Bottom line up front: Unity in and for the truth is a good thing; disunity for the sake of truth is also a good thing, because it demonstrates that truth is worth fighting for and preserving; but tribalism for the sake of identity politics is folly on steroids.

Scripture: The Bible has much to say about the beauty of unity in the truth:

• In the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus told His followers to be sanctified “in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).
• Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and, and you will know the truth, and truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
• In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
• Later in the same passage, Paul wrote, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another” (Ephesians 4:25).

Questions: Do we see that God always links unity and peace to truth? Division in evil goes back to the very beginning. Most conservative scholars claim the Garden of Eden was somewhere near present-day Iraq. As one soldier among thousands of other military members who has served there, it’s by no means an Eden today, but quite fallen indeed.

“A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful” (Proverbs 14:25).

Satan is portrayed as a whisperer, a tempter, a liar, and one whose insidiousness is linked to his pride. His love is self.

Remember how he’s portrayed in Matthew 4? “And the tempter [Satan] came and said to him [Jesus], “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread” (Matthew 4:3).

Same tactic in Genesis: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made” (Genesis 3:1). Crafty. That’s Satan’s method of operation. He’s a whisperer; he’s crafty; he’s sneaky; he sows lies in the hearts and ears of the undiscerning.

Takeaway: When I survey my nation, I see the possibility that tribalism may be winning. Undiscerning people are putting pet preferences over tried and true wisdom. In my view, that does not bode well. If people are shouting at each other and name-calling rather than engaging in respectful exchange in the marketplace of ideas, we’ve crossed a perilous threshold. I’m all for unity, but it must be unity in the truth. That is a far different thing than enforced compliance by an untethered state of paganism.

It’ll be Christ or chaos. As for me, I am with the Lamb of God who gave Himself for sinners. Because the other way lies only the madness of crowds and their guidon bearer, the father of lies.

Introduction: My wife gets so tired of my quoting lines from one of my all-time favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption. In one of the many excellent scenes, the protagonist, Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins) has discovered evidence that should clear him of his wrongful conviction. (He was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife.) But the warden of Shawshank Prison is a corrupt-ocrat and still demands that Andy serve time–for a crime he didn’t commit!

Understandably, Andy explodes with incredulity and exclaims, “This is my chance to get out! Can’t you see that? It’s my life! Don’t you understand?” Still, the corrupt warden won’t budge. Andy again pleads with him: “How can you be so obtuse?” And the warden fires back, “What did you call me?” And Andy says, “Obtuse. Is it deliberate?”

It’s one of the classic exchanges in modern film. Absolutely masterful. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgUD9W6EsMY

But here’s how Scripture connects with this worldview: God teaches that not all people have ears to hear and eyes to see. God has to grant those. Here are examples of this:

• “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
• “and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).
• “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

In short, God has to grant spiritual eyes that see. God has to grant spiritual ears that hear. Otherwise, we remain obtuse, like the warden in The Shawshank Redemption.

Andy was acting as if he assumed the wicked Norton had a heart and mind transformed by God. But Norton didn’t. He was wicked through and through. He hated the truth and suppressed it in unrighteousness, just like the Bible says (Romans 1:18, 21-23).

Takeaway: Unless and until God tills the heart, the seeds we sow remain without root. Therefore, we must labor as if it depends upon us, but simultaneously know that salvation, as the Bible says, “belongs to the LORD” (Jonah 2:9).

Question: Ever heard folks discuss their longing to know ‘God’s will’ for their lives? Of course. There’s a lot of talk, talk, talk about that.

The Apostle Peter spoke to the issue of God’s will, too, but his life evidenced his doctrine. He made his theology visible.

You will remember that Peter’s theme (one of them, anyway) was perseverance amidst persecution. In the second chapter of his first letter, this is what he penned under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit:

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (1 Pt 2:15)

Did you catch it? By “doing good,” Christians will “put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” It’s hard to sabotage a life that is clearly marked by Christ’s indwelling presence.

In other words, Peter tells us that Christians are to make their theology visible by the way we live.

Foolish people talk, talk, talk. That’s why Scripture has so much to say about the tongue:

• “For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words” (Eccl 5:3).
• “A fool multiplies words” (Eccl 10:14a).

Encouragement: As I read books on Peter’s life and ministry, I love him more and more. Why? We love to beat up on Peter for his times of impetuousness, impatience, and acting too hastily. But Peter, like the rest of us, was a work in progress.

