Three Ways to Bridge the Faith Divide
- Keith Haney
- 1 hour ago
- 6 min read
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. 1 Peter 3:13-22
In a world fractured by outrage and cultural confusion, discussing the Christian life often involves navigating a social and spiritual minefield—especially when the topics are as unpopular as suffering and harm. However, Ambassadors of Reconciliation are called to become bridge builders. Paul defines it this way. Ambassadors of reconciliation refer to Christians acting as authorized representatives of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), tasked with proclaiming God's message of peace, forgiveness, and restored relationships to a broken world. It signifies a calling to actively mend divisions, embody divine grace, and invite others into a reconciled life with God and neighbors. Bridge building and being Ambassadors of reconciliation require us to replace fear with fearless grace.
1. Perspective Of Suffering: The Hawking Principle
Consider Stephen Hawking, an astrophysicist of unparalleled intellect who lived with the profound physical limitations of ALS. Before his diagnosis, he described his life as a "pointless existence".
He was too weak to write, feed himself, comb his hair, or fix his glasses. Omni magazine said this about him at the time: “Hawking…can do little but sit and think. His mind is a blackboard. He memorizes the long strings of equations that give life to his ideas, then dictates the results to his colleagues or secretary—a feat that has been compared to Beethoven’s writing an entire symphony in his head.”
The article in Omni magazine then quoted Dr. Hawking as he assessed his reaction to the illness. I cannot forget his words. He said that before he was stricken with the disease, he was bored with his profession and with life in general. Nothing interested or motivated him. He drank too much and did little work. Then came the catastrophic illness and his attitude changed dramatically. The privilege of living became especially precious to him. Speaking of this awakening, Dr. Hawking said, “When one’s expectations [for life] are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything that one does have.”
Yet, when his expectations were reduced to zero, he began to appreciate every small pleasure sunrise, the laughter of children—as precious gifts.
The Bridge Builder’s Strategy: Contentment is not found in a "free ride" but in the stewardship of what we have been given. When we lead with a heart of gratitude rather than entitlement, we build a bridge of credibility with a world that is often cynical about faith.
The Background of this Text:
The Sufferings of the early Christ-believers
Depending on when 1 Peter is dated, the situation referred to in 1 Peter 3:13-22 could range from mild abuse and mockery by the families of these new Christ-believers to open, official, harsh persecution by Roman officials under Domitian (81-91 CE). In reflecting on the message of the epistle, it is not necessary to know for sure what kind of suffering the early Christ-believers were facing. Identifying oneself as a Christ-follower in the first century CE was not as common or mainstream as it is in certain places of the world today. Christianity, as one of the leading world religions, did not yet exist as we know it.
In this context, the addressees of 1 Peter had to prepare themselves for the consequences of their belief. The author of 1 Peter 3:13-22 uses several strategies to encourage his addressees to be willing to suffer for their faith.
The first strategy he employs is to get the Christ-believers to focus on the future, both their own and their attackers'.
The passage has a strong eschatological flavor. Even if the Christ-followers experience suffering in the days ahead, they should be assured that not only will they gain future blessings (1 Peter 3:13-14), but those who attack them will be punished (1 Peter 3:16). The language of blessing and the fact that those who attack the Christ-followers will be put to shame give this passage a strong eschatological flavor. Being blessed (the Greek word “makarioi”) occurs in the end times for those who have followed God’s will. Knowing that their present suffering is not in vain is meant to give endurance to the believers.
2. Having a Good Conscience: The Model of Salt and Light
The early believers faced everything from mockery to harsh Roman persecution. Peter’s counsel to them remains our blueprint for the cultural exile we face today: Have a good conscience. Peter talks about this several times in this passage. Overall, if we act in a way that is above board, doing well at work and doing well in how we work, then we will avoid most of the difficulties that come along to those who do not act in that kind of moral way. Sometimes we can blame the non-Christians around us, or the world, or a culture that is not following Christ, when the truth is that we are getting into trouble because we are not doing good. What does that mean for believers today?
Practical Strategy: In most cases, acting "above board"—doing excellence at work and showing integrity in how we work—prevents the self-inflicted difficulties that arise from poor character.
Purposeful Leadership: We cannot blame "the culture" for our troubles if we are not first modeling the very biblical common sense we advocate.
3. Be a Verbal Witness: Leading with Gentleness and Respect
Bridge buildings are not synonymous with silence. Peter urges us to be prepared to give an answer for the hope within us—especially when the culture is less receptive to the Gospel. Peter wants those who are suffering to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope they have within them. In other words, when the culture around is less receptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the time to be especially on the lookout for opportunities to share Christ. How does this look on our daily walk?
Fearless Grace: Do not be arrogant or forceful, but do not be silent.
Respectful Engagement: Do so with gentleness and respect. Do not force your views on others. Do not be arrogant. But neither be silent. Give an answer for the hope that you have. Speak about Christ. Be a verbal witness. Sharing Christ with "gentleness and respect" is the practical strategy needed to bridge the deepest divides without compromising the truth of the Gospel.
4. Remember the Power of the Gospel
When suffering comes, even if we are doing what is good and therefore suffer unjustly, remember that we are not forged in weakness but in the strength and power of the Gospel. Remember Christ, who suffered, died, and rose again. Remember that this Gospel, now fulfilled in Christ, is preached in the Old Testament. Remember the Gospel itself:
When unjust suffering does come, we look to the ultimate Bridge Builder: Jesus Christ. He suffered once for sins—the righteous for the unrighteous—to bring us to God.
Vision: Our legacy is not built on avoiding pain, but on reflecting the power of the resurrection. As we lead with purpose in this broken world, we remember that Christ is seated at God’s right hand, with all authorities and powers in submission to Him.
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