Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. (NIV) 1 Peter 1:17
Christians are called to a lifestyle that is different from the rest of the world. Peter reminds his readers who are Christians, that God is the Judge as well as their Father, and that He is impartial in judgment. He urges them to live their lives as “strangers” or “aliens” or “foreigners.” In New Testament times, most of the inhabitants of the Roman world were not citizens. These people were legally classed as aliens. Although the aliens were subjects of Rome and burdened with heavy taxes, they were without rights under Roman law. Instead, these people were subject to the laws of their own country. As a result, the resident alien had no right to claim protection in local Roman courts. Although they had not rights, Rome could command their duty. Because of this, resident aliens often banded together to form smaller communities. These alien communities operated under the laws of their homeland.
Jesus referred to our Christian “alien” status in John 17 when He said, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” (John 17:14-16)
As aliens in this present world, Christians are vulnerable. We are without a basis to claim rights under an ungodly society. In turn the church is similar to those small alien communities where we can be God’s “community” in man’s world. As strangers here we have unique “laws” to follow of our heavenly homeland that differ from the world.
How do you feel like a stranger or alien here? Are you ostracized by your neighbors? Criticized for following the Bible with raising your children? Are you shunned in the social arena because you refuse to participate in some of the activities? Do you feel out of step with the rest of the world? If so, great! We are not meant to fit in here. As a matter of fact if you pursue living a godly life you will often find that you are living exactly opposite of the world! And that’s how Jesus lived.
Want to be like Christ? Live as a stranger to this world. . .live according to His Heavenly standards. Ponder some of His closing comments before He died on the cross:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (NIV) John 15:18-19
