Surprise Them
Scripture Reading: Psalm 133; Ezekiel 28-30; 1 Peter 4
With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1 Peter 4:4-5
When I was a young man, and young in my faith as well, I took a job working in warehouse at night. I was then, and always have been, very public about my faith. I don’t mean I always wore a Christian t-shirt and carried a big black Bible around with me at all times. I mean that I didn’t mind talking to people about Christ. The point being that it didn’t take long for my co-workers on the night shift to realize I was a Christian.
Part of what that meant for me is I didn’t talk the way they talked. Cursing and crude language, while once a part of my life, had been crucified with Christ and put to death. I also didn’t have any wild stories from weekend debauchery.
In my naive youth, I thought the guys would respect that. So, I was surprised when I walked up behind a group of my co-workers who were on break to hear them lying about me and saying critical things. One of them was accusing me of throwing a cussing fit in the back of the warehouse when something fell off a rack. It never happened. And I found it strange he would feel the need to make up such a story.
What I came to understand is he was living out of 1 Peter 4:4. He and his friends were surprised that someone had entered their midst who wasn’t going to join them in their “flood of debauchery.” Therefore, they maligned me.
I’ve tried to understand the psychology behind this and the only thing I can come up with is that people have a conscience and when someone seeks to live a godly life their conscience flares up and reminds them of their own sin. They feel the pangs of guilt. Then, rather than repent, they attack that which makes them feel guilty.
I think this is one of the reasons people pleasure in the public moral downfall of any Christian leader. In their mind, it justifies their unbelief. It makes them wrongly believe that they are going to escape judgment because a Christian didn’t measure up to their Christian faith’s standards.
The point Peter is making in this passage is simply that we must keep pursuing holiness. We must continue walking in the will of God. And don’t expect a parade and applause along the way. Count on some people maligning you instead. But don’t let that dissuade or discourage you. You are living for Christ, the One who was Himself maligned and suffered for righteousness.
Keep your eyes on Him and walk in His footsteps.
