7.05.2015 How to be Effective in an Antagonistic World - Daniel

7-05-2015 from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Marianne – I’d like to tell you a little about this year’s yard sale – first – there were a lot of volunteers – then, people were openly telling me they were praying about it. Then, as people called to ask for spaces – “You can put me wherever you have room – I shouldn’t be so demanding – it is nice your church is doing this for everyone”
As the day progressed, I watched community people talk and share with one another – and people jumping in to help one another.
One vendor told me her mother-in-law told her of another church that was charging $5 a spot – I used to think that all churches just have their hand out – but I don’t think that way anymore!
Lastly – toward the end of the day – there was a little girl with her grandpa – and she found a couple toys she wanted – no toys – grandma said “just clothes” – I asked if he wouldn’t mind if I gave her these few things – he said – no, that would be fine – bless you – I really appreciate that. We just got her yesterday – we have nothing for her – her mother was just incarcerated. It wasn’t too much longer before he left with little girl clothes and not one vendor charged him. So we might not see many of these neighbors in church yet, but God is working in their lives from the inside out!

Mike Marette: Welcome! Good to see you all. IN the next couple weeks, I’ll be closing down Daniel – and then we are going to look at some of the surveys we took –
Lord, thank You for the opportunity to be together – thank You for those grandparents with their love for their grandchild – and in this world, there is so much that is not perfect, and it happens to the best of folks – and you think – how in the world did I get here – and it is within those circumstances that we your people are to sep in with love and compassion and generosity. Thank You for the example Marianne just shared. We will run into so many people – wherever we go – and you want us to respond in kind. Help me to focus this morning – I know that this message – and this book of Daniel – not this message I am saying – but this speaks directly to our world.
Daniel is about – and we have been talking about this – being a witness in an antagonistic world. Today – I am only going to talk about Daniel – but we will focus on a New Testament verse – that is used when we think about our witness to the world.
1 Peter 3:15
14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. 15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
Daniel is an excellent example of this verse. He faithfully represented God in the face of persecution – but with gentleness and reverence. He is a perfect example of gentle and quiet nonconformity to evil. No rants, no tirades – just an example in every circumstance. He had every opportunity – and he gave an extraordinary defense to the faith that resided inside of him.
O King – My God has shut the lion’s mouth!
What if that were your defense? What would that sound like to this world? What would that be like to stick on social media? O King – My God has shut the lion’s mouth! Let it be known!
I’d like to take this verse – and focus on our context – our world and defense.
As often happens – and I confess – as I studied this – as you talk about 1 Peter… 3:15 – what we do – is pull it right out of its context!
We have missed the meaning of it – if we just say – Give a defense! Be ready! I’ll go back to the context. 1 Peter is all about living as witnesses in the face of opposition.
So this really relates to what we are talking about in Daniel.
8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. The world needs to see a church community that is harmonious, sympathetic… and humble. This community of love then needs to extend into the world. That love is to be given and extended into the world that opposes us and is antagonistic toward us. These same attitudes must go out to the world.
9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing
Our witness grows as we learn to respond (this is not a word, but I am making it up just now) Jesusly. He tells us to love our enemy. Give to them. Give a blessing instead of a curse. How much is that needed today?
And then this verse:
10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.
If you want to be a witness, think about your tongues? What are our tongues saying on social media in this world? What kind of tongues are out there speaking from the Christian perspective.
11 And he must turn away from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
This is how you give a defense of the faith that is in you – if you are not seeking peace and pursuing it – you are not giving a defense – if you are not guarding your words – you are not giving a defense. It is right there – all you have to do is read it and be convicted.
He goes on:
12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.
Our witness receives power when we know that God is here – is present. Whatever you are going through – whatever the opposition – God is there – right next to you – at work, in the community – understand that God is present for you. These folks were going through REAL persecution – and Peter says, God is there – ever present with you – and that is where your power comes from – your security comes – in knowing that God is there for you.
