1 Peter Devotions

South African Christians can seem a little disconnected from the message of 1 Peter. Peter wrote to a church audience that was socially exiled from the prevalent culture. They were exiles not only spiritually but also politically. The Christians in Asia Minor, who refused to bow the knee to Caesar, were undergoing immense suffering because of their allegiance to Christ. This affliction worked itself out in politics, in society, in the home, at work, and even, to some degree, in the church. Peter wrote to suffering Christians to offer them hope for perseverance. He wrote to help them understand their identity and to help them live in light of that. As Scot McKnight puts it, “Peter intends his readers to understand who they are before God so that they can be who they are in society.”

South African Christians have longed enjoyed great acceptance, and even privilege, in the society in which they live. It might be argued that it is becoming more and more difficult to live a faithful Christian life in our country, but we are still nowhere close to where the Asian Christians were to whom Peter wrote.

Regardless of our situation, 1 Peter asks important questions about Christian engagement in society. Should we completely withdraw from society? Should we denounce society completely? Should we accommodate society’s godless virtues? Peter offers help in this regard, showing his readers how to live hopefully in an otherwise hopeless world.