Personal from the President

“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).

About a week ago we discussed this scripture in the General Epistles class that I teach at Ambassador Bible College. We discussed what these words meant when they were written and what they mean to us now. This short verse succinctly touches on our relationship to God, our leaders, people in general and brothers in the faith in particular.

These words were written in a time of great persecution on the Church. It was the time of Emperor Nero. As the Roman historian Tacitus records, Nero blamed the disciples of Jesus Christ for the Great Fire of Rome that destroyed much of the city in July A.D. 64, even though many disputed that claim. Even so, Tacitus notes that: “Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace.” Yet, amid this hostility, the apostle Peter encourages Christians to take the high road in attitude and conduct.

The past few weeks, even the past year, defy normalcy. We are in the midst of a contentious election that has the entire world watching. All elections—whether in the United States or elsewhere—often reflect unrelenting hyperbole. Candidates and special interest groups stuff airwaves and mailboxes with outrageous claims and insults. People not only are making a choice, they band together and become hostile to the opposition. Our nation has never been so divided.

So many people in the United States are anxious and depressed. This anxiety and uncertainty knows no borders. It stretches around the globe. Psychologists talk openly about “election stress disorder.” People were already fatigued by the never-ending coronavirus pandemic and the rioting that swept through our country a few months back. This is now compounded by the uncertainty of a national election that has not yet ended, with both sides claiming victory and/or fraud. While relative calm existed on the American election day, civic unrest now froths in U.S. cities. This all takes its toll. In the United States, essentially 50 percent of the population is guaranteed to be unhappy with the final election results, even depressed and angry, no matter what the outcome. It’s a tough time.

This angst of anxiety even threatens the bond of love and peace among some of our brethren! Our words between us have power and we must be careful not to weaponize our words, inadvertently indulging in accusations and counteraccusations, judging and condemning each other, and causing offense.

We must maturely and sensitively realize that many people—both in the Church and outside—hurt deeply, even feel torn apart, on all points of being human. While we must remain true to our mission and purpose, we must also exercise spiritual discernment, and as the apostle Paul writes to us: “Let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up” (Romans 14:19, New Living Translation).

How are we handling the tumult in our midst? The answer is vitally important because the proper response allows us to plant our feet firmly on the ground, put our shoulders back and stand firm, even when earthly forces storm and howl around us.

We must remember who we are as Christians. We must remember our calling more than ever at this time. We must not forget our primary citizenship. When we surrender our lives to obedience at our conversion, we are granted citizenship in a coming Kingdom that will last forever, one that God Himself preserves for us in heaven, awaiting the return of the King of kings to this strife-torn planet (Philippians 3:20).

We need to confidently fix this in our mind—no matter the outcome of any earthly election. God is still in charge! We can boldly embrace these words: “Remember this and stand firm . . . I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying ‘My counsel shall stand’” (Isaiah 46:8, 10, English Standard Version).

We must consciously reach out with healing words and actions to those whose hearts can be reached. Do we edify and bring hope? Or inflame and provoke division in our human relationships that tragically obscures our mission and purpose?

We in the United States have the present blessing of religious freedom. But the existence of any measure of religious freedom has not always been the case for the people of God, as many well know in their countries today. As prophecy indicates, religious freedom in the United States may well be lost in the not-so-distant future—but it is not now.

What was Peter’s advice for people living in these dangerous times? “Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world” (1 Peter 2:12, NLT). That’s a high—and challenging—calling!

This “honorable behavior” means that in times like today we sometimes are to be Christian diplomats. As Peter writes later, “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16). The Greek word for “Christian” (used only three times in the New Testament) is transliterated Christianos, which means “follower of the Messiah” (or “Anointed One”). Do people see or hear Christ, the Messiah, living in us?

There certainly is a time to “cry aloud and spare not” (Isaiah 58:1), but there is also a time to diplomatically demonstrate God’s way of life as a witness to the world. As Paul declares: “Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children, and live a life of love” (Ephesians 5:1-2, New International Version). People are supposed to openly see the hope that resides in us, so much so that they ask about it (1 Peter 3:15)! We are to be the lights to the world, demonstrated by our hope-filled words and behavior (Matthew 5:14-16).

As we live in a world exhausted by a pandemic and politics, let us openly reflect our divine citizenship. And as Peter writes, “Dear brothers and sisters, work hard to provethat you really are among those God has called and chosen” (2 Peter 3:10, NLT).

“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).