Yet, he was God’s chosen apostle for his time. He went on to bear faithful witness.

He wrote of the will of God for Christians is that we are to “do good” so as to “put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.”

We’re to make our theology visible via our lives. Paul called it a “living sacrifice” in Romans 12. It’s the same principle in Peter’s writing.

“Most Americans worship their work, work at their play, and play at their worship,” wrote Gordon Dahl. Bull’s-eye.

Frivolousness sabotages godly worship. A mark of biblical worship is that it must be just that–biblical. But so much of contemporary worship is man-centeredness with Christianese window dressing and accoutrements. Where’s the reverence?

Scripture’s Testimony: Do we remember the warning in the New Testament book of Hebrews? Here are two verses from that letter that ought to quicken us: “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hb 12:28-29).

With reverence and awe. That’s how we are to worship the Lord. That’s “acceptable worship.”

But where is the seriousness of worship? In many church circles, you’re more likely to see man-centeredness cloaked in Christiany-sounding jargon than you are to encounter the God of the Bible.

More and more often people tell me, “I don’t go to church because there’s just no meat. It’s boiled over TED Talks with a little Jesus sprinkled on top.” And it hurts my soul.

Why? Well, Christ died for His church. There’s no Plan B. So, the church is to be the kingdom made manifest. It is called to be the body of believers that pagans fear to enter because God’s holiness is so palpable.

God Killed: After Pentecost, the Christian church was growing like gangbusters. By the time you get to Acts 5, the momentum of regenerate church growth was staggering. But then you get to Acts 5. This is where God–once again–kills people. Specifically, He kills Ananias and his wife Sapphira for lying. After Peter confronted Ananias for his duplicity, God killed Ananias. The result? “And great fear came upon all who heard of it” (Acts 5:5b).

You’d perhaps think that Ananias’ wife would have learned a lesson from God killing her husband . . . but nope. In verses 9-11 of Acts 5, God again kills. This time, He kills Sapphira because she lied to God, to the Apostle Peter, and to the church. And God struck her down in public:

But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Surely the point is clear: God takes worship seriously. God’s people are to take worship seriously. We are to do exactly what the New Testament letter of Hebrews says–namely, worship with reverence and awe.

But will we have that Sunday? As Christian churches assemble across the globe this week, and the next week, and the next week, will our assemblies be known for their reverence for and awe of God and His gospel? Or will it be man-centeredness and pride with a Christian gloss and veneer?

Takeaway: All people worship; it’s just a matter of the object of worship. For the Christian, however, he has no excuse because God has revealed the criteria of proper worship.

As part of preparing to teach Peter’s two New Testament epistles to some saints over coming days, I’m reading the Apostle Peter’s two New Testament epistles over and over, in addition to reading several books of scholarship on Peter and his life and his letters.

One of the themes that Peter emphasizes repeatedly is perseverance amidst persecution. He focuses on pressing on, on seeing things through, on intestinal fortitude, to use an Army cliche. I think of his first chapter of his first letter, for example, where he tells Christians who are currently enduring persecution that “you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pt 1:6-7).

Paul expresses the same teaching in 1 Cor 3:13, “each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” That’s comfort to the diligent Christian; it’s terror to the hireling. Why? Because no one escapes God’s gaze. Because God sees all, if we have any wisdom and self-awareness, we know to keep short accounts with God, because our motives and productivity are known to the omniscient and holy God. No one fools God, in other words.

So if we are Christians, we are to persevere under pressure. That may at times entail “suffering unjustly.” That’s the wording Peter uses in 1 Pt 2:19. But the Apostle Peter writes about this encouragement, namely, that it is a “gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” (1 Pt 2:19). Mindful of God. That’s crucial to understand. Follow me.

Mindful of God means that we understand and take comfort in the fact that our plight, our circumstance, our lot, etc. is known to God. This is why folks love to quote 1 Pt 5:7: “casting all your anxieties on him [God], because he cares for you.” Folks love that verse. Why? Because it reassures Christians that their suffering, even unjust suffering, is not in vain.

