Jump Start # 3827
1 Peter 4:4 “In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you.”
Surprises—some like them and others don’t. I’ve had a couple of milestone surprise birthday parties. I had no clue. Family and friends came from long distances and I walked into a room with shouts of “Surprise! Happy Birthday!”
In our verse today, it’s a different kind of surprise. We might use the word shock or can’t believe it. And, the topic is not celebrating a birthday. The shock and surprise surround sinful activities. Peter lists sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parities and abominable idolatries. It is apparent that in an earlier period of their lives, these brethren engaged in those things. But, now, they walked with the Lord. They crucified that old man. Christ lives in them. And, those that participated with these brethren in the past are shocked, surprised that they no longer want to do those things any more. Not only are they surprised, but they “malign” these Christ-followers.
Others word this passage:
NIV: They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
ESV: With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.
CSB: They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living– and they slander you.
CEB: They think it’s strange that you don’t join in these activities with the same flood of unrestrained wickedness. So they slander you.
We ought to see from this:
First, that a changed life brings different reactions from others. The angels rejoice when you come to the Lord. The people of God are so happy to see you follow Christ. But, those of the world think it’s odd, strange and are surprised that you do not continue in those things. Not only are they shocked, but they now turn on you and turn against you.
People ought to notice a difference when you follow Christ. If they don’t, you best hurry up and catch up with the Lord. You might be tagging behind too far to make a difference.
Second, those old friendships of the past now end. Because you won’t join them in their wrong activities, they malign, slander and ridicule you. That will be the end of any decent friendship. Hard to be friends when one has been slandered. Rather than respecting your choices, even though they may disagree, they have chosen to be mean and mock you. And, in this one realizes that these were not true friends. They really didn’t care about you. All they wanted was your support of them.
Third, in these days, I wonder if the one who is really surprised is the Lord. Rather than putting these things to the side and being done with them, some try to justify and find ways to continue in these choices, especially, drinking alcohol. Peter, uses three different words in this setting: drunkenness; carousing; drinking parties. And, those three words cover the spectrum of drinking, from the social, occasional drinking, to the partier, to the drunk. A little or a lot—Peter’s got it covered. You once lived that way. Your friends engaged in that with you. But now, you’ve put that away. Time is past for such living. You have made such a change that those you once did it with are surprised and now they slander you because you won’t continue with them in those practices.
But, more and more brethren are seeking a loop hole, finding a passage so they can continue to drink alcohol. Why? Will it make you a better Christian? Will it bring you closer to the Lord? Is it something that you’d find strong brethren doing? And, instead of putting distance between you and the world, you are finding a way to keep one foot in the world. And, who is surprised? Not your drinking friends. They are happy you are continuing in this. The one who is surprised is the Lord. Whose side are you on? Stop trying to make the world nice. It is not. Stop trying to find ways to get along with the world. You can’t. It’s time to burn the bridges between you and the world.
Abusing passages such as Jesus turning water to wine or leaders not given to MUCH wine has become the favorite verses of those who want to drink. And, are the drinking friends surprised that you do not run with them? No. No, because you are running with them. Who is surprised are the people of God.
It’s time to stop dangling our foot in the waters of the world. Get out of there and get closer to the Lord.
Surprise…who might really be surprised in all of this is the person who has fooled and deceived himself that he is righteous while continuing unrighteous lifestyles. He just might be surprised what the Lord says at the judgment.
Shock the world. Surprise your friends. Walk with the Lord and don’t look back.
Roger