The Suffering of Believers

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11).

Even though I was baptized on December 25^th, 1966 through the Roman Catholic Church in San Diego, Texas by Father Gijon of the Dominican Order of Preachers, I did not live my life as a Christian. I had a general belief in God but for most of my young life I was more invested in my belief in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I did not choose to go to Church until I was 16 years old and was dragged by my best friend sometimes kicking and screaming to the Baptist Road Mission on Probandt Street in San Antonio, Texas (the building that once housed the church is now an auto repair shop). It was there that I learned that the Bible was not only a record of God’s dealings with certain people at certain times but that the entirety of it was a message from God to me. That is powerful stuff to a 16 year old kid whose religious sensibilities had been dis-nurtured his entire life. The services were a simple combination of singing hymns, offering up of extemporaneous prayers, the preaching of the 30-45 minute sermon that was very much like a bible study, and a congregation with dog-eared, floppy bibles on their laps and cups of hot steaming coffee. Faith was something one could delve into and the Bible was not a complete and utter mystery but a trustworthy and clear communication from God to God’s people. My Baptist tinted Evangelicalism was simple and accessible and created a way of approaching life and of understanding God’s will for me that was utterly absent in my home life. The problem was was that one family dominated my new found church community and their opinions, ideals, prejudices, and concerns heavily influenced me, an influence my family did not like. However, I must say that even though I no longer believe what I did in those early formative years and actively reject many of the things that that initial community of faith held to be above suspicion, I would not be an Episcopal priest without their influence. I left behind what was unhelpful and held onto that which was utterly essential.

One of the attacks leveled against me by members of my family who did not appreciate or understand my new found faith was often “If you are such a Christian why isn’t your life any better?” which I found to be a strange remark. I had indeed learned that in the best of times and in the worst of times I was not alone but that God was with me. I had learned that God was with me when I was at my best and at my worst. I had learned that come hell or high-water that God would be with me through thick and thin. But I had never learned that all of sudden the trials and tribulations of life were to cease since Jesus was my lord and Savior. I had never learned that Christians could escape living a real life because they believed in God. I had never learned that a life in God became suddenly charmed and that we were above the consequences of bad decisions and the fickleness of life itself.

The First Letter of Peter is addressing those persecuted Christian communities throughout Asia Minor who are suffering in the name of Christ. Belief in the Lord Jesus has led to their lives becoming difficult and there must be in minds of some that life would be easier if they had never believed or if they are believers then why are they being persecuted. Of course, their own Lord, Jesus Christ, was crucified for doing the work of his Father so why should they expect better? But, they have to also remember that the crucifixion was not the end. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ made all the difference in the world. The cross was seen as a victory by the temporal powers of religion and state but the victory of God over all powers is revealed in the Resurrection. The author of this letter wants these Christian communities to understand that being followers of Jesus Christ calls from them a way of life that brings glory to God and that such a holy life is intrinsically good. Such a life is to be lived because of whom God is and because of what God has done in Jesus Christ and not because of any benefits or blessings that some believe is due to the believer. Just as God’s response to the murder of his son was resurrection, God’s response to the troubles and sufferings of the early Christian community is “restoration, support, strength, and establishment.” We are promised the presence of God’s Holy Spirit when life is good and when life is hard. We are called to live holy lives in the best of times and in the worst of times. We are promised that the trails and the tribulations of life will not have the last word but that God and God alone will have the last word-The Reverend Adrian A. Amaya.