Living Well, Working Well, Playing Well for the Sake of Others

We came this week to the passage in 1 Peter (1 Peter 2:11-12) where we find a bracing exhortation followed by a staggering promise. The exhortation to the Christian community is to live honorably and perform honorable deeds among those outside of the Christian community. The staggering promise is that some will come to know and receive God's love for them because of what they have seen of our lives.

It is difficult for us to know exactly what Peter had in mind with this exhortation. Most probably, the people to whom he wrote had very little power, wealth and influence. Yet, what they make of their lives and what they make and do in their communities is of the utmost importance. At the very least, it is fair to say they would take from Peter's challenge that they were to live compassionately, care for social outcasts, practice "enemy-love", sacrifice for the poor, and be honest and honorable in their dealings. Because these Christians were poor and powerless much of their life "among the Gentiles" would consist in suffering with and like Christ - not surprisingly, a discourse on sharing in Christ's suffering follows quickly after these verses. But what about us? We have, relatively, a good deal more power, money, and status within our society. What does it look like for us to live honorably and perform honorable deeds?

Like our first century counterparts, it at least means that we work to relieve the suffering of others by finding ways to perform acts of compassion and mercy for all without discrimination. We should also note that in Peter's words their is a presumption that our acts of benevolence will sometimes be attractive to those who do not yet know God or subscribe specifically to Christian ethics. Because of this presumption I suggest that we make sure that a healthy percentage of our acts of mercy be truly "among the Gentiles" and for their sake.

Peter's exhortation also speaks to our work (vocation and/or what we do for money), to our play (how we recreate, our hobbies), and to how we live as citizens and neighbors. Because we are Christians we ought to desire to serve others well in all of these arenas. For the athletes: we should pray that we might be known for being diligent, competitive and fair in sports; but, moreover, we should be famous for being warm and gracious losers. For the business professionals: we should pray that we might be known for being honest in our dealings, good at what we do, and as those who create within their work communities a place of honor for those "low on the corporate ladder". And, if we are those who perceive ourselves to be under-employed or working in jobs we don't like: we should pray that God move us into a new job that better suits us; but, as importantly, we ought to pray that God enable us to resist the temptation to see ourselves as better than what God has given us to do for now. Instead we should pray that we startle our customers and colleagues with our diligence and our desire that our work, whatever it is, will make life better for others.

Peter's exhortation also speaks to how we relate to the cultures in which we live, work, make/create, and play. For some time now there has been a huge emphasis in Christian circles to analyze and critique "the culture". There has also been a lot of Christians "copying the culture". And lately there are myriad examples of Christians who critique what they don't like while simply gorging themselves on what they do (e.g. I know Christians who think Disney World is evil but who, themselves, for most intents and purposes, are amazingly thoughtless materialists. Andy Crouch, in his book, Culture Making, says this: "What is most needed in our time are Christians who are deeply serious about cultivating and creating but who wear that seriousness lightly—who are not desperately trying to change the world but who also wake up every morning eager to create." He goes on to argue that Christians all too often tend to allow gestures of critique and consumption (though appropriate gestures in many ways and at many times) to become the postures that some of us settle into. Andy proposes, however, that God's narrative of what he is doing in the world suggests the appropriate postures for his children. Going back to our primordial ancestors, he suggests we take a cue from them and understand our postures to be creators and cultivators within God's world and its many cultures. From these postures we will be free to make any appropriate gesture (e.g. critique, confrontation, consume, etc.). But wouldn't it be great if Christians were thought of first as cultivators and creators. Wouldn't it be great if we were known in our neighborhoods as those who can be relied on to work to preserve what is best in our culture. Wouldn't it be great if we Christians were known and thought of as those who work hard at making things (e.g. music, visual art, a great neighborhood street festival, neighborhood garden, etc.)?

A general principle: when we discover a place where the "current horizons deprive people of their fully humanity", we ought prayerfully to get to work and move the horizons of the possible for the sake of those who are being deprived.

Questions for discussion:

1. What role does repentance play in our life "among the Gentiles"? Are there times when we should carefully and prayerfully tell our neighbors, co-workers, bosses, etc. that we know we have not lived as we should and ask for forgiveness? What would this look like? Are there ways to amend our life "among the Gentiles" that do not include confessing but might be more meaningful than confession? What would that look like?

2. Can you think of situations in you life at work where you can help move the horizons of the possible for the sake of those who are being deprived of their full humanity? How about you life at play or in your hobbies? How about in your neighborhood? (For example, Andy has many examples of actions which further social justice but he also offers this small but meaningful example: he says kudos to whoever redesigned the Charlotte Douglas International Airport to include dozens of comfortable rocking chairs, noting that frequent business travel can be stress-producing and depressing).

3. Can you think of an example of a partnership you have formed with a person or entity outside of the Christian community for the common good of society? Why are such partnerships important? What do these partnership say about your understanding of God and his relationship to the world?