Meditation on the Text of the Week

Tearing Athens Down

Keep your behaviour excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

I Peter 2:12

In the apostolic and early centuries of the Christian Era the church was subject to the most extreme forms of slander. It was rumoured that Christians engaged in cannibalism during their celebrations of the Lord's Supper, of incest, orgies, and all kinds of immoralities. Our world is no different. Slander against Christians is the “name of the game.”

It is easy for citizens of Jerusalem to get upset at this treatment. Many feel compelled to correct the lies and slander. Wherever we have opportunity we should probably attempt to do so. However, we should always be aware that in these matters truth, sadly, is not the currency of the realm. The world is eager to believe the worst of Christians and the Church. In fact a virtual sure-fire way to amass great wealth is to publish a novel that alleges Christian conspiracies, cover-ups, lies, and distortions and it is almost guaranteed to become a best seller.

In our text of the week Peter takes it for granted that Unbelievers will slander our Lord, the Church and Christians and accuse us of doing evil. Thus they treated the Christ while He was upon earth; it has continued ever since. Regardless of what is said, however, the best rejoinder is continued excellent behaviour and good deeds. Ignore the slander; keep living the Christian ethic. Lyndon Johnson, hardly a role model for the Church we acknowledge—yet nevertheless offered some sage advice. He used to say, when confronted with outrageous accusations or slander, “There are some things you don't dignify with an answer.” Christ's directive to us is similar: don't be distracted from the real task at hand, which involves living according to My commandments and instructions.

One thing we can be sure of: regardless of the slander, when God visits particular Gentiles He leads them to observe our lives and our good living is marked by them. Maybe the very slander has led them to take a closer look. They find the very opposite of what they had been led to believe. This shakes their unbelief and they begin to speak respectfully and appreciatively of what they see. They come to the point where they glorify God for what they have seen—and they, themselves, pass over from Unbelief to faith.

A striking example of this is afforded by the Philippian jailor. He, in his person and office, was a concrete representation of Gentile slander against Christians. But when the earthquake struck, Paul's immediate response was to act swiftly to do good and prevent harm coming to the jailor by his own hand. It was indeed the day of visitation for this man. He asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved and he believed that very night. (Acts 16: 28--34)

There are two things God has put forth to break the world of Unbelief apart. The first is the proclamation of the Gospel. The second is the lives of Christians. Paul admonishes us not to lose heart in doing good—for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we are to do good to all men, especially those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6: 9,10)

The Kingdom of God does not come by clash of arms, by imperious force, or by the sword. The Kingdom of God comes by God visiting people, so as to convince them of their sins and misery, enlighten their minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renew their wills, leading them to embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. The means of their visitation—by which God comes to people to save them—are the hearing of the Gospel and the lives of Christians devoted to doing good to all men.

These weapons, despised as vanities and worthless by the world, are powerful for the tearing down of every fortress raised up against God and His Christ. These are the weapons which will break Athens apart in due time, if we do not lose heart or grow weary.