The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 11  Read: Ezekiel 42 Listen: (3:12)  Read: 1 Peter 5 Listen: (2:11)

Scripture Focus: 1 Peter 5:2-3

2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Reflection: Don’t If You Must

By Erin Newton

Conversations about our recent midterm elections have focused on the role of leaders, what the community expects from them, and if they will deliver. Outside of politics, the sentiments ring true for leaders in our churches.

Church leaders have been equally guilty of abuse, corruption, and overall pride that results in them treating their congregants like servants or a fan club. In recent years, movements have sought to shed light on these leaders whose congregations yearn for godly examples. This is where 1 Peter 5 is so helpful.

The call for leaders here is to look after the congregation not because you must, but because you are willing. For most paid clergy, caring for the congregation is both a calling and a job. Within the aspect of any job, there are duties we feel we must do, even if we don’t thoroughly enjoy it. For many we may simply tolerate the majority of our tasks because it pays the bills. A church leader who feels this way is just pastoring because they must.

You can feel the difference between a leader who wants to shepherd and one who simply goes through the motions since “this is the job.” The latter of these has lost sight of what God expects.

Being an example to the flock sometimes gets minimized to having all the spiritual disciplines in practice. Pastors might boast about how they never miss a day reading the Bible or how they woke up at 4am to pray. Sharing the gospel, in their eyes, becomes a competitive statistic. These leaders are not leading as God wants.

How do we guard against willingness to serve eroding to unwilling reluctance? Humility.

These first few verses were aimed at the expected leaders of the community—the elders. But following that, Peter asks that even the younger people should humble themselves under the guidance of their elders. We sometimes miss this circular command. No one is free from the call to humility. Not leaders and not congregants.

Peter understood that once humility goes out the door, a pastor can quickly turn into a tyrant.

Like the Bible says, not many will be called to be teachers (or church leaders), but we all have a part to play. Not only are we to be humble toward one another, but we use our reciprocal respect to ensure pride and corruption are not features for our leaders.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught the people, saying: “Good people draw what is good from the store of goodness in their hearts; bad people draw what is bad from the store of badness. For the words of the mouth flow out of what fills the heart.” — Luke 6.45

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Temples—Gardens of Grace

Believers are Christ’s temple—his garden of grace…this temple touches our world through believers. Like the tabernacle, it travels with you.

Read more: Balm for Exile Souls

Jeremiah’s letter was a harsher truth but a more hopeful message. Instead of waiting for rescue, they should get busy with redemptive work.

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 10  Read: Ezekiel 41 Listen: (4:40)   Read: 1 Peter 4 Listen: (2:50)

Scripture Focus: 1 Peter 4.1-6

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 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. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Reflection: Rejoicing or Repenting in Suffering

By John Tillman

Suffering while being a Christian does not automatically mean suffering for being a Christian.

Peter knew about suffering for Jesus and the gospel. He also knew about suffering for being a loudmouth, losing his temper, or caving to fear and betraying Jesus. Peter knew the difference between suffering for Jesus, suffering for our own sinful actions, and suffering the normal worldly things that bring suffering.

There are sufferings that all who live in this sin-damaged world share. Creation groans and so do we (Rom 8.22-23). There is no shame in this, but also no glory other than learning to rely on God in our sufferings. 

Peter encourages us to “rejoice” in suffering that “participates” in Christ’s sufferings and be unashamed of suffering for abstaining from the sinful norms of the world. Suffering for these purposes makes us blessed. The apostles rejoiced when they suffered for the name of Jesus (Acts 5.41).

However, there is suffering we should not celebrate. Peter condemns suffering for doing evil, harming others, and meddling in others’ affairs. This is suffering for doing wrong, not doing good (1 Pet 3.17). If we meddle in others’ affairs or harm others and suffer or are harmed in return, we are not suffering for Jesus. If we threaten others and are threatened in return, we are not in danger of martyrdom. If we say cruel or inappropriate things and are criticized, disciplined, or fired, we aren’t being persecuted. Consequences that are unconnected to sharing the gospel or pursuing personal holiness by abstaining from sinful actions aren’t persecution. The only purpose of this kind of suffering is to (hopefully) bring us to repentance.

When we claim suffering for doing wrong is suffering for Jesus, we do two wicked things. First, we bring shame on the name of Christ, for we are claiming our wrongdoing is on his behalf and in his name. Second, we short-circuit our own repentance and harden our hearts in unrighteousness. If we call the consequences of wrongdoing confirmation of God’s approval of our actions, we will never repent. We may spiral into more and more wicked actions, ending in judgment.

Peter says judgment begins with God’s household and those who misuse the name of Christ will suffer judgment. So when you suffer, be sober and alert of mind and humbly pray (1 Pet 4.7). Should this suffering cause celebration or repentance? Faithful celebration or repentance will bring you closer to Jesus.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Hallelujah! Praise the Name of the LORD; give praise, you servants of the LORD, Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to his Name, for it is lovely. For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. — Psalm 135:1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: From The Most Holy Place

God had blotted out the sins of his people. Every time we exit our times of worship and prayer, we can enter the world of our exile, repeating this message.

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Links for today’s readings:

Nov 9  Read: Ezekiel 40 Listen: (8:21)   Read: 1 Peter 3 Listen: (3:30)

Scripture Focus: 1 Peter 3.8-9, 13-17

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing…

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”  15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Reflection: Are We Soft About Suffering?

By John Tillman

Peter wrote to Christians he called “exiles” (1 Pet 2.11), even though most of them still lived in the cities and cultures they were born into. Their exile was a spiritual, not a political or geographical, reality. When they became followers of Jesus, they crossed a line of citizenship into the borders of a new kingdom. The kingdom they were born into became an enemy kingdom and they became exiles.

Perhaps this is why Peter encouraged them by quoting a section of Psalm 34. David wrote Psalm 34 about becoming an exile and suffering evil treatment in his own country, ruled by Saul. He fled to an enemy kingdom (1 Sam 21.10-14) and was surrounded by dangerous enemies.

Peter knew what it was like to grow up in a culture and country and find yourself labeled an enemy of that culture and country. He knew what it was like to be mistreated. So when he tells his readers (including us) to “repay evil with blessing” (v. 9) or to “suffer for doing good,” (v. 17) he knows what he is talking about. When Peter and the apostles suffered mistreatment for teaching about Jesus, they rejoiced (Acts 5.41). Do we?

Some Christians around the world have their churches burned down or bulldozed by the government. Some are jailed, deported, or killed for their faith. Recently, the United States has decided to refuse asylum to these Christians and leave them in their circumstances. At the same time, some Christians here loudly complain about our suffering.

Has Western Christianity (especially in America) gotten soft about suffering? Have we suffered so little, for so long, that we think being argued with is “suffering” and minor inconveniences are “persecution”?

I think Peter would not only ask us if we are actually suffering, but if what we call “suffering” is happening because we are “doing good” or not. Not every suffering we face is for the gospel. Sometimes, it is for having no tact or compassion.

It may be true that Christians in the United States and other Western countries will face greater opposition in the future. From how we act today, I don’t think we are ready.

Meditate on some of the challenging commands Peter gave his churches. What do they mean for our lives today?

Do good that wins people over and defuses slander. (v. 13 and 16)
Do not fear threats. (v. 14
Be prepared with hope-filled answers. (v. 16)
If you suffer, suffer for good, not evil. (v. 17)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

“Because the needy are oppressed, and the poor cry out in misery, I will rise up,” says the Lord, “And give them the help they long for.” — Psalm 12.5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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The very people who were banking on God protecting the temple because it was holy were the ones making the temple an unholy place.

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