Recognize His activity in your circumstances, even the difficult ones. He is on mission in our circumstances – and He is asking to join in that mission. That mission is to give a defense of the faith that is in you. You and your circumstances are right where you need to be to share right now! Your circumstances are the perfect ones Peter is talking to.
13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken
Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – Our God will deliver us – but if not, we will not bow to you. If you are suffering for what is right – you are blessed.
I think sometimes, we have a persecution complex! Oh no! We are getting persecuted!
But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.
If you are suffering because of doing good – don’t be terrified or shaken.
Philippians 1: 27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one [v]mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; It is the same thing as 1 Peter – we give a defense by conducting our lives worth of the gospel.
28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—
How many ways? No ways?
which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
1 Peter 3: 15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
In context – this giving a defense is a proclamation and a performance – it is both. We get in these debates – is it speaking or living? No. There is not a priority – you cannot do one without the other – you cannot proclaim the gospel without living the gospel – and you cannot become the gospel without proclaiming it – there is not priority – they are one and the same.
He says – give a defense. We have to be careful. Jude says – defend the faith!
We think – Oh no, the faith is in trouble – like a little kitten! We should think about defending the faith as a caged lion with sheep coming after it! You don’t defend it – you release it and it will defend itself. There is so much power in a lion – and there is so much power in the faith and the gospel – let it go and it will take care of itself. The defense of the faith is seen in the life we live and the proclamation.
Jude tells about defending the faith – and that is talking about behavior.
Defend the hope that is in you. I think of Matthew 5 – Sermon on the Mount – let your light shine so to glorify God. People will say – why are you different. That is true! But that is not the context of 1 Peter 3.
These folks have turned to Christ in a culture of idolatry – and they are leaving all that. There was this huge thing about worshiping the emperor – who brought this unbelievable way of life with new technologies (sound familiar) but they were turning from that to Christ – because they had a God to worship and it was not the empire! IT was a whole new kingdom – and we don’t think of it that way – but it would be helpful to think of it that way. And the neighbors were asking – why do you no longer support the economy by coming to the festivals and buying the idols? And the defense was like one on trial! Not why are you so good? But why are you doing this to us – who do you think you are? Matthew 5 happens and 1 Peter 3:15 happens. Paul tells them to defend themselves – to say – Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not. Just like Daniel and the Hebrews in the furnace – Jesus is Lord, money is not; Jesus is Lord; sex is not; Jesus is Lord, the emperor is not.
It is all to be done with gentleness and reverence. It is not about going out to win the debate.
Three aspects of witness
Proclamation, performance, persecution.
We should expect some form of opposition. That is just to be expected.
Michael Gorman. Our participation in the gospel assumes a public witness that generates some sort of harassment or opposition “
Somehow – when we are doing it right – even with gentleness and reverence – it should make people ask – what is different about you – why do you not join in – why are you not like us?
Witnesses are not expected like Lawyers to persuade by the rhetorical power of their speeches, but simply to testify to the truth for which they are qualified to give evidence. And because of this, it is in the very nature of Christian truth…
Witness can never be coercive – submitting to the power of what is right – it can only be offered as a gift.
If we have come to faith in Christ – we are qualified in every way to give evidence. It is not our great speeches or arguments – it is the cross and resurrection and we give witness to it – we are just on the stand, telling what we know. This is what happened. When I talk about the gospel being a proclamation and performance – I don’t mean we are acting. I was at a pastor’s conference – and we were talking about the importance of authenticity – one pastor joked – authenticity is so important for pastors – if you can fake that, you’ve got it made! Obviously it was a joke.
The gospel is not a formula – it is a story – the birth, the suffering, the death, the resurrection of Jesus.
I am an actor on the stage and I am going to perform – the life, sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Christ in front of my coworkers – and I will give a defense of the gospel that I am called to live!
Let’s pray!
Lord, help us in our world to become the gospel. We have Christ in us, living through us – may we learn to live the message of hope – the message that changes lives – the message that can transform a community and world. Someday, Lord, the world will be transformed permanently – but today – it can be transformed as we live as Christ lived.