3:14-18).
Christians worship Christ as Lord. They don’t worship themselves, nor focus on themselves. They don’t try to escape the world. Instead, Christian hope gives strength and courage to Christians, compelling them to challenge and change their world.
Summary of a David Pao sermon, “The World-and-Life View of the Christian."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvawHh84VV0
Peter characterized this Christian hope like the mindset of exiles, not living in their real home (1:1-3; 1:13, 17). They don’t escape the current culture, but rather subvert it, including its ethics, religion, politics, and society. They don’t focus on their rights, desires, and power because they are foreigners living in foreign land. Instead, such hope enables Christians to courageously confront and change their world.
The Christian hope subverts ethics, defining right and wrong by what’s holy and not conforming to evil desires. The opposite of Christian hope isn’t despair, but rather a desire for present things. If they are obsessed and controlled by their worldly desires, they will focus on themselves, living entirely for the present. Instead, Christian hope focuses on the future, separating them from their worldly desires (1:13-16).
Christian hope subverts religion, changing how they approach God. God is building Christians into a spiritual house as His chosen people and royal priests. Such a drastic transformation in their identity changes how they view and approach God (2:5, 9).
Christian hope subverts politics. Christians only fear God, but they submit to and honor human authority, not out of fear, but out of hope (2:13-17).
Christian hope subverts society. They aren’t controlled by others’ opinions of them. To Christians, beauty is defined by one’s inner self, not outward appearances. The prevailing culture at that time encouraged wives to submit to their husbands; Peter also encouraged such behavior so as to bring husbands to God, like Christ suffering quietly to bring us to God (2:13-17, 3:1-6).
Christian hope brings peace to those who are suffering. Rather than fear pain, they only fear God and are prepared to bear witness to the source of their faith (3:14-18).
Christians worship Christ as Lord. They don’t worship themselves, nor focus on themselves. They don’t try to escape the world. Instead, Christian hope gives strength and courage to Christians, compelling them to challenge and change their world.
Summary of a David Pao sermon, “The World-and-Life View of the Christian."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvawHh84VV0