Why Believe the Bible? by John MacArthur

Author:John MacArthur [MacArthur, John F.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bible—Evidences, authority, etc.
ISBN: 9781441224125
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2010-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

PRINCIPLE #5: SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE

The fifth and last thing God’s Word says about His will is that we are to suffer. Almost all of us think we might qualify here. We say, “I suffer, with my wife, my husband, my mother-in-law, my kids.” The pastor says he suffers with his deacons and the deacons say they suffer with their pastor. Most of us can find something that causes us suffering to some degree.

Sorry, but Peter isn’t talking about our everyday discomforts and frustrations. Peter wrote his two letters to Christians who were suffering for their faith. That’s why he says, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name … So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Pet. 4:12-16,19).

If you’re not getting along with your spouse, or your relatives, or your pastor, it’s more than likely partly your fault. What Peter is talking about is suffering for well-doing—living a godly life in an ungodly society. Do that and you are bound to get some flack. When you go out and really confront the world boldly for Jesus Christ and suffer, that is God’s will.

Granted, few of us, in the Western world at least, know much about suffering for Jesus, including myself. I did get one taste of it, however, when I preached on a secular junior college campus on the topic “Christianity and Culture.” I talked on culture for a while and then switched to talking about why Jesus is the Messiah. It was a predominantly Jewish student body, so that seemed appropriate to a discussion of culture. It turned into a pretty exciting meeting, with all kinds of antagonistic people there. But I stuck my neck out and trusted God and told it like I believe it is.

In the next few days I got letters with threats to bomb the church. One phone caller told us they would blow up the church during a Sunday service. I got obscene phone calls at home in the middle of the night.

Through the entire experience I got a taste of suffering, but the best part was that some people got saved. I remember in particular a young fellow named Dan, who came to see me not long after hearing my message on “Christianity and Culture.” I led him to Christ and he became a key member of our fellowship.

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