Peter’s final words are about both
leadership and perseverance. He knows
that the church only perseveres if it is led properly, in a Christ-like
fashion. For that reason, he speaks to
both how leaders should lead, and how followers should follow.
The primary emphasis of Peter’s
instructions on leadership is on the ownership of the flock. The flock belongs to God, and for that reason
the sheep of the flock should be considered precious. Peter knows this because it was told to him
by Jesus Himself. We read of a scene on
the beach featuring Jesus and Peter in the final chapter of the gospel of
John.
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus
said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He
said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my
lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He
said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my
sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and
he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus
said to him, “Feed my sheep.” - John 21:15-17
Do you think Peter forgot this
exchange? Do you think he forgot the
look in Jesus’ eye when he asked Peter to look after the flock that he had
purchased at such a costly price? It is
only when we remember who owns the flock, and what the flock cost, that we can
hope to effectively lead followers of Christ.
Shepherds of the flock should be willing, not coerced, to take on the
responsibility of leading the church. The
rewards of spiritual leadership are eternal, not temporal. If church leaders are in it for the money,
they need to reconsider the nature of their profession. The luxury cars and gated mansions of today’s
popular “televangelist” are repugnant when judged in comparison to the standard
of true Christian leadership. And yet,
these are the people with the largest audiences, and the broadest influence. Despite their thousands of “followers”, it is
not the Creflo Dollars or Joel Osteens of the world that will influence the
church most. History has shown us that
it is the Augustines, who labor for decades in an African backwater, or the
Bonhoeffers who teach in “unaccredited”, clandestine seminaries in Nazi
Germany, who do the most to ensure that the church maintain its cruciform
character. After all, leadership is
about providing an example not issuing orders.
Peter instructs leaders not to be domineering, but to be examples. Where did he learn this approach to
leadership? I’d venture to guess he learned
it from a Messiah who didn’t just teach about suffering and sacrifice, but
modeled it as He went to the cross.
That’s what Peter has to say to church
leaders, but what about the rest of us?
Does he have a word for those of us who sit in the pews, following
rather than leading? Indeed he does, and
it is no less challenging than what he says to the leaders. First of all, he challenges us to submit. This idea of submission is especially
relevant when we consider the generation gap.
The younger generation often wants to go at a pace faster than that of
the leadership, or the older generation.
The younger generation should submit, as the elders have to consider the
entire church body when deciding how to proceed. Age and wisdom together provide a perspective
that those of us in the younger generation often lack. It’s one of the reasons that leaders are to
be Christians of proven character and judgment.
When telling the “youngsters” to “clothe” themselves with humility, the
term is stronger than when used elsewhere.
Here it refers to the garment, or apron, one ties on to prevent the
spoiling or soiling of one’s clothes.
Humility can literally prevent us from spoiling our reputation and even
our relationship with other Christians.
I have to wonder if Peter is thinking back here to his younger, more
impulsive days. Perhaps he is wishing
that at times he had a little larger dose of humility, and a little less
bravado. His experience has taught him
that leaders are grown, and not made.
Just as we would not expect to a sapling produce apples, so we cannot
expect younger Christians to immediately bear the fruits, and burden, of
leadership.
He speaks this way, to the leaders and
to the followers, because how they relate to one another will be crucial to
their ability to persevere. Perseverance
requires alertness, watchfulness not only for the coming end with the return of
Christ, but also for the situations that will test our faith in the
meantime. The testing will come because Satan
is our adversary, and he wants us out of the game. Just as a team focuses their efforts on the
opposing teams strongest player, so Satan comes the hardest after those with
the deepest faith. The key to making it
through it is relying on Christ, and understanding that persecution comes to
all Christians throughout the world. Those undergoing persecution must remember that
they don’t face these trials alone, they haven’t been singled out. In fact, in many ways the fact that they are
being persecuted is a testimony to their faith being evident.
When we trust in God, Peter says God
will do four things: restore us, establish us, strengthen us, and settle
us. God will restore the brokenness resulting
from the slings and arrows hurled at us by the world. God will establish us, and then strengthen us
so that we will no longer be moved.
Finally, God will settle us so that despite the raging of the storm, we
find in our heart a “peace that surpasses all understanding.” Peter ends this section the same way we end
our prayers, with a simple “amen”. The
word itself means, “let it be so”. Peter
knew the truth of what he wrote to these Christians, because he had experienced
it in his own life. He desperately wanted
them to experience it for themselves. In
words that echo Peter’s, we pray “amen”, let it be so.
