For the last 24 years, I’ve lived as a foreigner in two different countries. Foreigners can have different reputations, but for the most part, the term is used as a negative. I’ve heard the term spoken about me and other friends, almost like it was a curse word. Sometimes, this was because of a foolish violation of cultural norms, but other times, I don’t think I deserved to be spoken to with such derision.
Foreigners are defined by not belonging. They are different from the locals. I grew up in a small town and people could be suspicious of foreigners or unknown travelers who came into our town. This is a common reaction to anything different.
According to the New Testament, I actually became a foreigner much earlier in life, long before I moved overseas. It was over 40 years ago when I made the decision to follow Christ. According to 1st. Peter, this made me a foreigner in this world. 1 Peter 2: 9-12 talks about who we are as Christ-followers:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
As this “chosen people, royal priesthood, and holy nation”, we will always be different from the people around us. We are now the people of God, holy and set apart. We are called to live differently, but that doesn’t mean we are supposed to be a bane on the existence of those we live among. By contrary, we’re called to a better purpose.
In verse 12, it says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” Notice it didn’t say to live a good life and do good deeds so that we will be praised or that our church’s reputation will improve. We’re not to do good deeds so we’ll get more likes on social media or our church will get 5 star ratings.
Instead, we do these things so that God will be glorified. Followers of Jesus should live such good lives that people in your community will give glory to God for the way you live and interact with them. When you think about your actions over the past week or month, as you go to work, school or out into your community, did you behave in a way that is likely to lead others to glorify God? What about your online presence? Do people come away from your interactions thinking God is worthy of worship?
This doesn’t mean that we deny the truth to avoid offense. The message of the Gospel is offensive too many. We are foreigners, after all. We serve a different purpose and live according to a different culture and standards. The same passage challenges us to abstain from sinful desires. We are “called out of darkness.” The implication of verse 12 is that any accusations of wrongdoing will seem ridiculous because we have given our lives over to Godly character.
None of this is likely to endear us personally to everyone we meet. In contrast, many will find reasons to attack us. It doesn’t say the wrong accusations won’t come, only that when they come, the good deeds done in faithful service to the Lord will draw people to worship God. As it says in verse 15, “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”
You have been called out of darkness and into God’s glorious light. It’s time to live like it. We are aliens and strangers, foreigners and exiles in this land. We now live as the people of God. Those who’ve received mercy and we proclaim the mercy of Christ available to all who believe by both our words and our deeds. Live for His Glory and to lead others to glorify Him.
Seeing God 