I was struck this week as I studied 1 Peter 4:7-11 as part of our Exiles series at church. I was struck particularly by this phrase: “Be self-controlled and sober-minded” (v 4, ESV). There are differing ways translators have translated this.
HCSB says, “Be serious and disciplined.”
NASB: “ … of sound judgement and sober spirit.”
NLT: “Be earnest and disciplined.”
KJV: “Be sober and watch.”
You get the idea. Christians are to be level-headed.
Sober. Balanced. Mature. Of sound judgement. Wise. In control.
These virtues should characterize our life—in our speech, in our online engagement, in our beliefs. And yet, there are times, many times, when virtues like this, such as balance, sound judgement and sobriety, are looked at by some as a lack of courage.
Or we excuse them with things like, “I’m just speaking my mind.”
Or we post half-baked conspiracy theories online or fire them off via email.
We buy into ponzi schemes or weird ideas. An election doesn’t go our way and we freak out. We scan the negative headlines and we cower in fear or make goofy, doomsday predictions (or read the latest Christian bestsellers that posit them). But Peter says: “Be sober. Keep your cool. Pray.”
This phrasing is not original to Peter.
In fact, in the New Testament, you will find three types of Christians who the Bible says should always keep their cool:
1. Anyone looking for Jesus to return.
1 Peter 4:1: “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” Peter says the end is at hand.
In my view, this means two things: First, it means the end of the age is upon us. It was upon the first-century Christians, and it us upon us. It was coming soon for them and coming soon for us.
So, knowing the end of the age is upon us, how should we act? Should we create newer charts? Should we try to figure out who the anti-Christ is? Should we say historically innacurate things like, “It’s as bad as it’s ever been!” Should we hide in the basement?
No. In light of the end, Peter says, “be sober, be watchful and pray.” When the headlines turn sour, Christians should be the last people gripped by irrational fear.
The second thing this means is the end is at hand in the sense the end of the reign of Satan is at hand. The end is the beginning. Christ has defeated sin, death and the curse. The kingdom is here and is coming.
So, rather than fear, rejoice. Be watchful. Be serious. Be balanced. And pray. Christians, of all people should not be fear-mongering conspiracy nuts. We should be joyful readers of the news, because we know the end is here and a new beginning is dawning. We know the story. We know a King is coming.
So, really, Peter here is referring to every kind of Christian. Because every serious disciple should be watchful and sober. Every follower of Christ should be joyfully looking for the return of the King. Not with colored charts, but with prayerful, sober hearts. (I honestly didn’t intend for that to rhyme!)
