Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: November 18, 2007
THOSE WHO WILL NOT ANSWER (Part 1)
Ben Justice
During the time when idolatry was rampant, Elijah asked to the people of Israel,
“How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal,
then follow him” (I Kings 18:21). Note the question that Elijah asked: “How long
halt ye between two opinions?” This was a question that deserved to be
answered. But, as the text subsequently states, “And the people ANSWERED HIM
NOT A WORD” The fact of the matter is that their breed hasn’t died out; they
have only grown in number.
THE COMMAND TO ANSWER
Peter issued this command in I Pet. 3:15 — “But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Just recently I sent a
Bible questionnaire to a brother who completely evaded answering it. When I
referred him to I Pet. 3:15, he declared, “See how easy it is for an anti or liberal
to take scripture from there context.” Apparently, he believed that when I
referenced I Pet. 3:15 obligating him to answer questions that I was taking the
passage out of its context. This is often the smokescreen and strawman that
liberals will use in refusing to answer questions. In addition, when you call
them on some erroneous statement they made, the clamor, “You took me out of
context.” This is a hallmark of liberals in and out of the church — political and
theological liberals. Liberals don’t want to be taken at their word. They also
reject the power of implication and inference. A while back, John Kerry, speaking
to a group of college students, stated, “You, education, if you make the most of
it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be
smart, you can do well. And if you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.” Any person with
any reasoning capabilities and who is honest can see the implication of that
statement. When Kerry was called on it, the classic liberal response was, “That’
s not what I said” and “I was taken out of context.” Just a few weeks ago, when
the California wildfires were burning, Senator Harry Reid stated in a press
conference, “One reason why we have the fires in California is global warming.”
Only minutes later, in that very same press conference, a reporter asked Reid
about his statement: “Senator, on the California fires, you said that the reason
the fires are burning in California is global warming.” Amazingly, Reid responded
by saying, “No. Here’s what I — I didn’t say the reason the fires were burning in
Southern California was global warming.” How stupid do liberals think we are?
This is the kind of nonsensical jargon that has made its way into the body of
Christ. And, it’s doing great harm.
Dave Miller preached on sermon on elders on April 8, 1990. The sermon
specifically addressed the implementation of a new and unauthorized procedure
described as “Elder Reevaluation/Reaffirmation.” (the full printed text of
Brother Miller’s sermon is found in the August 2005 issue of “Contending For
The Faith”). To this day, he has tried to claim that he never taught what his
critics claim he taught. Brother Miller issued a statement on September 23,
2005 in response to his critics denying that he ever taught and practiced the
unauthorized “elder reevaluation/reaffirmation” doctrine. Brother Miller
emphatically stated: “I do not believe in the ‘reaffirmation/reevaluation of elders’
as my critics have defined the concept.” However, in Miller’s sermon, he has
clearly defined the concept of elder reevaluation/reaffirmation. All one has to do
is read his own words. Now, Brother Miller is essentially saying, like most
liberals do, “That’s not what I said” (one can read Dave Miller’s full statement
and Dave Watson’s reply in the November/December 2005 issue of “Contending
For The Faith” that exposes his duplicity in this matter).
Now, back to the context of I Pet. 3:15. Verses 1-6 speak relative to a
Christian woman married to a non-Christian man. In such cases, the Christian
woman must set the right kind of example in living a godly life. In doing so, the
unbelieving husband may “be won” over to Christ.
Verse 7 addresses the responsibility of the husband giving honor unto his
wife.
In verses 8-17, Peter sets forth some general admonitions concerning living
the Christian life. Within these admonitions, Peter specifically addresses
persecution that the faithful child of God will have to endure. Peter penned
these words beginning in verse 13 — “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be
followers of that which is good? (14) But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake,
happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.” Verse 13 is in
the form of a question. Is there anyone that can harm us if we are followers of
that which is good? As a general rule, those who are “followers of that which is
good” will not be harmed (cf. Rom. 13:3-4). Peter does not intend to make a
blanket statement that Christians will never experience any injury or harm
whatsoever in this life. This is made clear in the following verse.
