Our job is to explain our HOPE

Yesterday my husband and I attended our regional Pastors' meeting at Lyon. Our day started with a discussion on the following text.

1 Peter 3:13-17

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats^[a]; do not be frightened.”^{[b] 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

We said a lot of things on this text: we will suffer for following Jesus because He overturns the values of this world;  we need to keep Christ at the centre of all things, then we will act correctly and in harmony with His heavenly principles; we mustn't sin ourselves when hard-pressed by circumstances or persecution; we need have no fear (remembering that perfect love casts out all fear); and, in particular, there was a discussion about our main task as Christians. I highlighted the text : it's our testimony to who God is in our lives and from whom we get our hope. So this powerpoint reminds us that HOPE is the distinguishing feature of all mature Christians. God gives us the rest: peace, faith and love.

This discussion also comes after a seminar we organised in our church about how to understand persecution. It is a weekend course written by the Open Doors - Brother Andrew's organisation and has been done in many situations where Christians are persecuted. As events unfold in France and we see decisions being made which don't correspond to a majority viewpoint, we feel the oppression and the combat. We need to be and are actively preparing our flocks...