Encouragement: I have no idea who may need to hear this. Maybe it’s just for me. I don’t know. But I do know this: per Scripture, God knows all things (Ps 139); He knows our joys and sorrows (Ex 3:7,9); He knows when I rise up and when I lie down (Dt 6:7); and Peter writes that He knows our sufferings (1 Pt 2:19); and Jesus says He knows every hair on my head (Lk 12:7). Does this mean we won’t suffer? No. Hardly. Just read the lives of the Apostle Peter or Paul or John, for example. Remember the life of John the Baptist? Remember the ending of Stephen, the martyr? Suffering is real; it’s part of God’s plan for His people; but He is with us–even and especially in the valley. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, / for you are with me; / your rod and your staff, / they comfort me” (Ps 23:4).

Question: Is zeal a good thing? Definitions are necessary, of course, so let’s be clear about the term. It’s a noun: zeal. It’s defined as “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.”

Again I pose the question: Is zeal a good thing? In my career in the military, I’ve known many soldiers who were zealous. They exuded energy and zeal. Were those people always good soldiers? Many were, thankfully. But there were others, too, some who likewise exuded energy and zeal but sometimes that energy and zeal served improper ends.

Wise leaders use zeal properly. Their energies are expended in service of right and proper ends.

Unwise leaders use zeal improperly. Their energies are expended in service of wrong and improper ends.

Again I pose the question: Is zeal a good thing? Hopefully by now it is clear. It can be. But zeal without wisdom is dangerous. If you’ve ever known of a person who was given titular authority but was not ready for it, bad things can happen. What do I mean? How many times have you heard of a company that an entrepeneur built, but something happened to that person, and the company was given to his/her child, and the child destroyed the organization?

That’s what I mean. Sometimes a person can have a title (titular authority, in other words) but be the wrong person for the vocation.

In the New Testament letter of Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote about how most of his fellow Jews had a zeal for God, but that it was “not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). They wrongly sought to establish their own righteousness and thus rejected the only true righteousness of Christ Jesus, an imputed righteousness that is granted to all who repent and believe the gospel (Romans 10:1-4).

Paul stresses, in other words, our need of the gospel of grace, of Christ’s righteousness imputed to us. Why? Because self-righteousness is damning. It reveals pride. When we recognize our need, we begin to grasp the majesty of God’s grace–that He would save any of us.

Encouragement: So, is zeal a good thing? It can be, but it must be wed to biblical wisdom. That wisdom will be evidenced via a spirit of humility, selfless service, and Christ-centeredness. My grandfather on my mom’s side pastored congregations for over 50 years as a local church pastor, and one of the phrases that Granddaddy often said from the pulpit was this: “Welcome to __________ Church, where there are no Big I’s or Little U’s.”

I love that: No Big I’s or little U’s. That’s not particularly sound grammar but it is excellent theology.

Is zeal a good thing? It can be, but it should be wed to biblical wisdom. The work of Christ will humble you. Every time. It removes our boasting. The godliest people you’ll meet are the most humble. Why? They’ve been gripped by the Good Shepherd, who left royalty and condescended to us sinners. And when that message grips your soul, it’ll reshape you and your zeal for His glory, not our own.

Bottom line up front: Imperishable Seed in a World of Counterfeits

Context: This is part four in a series from Peter’s two New Testament letters. The big picture of Peter’s first letter is straightforward: perseverance amidst persecution. Peter was writing to Christians who were literal spiritual exiles. Their ruling army was pagan Rome, anything but monotheistic. It was shot through with paganism and debauchery. Ever studied the life of Nero? It’ll turn your head.

Peter wrote to encourage the saints, to encourage them to persevere amidst spiritually dark times when fakes and counterfeits were pervasive. I love how Peter filled his letter with quotes from the Old Testament to show that God has always been revealing one coherent story. Listen to how Peter alludes to Isaiah 40 via this quote:

“All flesh is like grass

 and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

 and the flower falls,

But the word of the Lord remains forever.”

That’s a direct quotation of Isaih 40, verses 6 and 8. Why does Peter allude to that? To again reiterate his theme: perseverance amidst persecution.

Connection to Our Day: I have a young man that God has brought into my life recently who’s wrestling with theodicy. In plain terms, he sees so much evil in the world that he is quite possibly abandoning belief in God. He says to me essentially this: “God claims to be so good in the Bible, but the world is awful. People are evil. There’s so much suffering. So much. Suffering that seems inexplicable. How can there be a good God amidst such overwhelming wickedness and evil?”

