It Was About Evangelism

Scripture:

1Pet. 3:1   Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; ⁴ rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. ⁵ It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands. ⁶ Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.

Observation:

Peter is writing to the persecuted church living in a very hostile world. Many of the new believers are people from the margins including slaves and women. Some would argue that he spends a great deal of time here talking to women and says very little to men. That’s because the circumstances around their coming to faith would have differing consequences. Remember when Cornelius came to Christ — he and his entire household were baptized. However, if a wife came to Christ, this was an entirely different circumstance. Women were supposed to adhere to the religion of her husband. She had no power or authority to bring about the conversion of her family. Therefore these instructions are specifically for new believers who are women living in Roman society. 

Peter is not creating some kind of rule of thumb for Christian marriage, but is instead helping these new believers know how they can survive in their context and become living witnesses to the work of Christ. Women in Roman society were expected to submit to their husbands and accept their authority. They had no other option for this was the way in which society functioned. What is unique about this passage is that Peter is actually affirming the women as “independent moral agents” (Davids 1990, 116). They have power as children of God and they can use their influence as a witness to the transformation that occurs when Christ comes into their life. Paul’s hope was that this silent witness might not just lead to the husband’s toleration of the wife and her faith, but a wholehearted conversion. 

Peter’s instructions on appearance are not a legalistic requirement for what women are to wear but were, rather, speaking to the culture. Remember, this is about evangelism in the home. In today’s context he would be saying that you will not win your husband to the faith by dressing sexy, going to the gym six days a week, and getting the latest hairstyle. It’s not our outward appearance that wins people to the Lord, but it is our inward spirit. He then refers to the holy women of the Old Testament who were seen as righteous. Sarah’s “obedience” is submission to her husband which resulted in her becoming the mother of the faith. 

Ultimately, Powers tells us, “Peter’s instructions are paradigmatic for the way all Christians should live under hostile and threatening circumstances—without fear” (NBBC).

Application:

One can imagine these instructions having an impact on women who come to faith in Christ from Islam. Today, their lives are literally in danger for accepting Christ. They must continue to live in their homes and allow their lives to become a testimony to the work of Christ in their lives. If, in the past the relationship has been strained, a dramatic change in the wife’s behavior may spark questions about the cause of her transformation. 

When we realize that this conversation is entirely in regard to women learning how to live out their faith in the midst of hostile and threatening circumstances we see it in a different light. I feel challenged when I think about these first-century women who were surrounded by hostility and yet, they were willing to, not only live for Jesus, but become engaged in evangelism. 

I’m afraid that far too many Christians today have become complacent in their faith. The passion for evangelism seems to have evaporated, and married Christian women are, at times, looking for a way out of the relationship. These first century believers were looking to use every moment, every opportunity of life to share Christ with others. They believed in the need for conversion and, had they not sacrificed their own lives for that truth, most of us would not know Christ today. That’s why we, too, should look back to the holy women of the past and realize that we stand on their shoulders. We have the privilege of living the lives that we do today because of Christ — and because they paid the price. 

We spend too much time fussing over these passages because we have made them restrictive for women. They are not restrictive, but they are freeing. Women are to be agents of God’s redemptive work in the world. That doesn’t happen because we look “hot” — but because we reflect the nature of Christ. 

First-century believers who came from the margins of society were engaged in evangelism. What about us?

Prayer:

Lord, I’m convicted today when I think about these first-century women. Please, help me to stand faithfully on their shoulders. Amen.