I Peter 4:12-19: what's in a name?

One of Peter’s themes in his first epistle is the reason for our suffering.  Suffering is a universal experience; it happens to us all in some form or fashion.  There is suffering whose cause is amoral.  Many diseases are not the cause of our own good or evil action, but the result of circumstance, genetics, or even just bad luck.  Peter is not talking about that type of suffering.  He’s talking about the type of suffering we bring on ourselves.  It can be the result of either our good, or our evil actions. 

Originally, the name “Christian” was most likely intended to be a slander.  Christ was reviled by most of the Roman world, or at least by those in the Roman world who had heard of Him.  What type of Christ, or Messiah, is crucified?  For that reason, followers of Christ were referred to as Christians, in an effort to identify them with someone who the world saw as a failed Messiah.  How does Peter tell them to respond to this slanderous title?  He tells them to wear it with pride.  What happens if we gladly accept such identification, and then go about doing good deeds in our community?  We need not be ashamed of such a title, and in fact the name Christian can bring glory to God if people associate our identity as Christians with good deeds.  Soon, people will forget the fact that the name was originally meant to be demeaning, and instead praise God for the good things happening in the community because of people called “Christians”.  We share in Christ’s sufferings, even if it those sufferings are as simple as being slandered a little.  If that is the case, then we also share in the pattern of His life, which includes His resurrection and glorification.  God’s glory should rest on us, because of the way we pattern our life after Christ, just as it rested on the Israelites in the Old Testament.  It might not take the form of a cloud or a pillar of fire, but it should be just as visible. 

When we decide to do good, even when it brings suffering into our life, we are placing our trust in God.  While pleading with God for deliverance, David would write “into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.” (Psalm 31:5)  Even as he turns his fate over to God, David knows that redemption is already a reality.  The epitome of suffering, the cross, has Jesus echoing David’s words, making the prayer from scripture His own.  “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46)  Even when standing at death’s door, Jesus entrusted His spirit to God.  That faith was rewarded three days later when God vindicated Him by raising Him from the dead.  Are we making the decision every day, whether in good times or bad, to pray that great prayer of faith, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”?