This is one of the oldest questions, of course. There’s nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9). Theodicy, or the problem of evil, is an ancient subject. But here’s how I’m trying to encourage my young friend and what this all has to do with Peter’s lessons for us in the New Testament: There’s natural evil, we might say, things like tsunamis, hurricanes, etc. where no moral agency is involved. We don’t say tornadoes are evil, e.g. But there is also moral evil. That is where persons are involved. Moral agency is involved wherein a person acts morally or immorally. Or one might even fail to act, which could also be moral or immoral, depending upon the situation. This is what my young friend is wrestling with—moral evil. How can a good God allow such moral evil, in other words?

There are several options: First, we could say that God is not omnipotent, but that clearly contradicts Scripture. Second, we could say that God is not omniscient, but that also is clearly contradicted by Scripture. Third, we could say that God is not in fact altogether good and holy. But that is certainly contradicted via all of Scripture. God is holy, holy, holy (Isaiah 6, e.g.). The view that Scripture teaches is that evil does indeed exist, that it’s a result of human sin, that all of us are sinful (Romans 3:10, 23), but God uses evil for purposes of good (Genesis 50:20). The crucifixion of the Christ was evil, for example. Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God. Yet God allowed the cross. In fact, the Bible says that God ordained it (Acts 2:23, e.g.) in order to save people. “I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:7).

If God didn’t exist, we have no right to complain. If we are just random accidents and molecules in motion, then we’ve no ‘right’ to whine. But man is not a random accident; he is the creation of the infinite-personal God, and is known by God intimately, and God has come in fact to save all who repent and believe upon the gospel. God rules over all-even over evil. All things are under the rule of God. Therefore, evil exists to glorify God. The very existence of evil contrasts with the consummate beauty and goodness and glory of God.

Encouragement: To believers Peter writes, “you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Pt 1:23). There it is, guys. Imperishable seed. Life from death. Raised to life. Imperishable triumphing over the perishing. Lazarus was raised. Jesus was raised. So will all be who are in Christ. Light triumphs over darkness and good over evil, but only in Christ. So, to my young friend struggling with issues of theodicy, bring your questions and longings to the person of Christ, and let him redeem not only your questions but your very soul.

Bottom line up front: Tested Genuineness

Historical Context: Part of the reason I love Peter’s two New Testament letters is because Peter was so very human and yet God used him mightily. Peter was the apostle who denied the Lord Jesus three times on the night of His betrayal by Judas and arrest by the Sanhedrin and Roman soldiers. I am teaching through that passage currently to a group of believers each Sunday. It’s heartbreaking to see how fickle the crowds were in Jesus’s day. People have not changed, of course. Human nature’s a constant. Jesus told Peter to his face that he would deny the Lord Jesus three times before the rooster crowed and that is exactly what happened. Peter denied the Lord three times, the rooster crowed, and Peter wept. Bitterly (see Mt 26, e.g.).

Segue: But Peter was the real deal, nonetheless. Did he fail that night and at other times? Yes, absolutely. But he repented and was restored. He kept short accounts with God. And Peter made his theology visible by enduring, by sticking with it, by persevering in the faith. That’s why Peter wrote in the style he did in his two New Testament letters. When the various Ceasars and emperors persecuted Christians for their witness, Peter says it was “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pt 1:7).

Connection to Our Day: I had a mentor and professor way back in my seminary days who taught me often about the disappointments and ups and downs in ministry. When I would go to him about people whom I thought were Christians who ended up being fakes, he’d tell me again and again in his gentle way, “Jon, there will be surprises. Not all who said they were believers are. And many we may’ve thought were genuine were in fact unbelievers. Again, there will be surprises. Just be faithful. Leave the results to God.” Yes and amen, Dr. C., you were so right.

Encouragement: I’ve been in ministry a long time now. My hair’s now gray. I’ve seen some people that I’ve mentored, purchased books for, discipled, and even baptized seemingly fall away. Perhaps they were not believers after all. I’ve seen still others blossom and stick and persevere in the truth. Some have even gone on to enter the ministry themselves. It is a special joy when that has happened. I thank God for it. And I think that’s what Peter is driving at when he writes of “tested genuineness.” It will be tested; that’s the thing. Pressures come and we learn who the real are and who the pretenders were, eventually. So, be encouraged, Christian pilgrim. Learn to embrace the challenges as they are part of revealing our tested genuineness that is “more precious than gold.”