The
farmers thought for a moment and then one spoke up and said, “Well, we have
radio and TV! We can send radio and microwave signals all over the planet using
satellites.” The aliens replied, “Oh, well we have had that for thousands of
years. In fact, that technology has become quite obsolete. What else has
happened?” Again,
the farmers scratched their heads and one said, “We have developed computers
that can process information in seconds that used to take years. And these
computers are small enough to be carried in a briefcase!”
“Well,
that’s old news, too,” said the aliens. “Hasn’t anything extraordinary happened
here?” The
farmers were still thinking when one of the aliens asked, “We have heard a
rumor that God visited your planet many years ago. Is this rumor true?” “Well, there was a man named Jesus Christ. He
claimed.. “Yes! That’s it! Jesus Christ! Did he really come?” the aliens asked
excitedly. “Yes,” said the farmers,
“but…”“What an extraordinary thing! What a wonderful thing!” exclaimed the
aliens. “Tell us, what did you do when God visited your planet? Did you bring
gifts and throw them at his feet?
Did you
run the streets celebrating and singing? Did all the world finally realize how
much he loves them? Please, tell us, what did you do?” The farmers pondered for a
moment and then sheepishly said, “Um…we killed him.” Chances are you may have seen one or two movies or TV
shows about aliens. And these movies investigate the possibility of the
existence of extraterrestrial life forms. But did you know that the real aliens
have already landed here on earth? Who
are these real aliens you may ask. Well, that is a great question, tonight, I’m
going to talk about the real aliens and strangers. I Peter 1:1, 2:11-12
Before
we dig deeper a bit of background information is necessary to understand
I Peter. So, what do we know about, the author, the theme and the context in which
it was written? As the title suggests it
was written by none other than the apostle Peter. This letter was written
around 60 A.D. Peter’s first letter is one of the seven general letters and is
addressed to the five Roman provinces of Asia Minor. The occasion for writing
was persecution in the area, and was addressed to Christians who were suffering
for being Christians.
The letter was intended to encourage and equip the
readers for the difficult times ahead. The dominant theme is hope. It was
written to remind the believers in this world they are truly the aliens and
strangers, while they pass through this life they are to put their hope in a
more permanent world to come.
The hope found in Peter is the strong hope that
rests not on man but on God, the living and the loving God who is known by his
mighty acts. In this country we may not experience
the same persecution other Christians are experiencing in countries like India,
Iraq or North Kore, we may experience ridicule and humiliation for just being
Christians and we hold on to different values and standards. The first letter
of Peter helps us how to cope with when we are persecuted. Let’s begin our
study.
ALIENS &
STRANGERS
Any good letter has three
sections, the opening, the body and the closing. The First Epistle according to
Peter is a letter, so this too contains an opening, the body of content and
closing remarks. After asserting his position as the apostle of Jesus Christ
Peter reminds the believers of their position. I Pet 1:1, “Peter an apostle of
Jesus Christ to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen.” He reaffirms their position again in I Pet
2:11, “Beloved I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from
fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”
When we read the Bible; at times
we skip or gloss over certain words or passages. The Words Aliens and Strangers
are some of them. The words aliens, stranger or foreigner occur over 150 times
in the Bible. Peter employs these words twice in his first letter. Why did
Peter call them aliens and strangers?
Let’s pause and look at the words
“aliens and strangers and their intended purpose and meaning. In the Bible the
word alien was used to distinguish the natives from the people of other lands
and also show separation between the Jews and the non Jews. Peter addressed believers
as aliens and strangers to remind them of the troubles of their forefathers in
foreign lands. While they endure hardships they were to make the most of their
time in that place by engaging the culture instead of isolating from it. But
above all he wanted them to know that they were not permanent citizens of this
world but belonged another world an eternal one.
Soong Chan Rah in his Book “Many
Colors” explains the in-depth meaning of these words. “The words Aliens and
Strangers may have a similar connotation but the words do not have the exact
same meaning. Stranger means complete separation from the World. A stranger
should have nothing to do with the world, may be even should exhibit hostility
toward it. Strangers have no stake or concern with what is going on in the
world, rejecting its systems.
Aliens however, would not
necessarily imply being a complete stranger. In fact, one way of interpreting
alien would be as an immigrant. An immigrant or resident alien interacts
differently with society than does a stranger to that society. A stranger may
seek to completely disengage from the culture, while the immigrant would seek
ways to engage with that society. A stranger would take on the posture of
Christ against culture while an immigrant may not assume such a hostile
position.[1]
How do these
words apply to us today? Ar we Aliens & Strangers? On two counts yes.
Firstly we are aliens because we are living in a different country. Secondly,
we are aliens because our citizenship is in heaven. The first part does not
much explanation. So let me explain the second part of us being Aliens.
From the
patriarch Abraham till today the heroes of faith in Christ have always lived as
if they were aliens in this world. They have considered themselves as temporary
residents or sojourners who are just passing through this world heading to a
far more permanent place called heaven. Accordingly they lived simple and unattached
lives on earth. It is said of them that they were strangers, and exiles on the
earth…they are seeking a country of their own…they desire a better country,
that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for
He has prepared a city for them.”(Hebrew 11:13-16)
When we are
called to follow Christ we are called to an alien status. We are to live as if we
don’t belong here. What a freeing thought that is? It frees us from all the
unnecessary burdens we carry and all the entanglements we get ourselves into.
It doesn’t mean we should not work or do anything for living and entertainment.
In fact we are
called to seek the welfare of the city and pray (and work) for its prosperity
where in which we will find our own prosperity. We are to be integrated in the
society and not to be isolated from it. Being an alien doesn’t mean that you
are so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly use. On the contrary as we
wait for our heavenly city we have a job to do to make the earth a much better
place to live. The world needs Christians living out authentic lives
We are not only
aliens but also strangers. In the early Church people behaved rather strangely,
in order to stay away from sin they would totally cut themselves away from the
world and live in forests and deserts. The word stranger here doesn’t mean
weird and wacky (acting crazy) it
means detached or separated.
What are we to
be separated from? Not from the people and not definitely from the world, but
from sin! While we still live in the world we consciously make efforts to detach
ourselves from sin. In Hebrew 12:1, we read, “Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
finders and the sin that so easily entangles. Peter explains how we are to live
as we live here on earth as aliens and strangers, and as we wait for our Lord’s
return.
We are to live
such good lives among the pagans. Through the way we love over wives, respect
our husbands and raise our children in the fear of God. The way we do an
excellent job at our work place. By the way we contribute to the needs of the
community. By seeing our good deeds those who do not know God will glorify God.
The early pilgrims were great examples in maintaining this status of both being
aliens and strangers. As aliens they exhibited great work ethics as strangers
they maintained high moral standards. So let’s resolve today to live like the
Real Aliens & Strangers in this world. Amen
