Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 2:11-12
Verses 11 and 12 are again transition into the next section of Peter’s letter, transition that is of particular interest to us today. Peter’s general context here is that we are in this world of Mankind at the present, but we are citizens of a heavenly Kingdom that is not of this world at all, thus we are foreigners and exiles. Oh no, we are not exiles from the heavenly Kingdom, we are exiles from this world. As such, we are here representing that heavenly Kingdom of which we are citizens.
Have you ever visited a foreign country? When you did so, did you behave as unofficial representatives of your own country and adopt your best behavior, or were you a jerk? We Americans have sometimes been described as “ugly Americans” in other countries because apparently we don’t behave well when we travel. I don’t know if that is true or not… when I visit other countries I am on my best behavior… but I have seen how we are usually portrayed on British television and I must say if Americans are really like that in Britain, they don’t act they way we do at home! Suffice it to say that Peter is going in much the same direction that Paul went when he spoke of us as Ambassadors of Christ.
The other side of this “strangers and exiles” metaphor, is that we really don’t belong to this world any more, and as such we need to let the priorities of this world go by the wayside.
This is what Peter is referring to when he says that we should abstain from “sinful desires that wage war against your soul”. Sin is over. Slavery to sin is over, and it has no hold on us any more… our chains are gone, we have been set free from the law of sin and death! So why must we insist on holding onto sin? Peter’s alternative is that we should so conduct ourselves, that the un-Christian world we live in may come to belief when they see how we live.
There is one other point we should consider here. Notice that Peter says, though they accuse you of doing wrong. Have you ever read any of the posts here on WordPress that are posted by atheists? I refer to the ones that are openly using the label “atheist.” If so, you have no doubt noticed two things, first that they have no concept of the Bible, and feel quite free to openly misrepresent it. The other thing is that they are self-appointed experts on what is and what is not “Christian” when it comes to behavior. They are looking for any slip-up on our part in our personal conduct to justify their own lifestyles and condemn Christianity. I guess there’s nothing new under the sun, since Peter saw the same thing in the first century pagans.
So, here we are, strangers in a strange land, citizens of a heavenly Kingdom, representing our King… let’s act like it, and show the world what Christ’s love looks like in action.
Life Project Blog 
“The other thing is that they are self-appointed experts on what is and what is not “Christian” when it comes to behavior. They are looking for any slip-up on our part in our personal conduct to justify their own lifestyles and condemn Christianity.”
Don, much as I love your writing, this one point draws me to comment. Only inasmuch as there are atheists and “atheists”, in the same way as there Christians and “Christians”. I wonder if someone who says “I know there are no ghosts under the bed, I check every night” is that much different from one who says “I know there are ghosts under the bed, I check every night.”
Some of the words I see and views held so strongly stand out as the result of “friendly fire” or – what was the other phrase – “finishing off the wounded” … something like that. Frustrations with what should be, and could be, manifest themselves in different ways in different people. And I hope I am not speaking out of turn when I say that “love is always simple” – it’s just that a lot of us don’t know that yet.
Paul, I guess I am just really slow today, but where do we disagree on this? Sorry, but I’ve read your comment over a couple times, re-read the post and the text… Help!
I hope this is not a man-flu moment! If I have confused or misrepresented – please excuse me … … …
Don – I have just deleted a secondary explanation (equally as long). The comments between you and Denine have started a rippling.
… … … my words were prompted by reading the “label” of “Atheists bad Christians good” in the second half of your gentle post.
Hey Paul, it’s OK. If you disagree, have a concern or think I’ve just fallen off a cliff, by all means say so. That’s what brothers do, right? As for atheist bad, Christian good… maybe I wasn’t clear enough, and if you were confused, others might be too, so this is good. I was referring to certain blogs, specific blogs, who will not be named, that post under the category of “Atheist” and who tag “Christian” and “Bible” that you can see on your reader under those tags most days, and that are filled with what the politically correct folks would call “hate speech” is it wasn’t directed at Christians and the Bible. I often read those blogs, and sometimes they are hilarious, but for all the wrong reasons. God loves everyone, even those who spew hatred, and the only way to combat hatred is with the love of Jesus Christ… which Peter hasn’t quite gotten to yet.
Anyway, I hope that makes it more clear, and please understand you can say most anything here in a comment… but I’ll edit out bad language! 🙂
You cause me to sense the onset of a “man-hug bro style” kinda response! 🙂
Too funny… one of these days I’ll have to make a visit over there, I’ve always wanted to do that, and then we’ll solve the world’s problems over a nice cup of tea. My impression form UK TV shows is that tea is pretty much the solution to every problem… oh, and you can show me what a metal tea tray is!
Seriously, it’s always fun Mr. Paul!
I am currently dealing with religious spirits at a church. (I work at the church cleaning it) It’s very difficult when you feel like an exile in church. Atheist are not the only ones that misrepresent the Bible. The number one thing that turns people away from God, people that call themselves Christians, but act and live just like the world.
Denine you are so right! In this particular text Peter is talking about those oitside the church, but our bad bahvior is even more dangerous inside the church! Great contribution, thank you!
Great post with a good message, Don. Something for us all to be cognizant of all the time (though I admit that is difficult sometimes) is that as Christians we should not live as the world lives but as Christ would want us to live in order that others can see Him in us and in our behaviors. How often do we meet up with people who profess to be Christians but in reality look more like hypocrites by their behavior. That is each of us if we are not careful. People watch for us to show ourselves as hypocrites so they can feel better about themselves I believe.
Seems to me that it’s really all about love, letting others see His love through us; when that happens we don’t have to worry about behaving well or minding our manners!
I agree!
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