What Scripture Says to Do
- Follow the example of Christ (I Peter 2:21)
What did Jesus do when arrested? He went along. When put on trial? He kept silent. When nailed to the cross? He prayed for His tormentors. When they killed Him? The Father raised Him from the dead and gave Him the best vindication of all.
“But I’m not Jesus,” someone says. Thank God you’re not. But no one is asking you to be Him. You are being asked—commanded, actually—to obey Him.
- If you suffer, let it be wrongfully (I Peter 2:22)
When a church fight breaks out, refuse to play. Do not join sides. The larger issues are the glory of the Lord, the mission of the church, the unity of the congregation, and the welfare of the little ones who believe.
- Do not get on their level (I Peter 2:22b)
It’s tragically funny the ideas that will occur to a well-intentioned Christian watching his church come apart. Anonymous letters. Sand in the gas tank. Carry out your little nefarious plans and, instead of solving anything, you will escalate the hostility.
- Do not retaliate (I Peter 2:23)
No ugly retorts, no cruel put-downs, no harsh cutting remarks. Absorb the hurt. Take your licks. Keep your mouth closed. If you will, you will expose the other guy as the bully. If you retaliate, it looks like a fight of equals—both equally in the wrong.
- Commit yourself to the Lord (I Peter 2:23b)
Nothing you say will convince your detractors you speak the truth. And nothing they say will convince your supporters otherwise. This is the time to decide if you are a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ or not. Commit yourself to Him and leave it there. It’s His battle, and His job to right the wrongs.
- Look for God to bring good from it (I Peter 2:24)
Jonathan pastored a church in New England for 23 years. He dealt with power struggles, salary controversies, and attacks on his leadership. When he required members to be saved and live holy lives, the church fired him. At age 46, he found himself unemployed.
In all this, Jonathan did not sin. A friend noted, “He appeared like a man of God, whose happiness was out of the reach of his enemies.” A full 10 years later, his severest critics admitted they had acted out of pride and vanity. The congregation repented.
