"#$%&'!()*+!$*!),-.%&!/&0&1$#*-! 2,3$*4!56,.!78!9#%%#-:$*-! <B?$6&!<$4&&$!5,$6&.4,%!

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1 !!! "#$%&'!()*+!$*!),-.%&!/&0&1$#*-! 2,3$*4!56,.!78!9#%%#-:$*-!! <B?$6&!<$4&&$!5,$6&.4,%! Chad E. Billington

2 %&'()*+,-!%&.(/!01232/+(&',! We tend not to be big fans of rejection. We gravitate towards acceptance. o We look for friends who will accept us. o We get concerned about who our children will lean towards. o Why people get into all kinds of trouble (or good), looking for approval & acceptance. 4'2!5()*+!+*('6!+*(-!72-(82!9&8!#//2.+#'/2!(-!:#7;!<!7&',+! God has wired us for relationships. Genesis 2:18 (NIV) 18 The LORD God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. We are made to desire and live with others, and if we are to get along, how we relate to others and receive others should matter. 1232/+(&'!=+($$!>?8+-! That said, rejection still hurts, and we sometimes don t know how to handle it well. <!@#-!82#7(')!('!A!B2+28! Tonight I wanted to look at rejection because it came up while I was reading recently in 1 Peter chapter 2. This letter has some very practical applicable thoughts on how to handle rejection, mostly because of what the people there were dealing with. C#/6)8&?'7! Christians in the 60 s (not the 1960 s, but 60 s AD). In a region of the Roman empire where they were facing persecution. Not systematic by the empire at this point from what we can tell, but sporadic, but dangerous. In this atmosphere, of facing persecution for being a Christian, Peter writes offering his counsel. What are some of the practical thoughts on rejection / persecution? ()*+!$*!),-.%&!/&0&1$#*-G! HDEFD! 2,:&!D!*I!J!

3 D-6;!EF(7!<!7&!+*(-!+&!5G-2$9HI! This comes from what Peter said to some slaves in Roman times. Culturally this verse may seem very out of touch with us today, but if we look at the context it makes sense. 1 Peter 2:20 (NIV) 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. In today s terms, we might ask what good is it to be fired for stealing? If you did it you will suffer consequences. When we have hurt, sinned against someone or been stupid, the best solution to rejection is repentance to the other. We need to take responsibility for our actions in life, as they have real consequence. J'3?-+!1232/+(&'!! Then there is what I would call unjust rejection, a rejection that comes from misunderstanding or malice. How do we handle that? Three practical tips from 1 Peter. AK EF&!L&&7I! 1 Peter 2:12 (NIV) Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:15 (NIV) For it is God s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. The people Peter was writing to were living in a culture that was hostile to them, and accused them of doing wrong. Rather than hiding, and keeping to ones self, Peter tells them to do good. Goodness silences critics better than ambivalence. ()*+!$*!),-.%&!/&0&1$#*-G! HDEFD! 2,:&!K!*I!J!

4 Sometimes our attitude when difficulty comes is to retreat, to hide. Jesus tells us that in these circumstances, we are to let our good deeds shine, and God will get glory out of them. Matthew 5:16 (NIV) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. MK C$2--;!F&!N&+!O?8-2! Sometimes we don t choose to retreat, we choose to fight back. 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV) 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. This sounds very contrary to what we are inclined to do, but for a moment I want you to think in terms of what actually works. Does it work to start a vengeance fight with someone else? At the very least it creates confusion on the part of the other. Blessing reveals reality. Sometimes the blessing will reveal brokenness that needs healing, anger that is misdirected. PK C2!.82.#827!+&!)(Q2!#!)2'+$2!#'-@28! This is one of the things I wasn t expecting, a verse I have heard many times, but not in this context. 1 Peter 3:15 16 (NIV) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ()*+!$*!),-.%&!/&0&1$#*-G! HDEFD! 2,:&!L!*I!J!

5 If you are not retreating from doing good, and blessing those who curse you (if those people keep it up), it will arouse curiosity among others who see the discrepancy. At this point a gentle answer is a powerful witness (much more so than a harsh, or judgmental answer). D$$!'(/2!#'7!)&&7;!:?+!*&@!&'!2#8+*!7&!@2!7&!+*#+H! I can t do that (perhaps, I don t want to do that) is your answer when you hear these things. We know they work, but how do we get to this, how can we do this. Unfair of me to tell you the how, without the why Peter reminds us, that how we handle rejection begins by looking at Jesus. He is our leader, our example, our saviour. 1 Peter 2:4 5 (NIV) 4 As you come to him, the living Stone rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus was rejected. And as we look at his example we find that he did good, he blessed and did not curse, he gave an answer to those who were seeking. But how did he do these things. The key is found in 1 Peter 2:23 1 Peter 2:23 (NIV) 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. Jesus entrusted himself to his Father. This word is amazing, it means to turn one over to the control and care of another. On the flip side it is used as betrayal. Luke 22:48 (NIV) but Jesus asked him, Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? ()*+!$*!),-.%&!/&0&1$#*-G! HDEFD! 2,:&!M!*I!J!

6 HOW WE HANDLE REJECTION IS INFLUENCED LESS BY WHAT IS DONE TO US AND MORE BY HOW WE VE ENTRUSTED OURSELVES TO THE HANDS OF THE GOD WHO WILL ACCEPT US. rejected by humans but chosen by God 1 Peter 2:4 Do you know that you are chosen by God. Have you submitted to God with your life. Handling rejection begins by handing control over to him, submitting to his life and will. ()*+!$*!),-.%&!/&0&1$#*-G! HDEFD! 2,:&!J!*I!J!