On Common Ground

Scripture:

2Pet. 1:1   Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, 

 To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2Pet. 1:2   May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Observation:

This is the second letter that claims to be written by Peter. One commentator said it’s the most neglected book of the New Testament. It’s very different from First Peter, and does not identify the geography of his audience. In this letter the name Simeon is used, which is the actual way that his name would have been pronounced when he was growing up back in the Galilee. It was not uncommon to identify oneself by their Hebrew and Greek name, and sometimes even the Aramaic version. He also identifies himself as a servant and apostle of Jesus — the Messiah. 

What Peter does tell us about his audience is that have received the faith, and this is a faith that is as precious as his own. The language that is used here leads one to understand that the readers of the letter, and the writer of the letter were equals in the faith. The faith has to do with participating in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, however, his statement is a very bold theological one. Here he specifically makes the connection that Jesus is God, the Messiah, the Savior, and his character is righteous. For the first century believers this is a huge statement and it is just because of this declaration that all of humanity can find themselves on common ground, even with the great Apostle Peter. 

As was common in written greetings, he blessed the readers with grace and peace, which was a Christian twist to a typical Greco-Roman greeting. His desire was that God’s people would experience this grace and peace in abundance, which was possible through knowing God. 

Application:

Christianity was a radically different kind of faith — one which the world had never before experienced. Roman society was one which was greatly concerned with status and standing in society. Christianity spoke of humility and encouraged her leaders to follow the example of the crucified leader, Jesus. The point is that all members of the kingdom of God find themselves on common ground. No one individual is of greater importance than another in the kingdom. We are all one in Christ.  

The implications for this are vast. I have the privilege of living in the same home with my daughter and her family. We have our own space downstairs but it is a blessing to get to spend time with our grandchildren. These little people are just as precious in the eyes of God as any grown-up. We have a responsibility to lovingly care for and protect the next generation in our world. If we were to view the children within our families and communities on common ground with the grown-ups — what would we do differently? I think that we would make it a priority to help these little ones become grounded in the faith. Peter knew that the way he lived his life would have an impact on those whom he was discipling. The same is true for us today. The way in which we live our life will have an impact on the little eyes that are watching. They will catch the inconsistencies right away and question the value of our faith if we are not consistent in what we say and what we do. 

In the United States we have seen a season of social unrest and many questions around racism. Throughout history there have been times when the church has failed in her responsibility to those who have been abused by society. If we truly believed that all of humanity was on common ground, we would treat one another differently, and speak up when we saw injustice. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement was a social activist. He did not believe that we were saved by good works but that we were saved for good works. In 1744 Wesley wrote a tract, Thoughts Upon Slavery, in which he “condemned slavery as contrary, not only to the Christian love of neighbor, but to common humanity. While the combined powers of Church and State argued that slavery was an economic necessity, Wesley thundered that it could never be reconciled with love of neighbor” (McGonigle, More Than Conquerors, 94). McGonigle goes on to say, “At the heart of the Wesleyan revival lay the conviction that while holiness is loving God with all our hearts, it is no less loving our neighbor as ourselves” (94). This is because we are all on common ground, and it’s when we act as if we were on different ground that we begin to tear one another apart, and the church will die. 

Followers of Jesus Christ are to find themselves united in a way that is stunning to the world. It’s in the church where the great Apostles and the little children find themselves as equals. The church should be the place where people from every level of society, as well as from every nation and tribe of the world, find themselves on common ground. May we be a people who will love our neighbors fiercely and reflect the holy love of Christ to the world. 

Prayer:

Lord, it is humbling to imagine that you have provided all things necessary for me to find myself on common ground with other members of your kingdom. May I live faithfully on common ground with all my brothers and sisters in you.  Amen.