One of the goals with The Corner is to have it be a place where the Cornerstone family speaks. Kind of like a conversation with friends at the corner café. So we will feature guest posts from various people within our community, allowing them to share how the Spirit is sanctifying them and further conforming them into the image of Christ.

To start us off, here are some thoughts from our Caffé 10.31 barista Matt Manahan. You can keep up with his blog at www.amongthegrass.wordpress.com.

The old saying “tit for tat” refers to the act of retaliating and is believed to be a corruption of “tip for tap,” which means “a blow for a blow.” This archaic idiom dates back to the mid-1500s or so, and basically has the idea of repaying equivalent damage for a wrongdoing – or, simply put, “getting even.” In Luke 22:49-54, the idea of “tit for tat” made perfect sense to Peter when the posse came to arrest Jesus. Specifically, Peter brandishes a sword and cuts off a man’s ear to defend the Lord. Christ then heals the wounded man, the arrest proceeds, and Peter and the other disciples flee the scene.

Despite the fact that Jesus’ arrest was unjust, Peter was out of line. The disciple’s vigilante act was a kneejerk reaction to his own lack of faith and understanding in what was about to transpire. He was fearful. Peter and the disciples knew that when the posse came to arrest Jesus that night, that their world would be be turned upside down. In Matthew 26:56, the text tells us that the disciples forsook Christ and fled. They were clearly afraid. Interestingly, in verse 58 we read that when Jesus was led away to the high priest, Peter followed at a distance in order to see the end.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He visited His disciples on several occasions. In John 21:15-19 Christ appears to his disciples for breakfast, and it is during this occasion that an extremely important and intimate discussion between Jesus and Peter takes place – this is where the famous “do you love me” dialogue unfolds, and Christ instructs His disciple to feed His sheep. In my own opinion, I believe that it’s these final words from Jesus that echoed within Peter when he penned his first epistle:

Feed my sheep. Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.

This is such a terrifying and powerful statement from Christ. It is here that Jesus explains by what sort of death Peter would one day die and give glory to God. For me, the most profound moment is found at the conclusion of this dialogue in verse 19 when Jesus tells Peter, “Follow me.” I cannot say for sure if Peter truly grasped what was being said at that time. I’m certain there were a lot of things streaming through his mind – he had just received his marching orders from God, his own martyrdom had been announced, and Jesus would soon be leaving him. That’s a lot to talk about over breakfast.

However, by the time 1 Peter was composed the now-seasoned and battle-hardened apostle new just what it meant to follow Jesus – even if it meant to suffer or die. And the very words of Peter’s first epistle are saturated with the courage, assurance, and hope that he was “found wanting” during his younger years. For me, reading the apostle Peter’s first epistle has been frustrating, convicting, and radically refining all at once – one big emotional bombshell. Here is why:

First of all, I am frustrated. Peter does not respond to the suffering of his readers in a way that satisfies me. In other words, none of Nero’s henchmen lose an ear! Rather than a revolt, Peter encourages his readers to be holy and endure the suffering for God’s glory. I would rather see these persecuted believers “go Chuck Norris” on their despicable emperor instead. Isn’t that how we are supposed to handle injustice? If so, then why does Peter merely instruct his readers to submit? Perhaps the answer to this is found in Jesus’ words to Peter in garden the night of His arrest, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Although Jesus was wrongfully accused, it was not Peter’s place to take the law into his own hands.

Secondly, I am convicted. I am a coward and a denier of Jesus. Just as Peter and the others did, I too would have renounced my association with Jesus if threatened. I doubt that I would have unsheathed a sword to defend my Lord – I would have just run at the first sign of trouble instead. This can be seen daily by my actions and interactions. I am in desperate need of re-prioritizing my life so that I am able to genuinely follow Him.

Lastly, I am being refined. God is radically changing me regarding all of the above. When I look at Peter throughout the Gospels, I see much of myself. It’s easy for me to read and criticize all of the obnoxious things Peter said and did; however, if I am completely honest with myself, then I am able to easily admit to the fact that Peter was a far better man than I am.

As a read 1 Peter, I try my best to place myself in the context of his readers – to attempt to understand the fear and uncertainty that they were experiencing. I do not handle injustice very well, and I absolutely hate the very idea of suffering. Thus, I shutter when the apostle tells his readers that they should expect to suffer for Christ’s sake and for God’s glory. In other words, Peter is saying that when your allegiance is to Christ, suffering should be anticipated. Period. To truly follow Christ means putting our lives on the line. Although I have read Peter’s letter many times before, I secretly hope for a different ending. I keep hoping to hear the former sword-wielding disciple instruct these suffering Christians to rebel against the corrupt Nero. However, that is not how the story goes.

Despite the daily injustice and persecution that these believers were facing, never once does Peter instruct them to retaliate or get even. In fact, we find just the opposite. These Christians were facing gross consequences for their faith, yet Peter tells them time and time again to live honorably, exhibit genuine love for one another, and be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within. This is the gospel at work. This is how the gospel engages injustice – by exemplifying Christ while suffering for Christ’s sake. They had no reason to fear because of the gospel – “the living hope” – that was in them. They were to follow Jesus’ example and, in return, show Jesus to their accusers. The bottom line is that the gospel is mightier than the sword.

Written by Matt Manahan and originally posted at www.amongthegrass.wordpress.com on 9/15/11.