Known But To God - I Peter 3: 13-22 - May 29, 2011- Cicero United Methodist Church - Everett
J. Bassett

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            Aisne-Marne cemetery in France contains the gravestones of over 2200 American soldiers who fought and died in that strategic vicinity during World War 1. In addition, the chapel holds the names of 1060 soldiers who were never found after the battles. It is a somber and sacred place. Most visitors eventually pass by the tomb of the unknown soldier, and read the inscription there: Here lies in eternal glory an American soldier, known but to God.

            I think that's a fitting tribute, because I imagine that every one of those gravestones, and every one of those names on the wall, represents a person whose story is known but to God. On Memorial Day weekend, we can remember that we are free because of the sacrifice of many; we can appreciate what they have given for us; we can know a few of them by name; some of you have served beside them -- but most of us can only begin to imagine the truth of where they have been and what they have seen. The thoughts of their minds, the longings of their hearts, the struggles of their spirits, and the hardships of their bodies, are truly known but to God. And as we know, for many coming back from war, that is an acute part of the struggle - the fact that no one who hasn't been there can truly understand. Only God knows the whole story.

            The writer of the first letter of Peter in the Bible would say that that is enough. What's known and celebrated by fellow humans is all to the good. But what is most important is what is recognized by God. God is the One who knows us better than we know ourselves; God is the One who understands us when no one else can; God is the One who protects us when nothing else can; and God is the One who forgives us even when we have trouble forgiving ourselves. So that unknown soldier, and all of his comrades in arms slain on that field, and those who survived that battle and all the others in history, and the men and women who are engaged in our two wars this day -- they are in good hands. God is with them, and that is the most important thing we could wish for them this Memorial Day weekend. It's not the only thing we wish for them - we wish for them to be home, safe with their loved ones. We wish for them to be physically and spiritually and emotionally protected. But while they are away dealing with the painful realities of this imperfect world, we especially wish that God will watch over them. And that is the spirit behind Peter's words.

            Peter was clearly writing to some Christians who were facing some great suffering. They were battling against persecution. No one knows if it was the armies of Rome, or religious enemies, or pressure from family and neighbors to give up their faith. But the people were suffering - they were compelled to defend their faith and their freedom. And Peter was writing to affirm them: Yes, sometimes you do have to stand up for what is right, and sometimes there is great suffering. But God is with you, and if you diligently strive to keep your spirit in His hands, then one way or another, you will be shielded from the powers of evil. Here are some of Peter's words, and what I want to notice is how the Christian message spins the emphasis away from the world-view to the God-view:

            For example, Peter asks in 3:13: "... who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?" And we might answer the first part of that question, "Well...a lot of people are trying to harm me. Osama bin Laden wanted to harm me; Al Q'aeda wants to harm me; my rival at work or school wants to harm me. Sometimes even people within our closest circles do us harm." And the appropriate response to that is to defend yourself, or at least remove yourself from harm's way. That's the world-view, and it would be hard to argue with it. But now here is the spin to a God-view. Peter doesn't say, "Who will harm you if you have a strong defense?" but "Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?"

            Peter is identifying a principle that is right at the heart of our Christian faith - the principle of meeting evil with good. It is the very defining characteristic of the Lord we follow; Jesus was constantly met with evil- and just as constantly responded with love and mercy and peace. And of course, in the end, evil sought to destroy Him on the cross. But our Easter faith is an affirmation that evil can harass goodness; evil can arrest goodness and put it on trial and mock and bruise goodness; evil can put goodness on a cross and bury it in a deep tomb. But evil can't defeat goodness; goodness rises again. And we can see the signs of it even in this tumultuous world.

