“By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler.” 1 Pet 4:15

Christians are quick to claim that if they suffer it is all part of God’s sovereign will for them.  In fact, I have met Christians who believe that their suffering is directly linked to their obedience to God’s will for their life.  Without doubt, God uses sufferings and trials to strengthen our faith and trust in His care for us.  However, it must also be said that some sufferings and trials are not part of God’s plan for us.

The Apostle Peter, speaking to Christians who had suffered and been persecuted for the faith reminds them that not all suffering is God’s plan.  Peter lists some things that are obviously not in God’s plan.  For example, Christians should not suffer because they’ve murdered, robbed, or done evil or as a meddler.

We are all fairly familiar with the first three, but being a meddler is not a term we often come across.  A meddler interferes with everyone else’s business, and Paul says we should avoid such persons (1 Thes 4:11; 2 Thes 3:14; 1 Tim 5:13).  According to Scripture we should be very slow to meddle in things which causes further disruption to people’s lives or even to those who are in authority over us.  

I would suggest that the opposite would be true for us as Christians living in a hostile world.  Christians are to be good citizens in their non-Christian cultures (Jer 29:1-9; cf. Rom 13:1-7).  We are to go to work, live peacefully, obey authorities, witness to others, and exalt Christ.  

In fact, we are not to behave in a radical manner which might undermine those the Lord has placed over us.  Nor can we insist to those in authority over us that they must impose ‘our’ Christian standards.  We can lovingly suggest it, but we should never try to enforce our Christian standards on others.  

This extends to the workplace.  It is lovely to be able to work in a Christian environment, but most of us do not have that privilege.  Therefore, we should be careful not to cause disruption in the workplace, or even undermine our employer by insisting they impose our Christian standards.   Getting into trouble with your fellow employees or employer or being dismissed by him because of disruptive activities, even those done in the name of Christ, is not honourable, but disgraceful.

Unfortunately, some Christians wrongly see validity in strategies of civil disobedience and violence as they oppose some government-sanctioned acts.  There are many things that upset me today including government sanctioned acts of abortions, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, lack of censorship, just to name a few.  However, as Christians we should not see validity in becoming disobedient and using force to make our views known.  Rather, let us be gracious, winsome, and provide sound biblical counsel or material that address these issues, as many believers have done in the past.

If we would seek to promote what is right and redress injustices, we must use scriptural discernment regarding which strategies to implement or support and pray for the Lord’s wisdom.  The last thing we want is to be labelled a troublesome meddler, for that would not be pleasing to God.   JZ