Verse 14 begins with the contrasting conjunction “but.” Even though it is
the general rule that those who are followers of that which is good will
experience no harm, it is the case also that those live righteously will
sometimes suffer. The expression “for righteousness’ sake” very simply means
that the Christian lives a righteous lifestyle. As John put it, “. . . he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, . . .” (I John 3:7). The one who “worketh
righteousness, is accepted of him” (God — Acts 10:35). The Christian always
lives for the sake of that which is right. That which is right is always to be
determined by the Word of God, which is the Christian’s final and complete
authority (cf. Col. 3:17). All of God’s commandments are righteousness, as the
Psalmist declared (Psalm 119:172). Right doing must never be defined by the
world’s standard. If the world’s definition of righteousness controls the
“Christian’s” life, then he would never suffer persecution. By the fact that the
Christian suffers for righteousness’ sake is proof that he doesn’t live after the
ways of this world. Since verse 14 is in contrast to verse 13, it has to be the
case that “righteousness’ sake” is the same thing as “followers of that which is
good.”
When the Christian suffers for righteousness’ sake, they are “happy.” Of
course, this doesn’t mean that they are glad they are being persecuted. Rather,
the Christian realizes what he is suffering for (cf. Matt. 5:10; Acts 5:41).
When the Christian suffers for righteousness’ sake, Peter further declared,
“be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.” This proves that Christianity
will have its enemies. Men who love darkness will persecute those who love
light. Peter said “be not afraid of their terror.” This is an interesting phrase.
The term “afraid” and the term “terror” are from the same Greek root word. The
word translated “afraid” is phobeo, which functions as a verb. The word
translated “terror” is phobos and functions as a noun. Both of these words are
translated “fear” the majority of times in the New Testament. Christians are
“not to fear their fear.” Sometimes, phobos is translated “terror” in the
scriptures, as it is here in this passage. God ordained civil government to
punish evil doers. As Paul declared in Rom. 13:3-4, “For rulers are not a terror
(phobos) to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid (phobeo) of the
power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: (4) For he is the
minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid (phobeo); . .
.” What Paul stated here is analogous to what Peter declared. However, Paul
speaks with reference to that which God has ordained. God ordained the fact of
civil government and for civil government to punish evil doers and reward those
who do good. This is the divine ideal. But, as Peter pointed out, man does not
always live up to God’s ideal. This was proven in the first few centuries after the
establishment of the church. Many Christians were terrorized at the hands of
the Roman government. Peter says don’t be afraid, that is, don’t fear their
terror. Jesus put it like this: "And fear (phobeo) not them which kill the body, but
are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear (phobeo) him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). Jesus told the church at Smyrna, “Fear none
of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into
prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). The Christian must
realize that God is always there. “[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness;
[and be] content with such things as ye have: for he saith, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear
(phobeo) what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5-6). When Paul came to the end of
his life, no man stood with him. In fact, all had forsaken Paul. But, Paul knew
that someone was there even in the face of death: “Notwithstanding the Lord stood
with me, and strengthened me . . .” (2 Tim. 4:17).
The second thing Peter stated is “neither be troubled.” “Troubled” (tarasso),
in this context, would suggest the sense of being overcome with dread or to be
disturbed (see Lenski) in such as way as to renounce your faith. Jesus told his
disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled (tarasso), neither let it be afraid” (John 14:1,
27). As Barnes noted, “If we are true Christians, we have really no reason to be
alarmed in view of anything that can happen to us. God is our protector, and he
is abundantly able to vanquish all our foes; to uphold us in all our trials; to
conduct us through the valley of death, and to bring us to heaven” (Albert
Barnes, “Barnes’ Notes — I Peter,” Pg. 169). Brother Woods stated, “It is an
injunction to complete composure in the face of bitter and determined enemies”
(Guy N. Woods, “A Commentary on the New Testament — I Peter,” Pg. 97).
Verse 15 begins with the same contrasting conjunction “but.” In contrast to
not being afraid of their terror and neither be troubled, Peter now states the
positive of what the Christian is to do when he suffers for righteousness sake.
There are two things set forth in v. 15: (1) Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,
and (2) Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason
of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
[WILL CONTINUE NEXT WEEK]