Those Who Think It Strange 1 Peter 4:4

Peter the apostle told the “scattered” Christians, they used to live in a manner which was like “the Gentiles” or “heathen people” that included“lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries”, and in chapter four and verse four of his letter, Peter shares about those who “think it strange” that the Christians do not “run with them”. We read:

Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them

to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

The verse begins, “Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them...” Peter continued his last verse with the word, “Wherein” which means “” “they think it strange” or “surprising or astonishing” “that you run” or “don't rush, plunge or cast yourselves” “not with them” which refers to “those who are unbelievers in Jesus Christ”. People who are not Christians are often “surprised, wondering” and sometimes “shocked” that Christians act the way they do instead of aligning with their ways.

The verse goes on to say, “... to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:” Peter continued, “to the same” or “equal or equivalent” “excess” which means “overflowing and pouring out which a dissolute life pours itself” “of riot” or “abandon, dissolution, profligacy and prodigality”, “speaking evil of “ or “blaspheming, speaking reproachfully, railing at, reviling and calumniating” “you” which refers to the “scattered” Christians. This astonishment from unbelievers that Christians will not engage in the same “dissolute living” as they causes them to speak evil of Christians.

When we consider Peter's words in this verse, we begin to relate to his supposition. People who do not align themselves with Jesus Christ are amazed that Christians will not participate in their same activities. They marvel at “puritan” behavior and speech, so they “put down” or “speak evil of” people who do not follow their ways. We must understand that Christians are to be different from the “world” in their attitudes, actions and behavior, and though this is true, it does not mean that it will come without a price. May the Lord Jesus help us know He is the most important judge of our behavior, and should others criticize us or demean us because we are Christians, so be it.

Next time Peter shares how everyone “shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.