Bumper Sticker Faith FELL OWSHIP MINISTRIES


by GARY KREHBIEL, FEBC MINISTRIES COORDINATOR Recently I saw a bumper sticker that said, “What if


the Hokey-Pokey really IS what it’s all about?” I suppose if I followed that car around for a day, the drive might lead me in and out of neighborhoods until I finally caught on. The joke was simple and related to an experience most of us had in our childhood. (As a side note, I think that the song “Father Abraham” is really just the Chris- tian version of the Hokey-Pokey.) Many bumper stickers are just humorous, but some try to make a point. Maybe this one seems a little more purposeful, “Don’t blame a clown for acting like a clown. Ask yourself why you keep going to the circus.”


Studying books is one way that we grow wise in our


understanding and gain deeper knowledge, but a good quip can make a powerful point and be a great reminder. To truly grow in our faith we need to study God’s Word and understand how to apply it to our lives; we memo- rize Scripture so its truths are hidden in our hearts and remind us how to live.


One of my favorite verses isn’t much longer than a


bumper sticker, but packs powerful truth with practical life advice. First Peter 2:17 tells us to honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. In a time when political tension is high, social status and pressure consume many, and churches stray in priority, Peter of- fers a simple reminder about four different relationships.


Honor all people. This is the global responsibility of


followers of Jesus. I think of it as our response to unbe- lievers. The Greek word translated honor means “to fix the value.” Everyone has a fixed value, a value and worth given to them by God. Human beings were created in the image of God and have intrinsic value based on that truth. Add to that the fact that God sacrificed His Son to offer life to all people and we understand why we are to honor everyone. In our tense, divided time in histo- ry, not everyone acts honorably, but that reinforces the counter-cultural importance of honoring even those with whom we disagree.


Love the Brotherhood. We are to dearly love our


brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to love each with a deep affection. Jesus told His disciples that the world would know they are His disciples by their love for one another. Without sacrificial love we will not make an impact on those around us. And we need each other for support. We need each other in order to avoid discour- agement and to strengthen us as we encounter a hostile culture. God’s grace experienced through the lives of oth- ers encourages us to persevere. I think this also addresses


the Church. We can’t love other believers without also loving the institution of the Church. This living organism is essential for us. God loves it so deeply He calls it the bride of Christ.


Fear God. Do


we relate to God with the reverence that He is due? He is the supreme authority in the universe and in our own lives. The first two relationships were with others, but this is the principal relationship. The call for believers is to trust God and follow Him above all else.


Honor the king. This statement in connection


with the previous one (Fear God) is a reminder of Jesus’ teaching to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. The word honor used here is the same one used at the beginning of the verse. Ruling authori- ties have value whether they are benevolent or ruthless. Peter’s readers were hearing this at the time of rising persecution in the Roman Empire. This wasn’t a time of peace and comfort for those that Peter was addressing. Peter emphasizes that we need to respect even those that we may not respect. Respect is not the same as honor. But our response to rulers is not based on their respectability.


So there it is. A simple way to characterize our rela-


tionships: Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king. We have to ask ourselves some questions. Am I honoring people with whom I disagree? Do I treat them with dignity or do I treat them with con- tempt? Are my words honoring or degrading? Do I love the Church and its members? Do I have an unresolved dispute with a brother or sister that is hindering my repute outside of the Church? Do I live as though the one person that I strive to please is my heavenly Father? Do I talk about and act on the things that He values? And do I honor the authorities that God has allowed into my life?


While the world is changing rapidly, the anchor of


Scripture speaks to our priorities in every relationship that we have.


FELLOWSHIP FOCUS, FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 10


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