            Consider Air Force Chief Master Sergeant John Gebhardt, a medical officer serving in Iraq. The little girl he is holding here is the only survivor of a brutal attack on her family by insurgents near Balad, Iraq. Her entire family was executed, and she was shot in the head. But miraculously she survived, and was treated at the military hospital. Understandably, she moans and cries often, and - one of those unexplainable strange things - is only peaceful around Master Sergeant Gebhardt. So he holds her at night until she goes to sleep. (And, as we see, sometimes she's not the only one who ends up asleep.) You can find stories similar to this one - stories of soldiers in hellish situations who meet evil with good. And while strategists will measure the war effort in terms of Predator aircraft, and Tomahawk missiles and M-9 pistols, I believe the long-term effect of a soldier who rocks a child to sleep will be just as important. "Who can harm you if you are eager to do what is good?" For Peter, the answer is No one. God will honor the good - whether on earth, or in the eternal heavens. That's our ultimate defense.

            And what about where you are? In some way, big or small, evil knocks on your door. It can be delivered by the horn of a car, by a sarcastic word, an unfriendly look, a vengeful act, an insult on Facebook. However it comes, you always have a choice. You can meet evil with evil, and escalate the battle. Or you can be eager to do what is good, and no harm will come to you. It may not seem that way at the time - no one may notice what you've done. But God will know, and that will be enough.

            Peter goes on to say, " ... even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed." Talk about putting the spin on our world-view. The world says that suffering is evil, and should be avoided at all cost. That's the world-spin. But the God-spin takes a different view. It says that there is something far worse than physical suffering; and that is betraying your principles, your values, your faith. We don't celebrate masochism; suffering for its own sake is not a good goal. But sometimes suffering is the price of freedom - that's why young women and men step forward to defend their country. Sometimes suffering is the price of progress, or of dignity. That's why thousands are risking their lives today facing soldiers in Libya and Yemen and Egypt. And suffering was the price of the world's salvation from sin; that's why Jesus stepped forward and carried the cross of our shame.

            And Peter doesn't just feel that we will endure through that kind of suffering for the sake of the good; he says we'll be blessed. We will be blessed in standing up for what is right and important. Sometimes the blessing will be earthly vindication - we'll see the bill passed, or the right honored, or the just served, or be in the victory parade. Those are the Hollywood endings that come rarely in life, but they are powerful blessings. Other times it will be more subtle things, like the movie Conviction, about a woman who is convinced that her brother has been wrongly imprisoned for life. So she dedicates her life to getting him freed, including getting a law degree, and fighting relentlessly for years and years. And just when it seems like she's done it all for nothing, she hears a conversation from her two sons, who have also suffered greatly for her crusade. And one asks the other if he would go to such lengths if he was wrongly imprisoned. And the brother thinks for a moment, and then says earnestly, 'Yes, I would.' And the woman realizes that whether or not she achieves her goal, her efforts have not been in vain. But other times there are no Hollywood endings, and our best efforts are known only by God, and the face we see in the mirror. Peter says that will be blessing enough.

            And again, what about you? What about me? What are we standing for in our lives that honors the freedom we've been given? That honors the salvation that was bought for us on the old rugged cross? God knows, and we know. And there will be blessing for those who give their lives for what is right.

            The lessons from this scripture could fill fifty sermons. Peter says 'Do not fear what they fear.' The world-spin is that the world is full of terror, and we have to be constantly afraid. That's how products are sold, political platforms are launched and Rapture predictors have their fifteen minutes of fame - all because of fear and how it is manipulated. The God-spin is that if we are walking with God, we don't need to be afraid. We have security in the One who is our rock and our salvation.

            Peter says, 'Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands of you an account ... ' The world-spin on that is that we have to be always vigilant and ready to stand up for hope and justice. And that is exactly what the verse says we must do. But the God-spin is in the way we do it, says Peter - with gentleness and reverence. Be the soldier that has a gentle place for children. Be the worker that honors the higher values of honesty and dignity. Be the consumer that cares about the earth and the disadvantaged ones. Be the student who doesn't cheat, who doesn't bully or abuse. No one may take notice - but God will know. And you will know. And that will be enough. You will be blessed.

            Finally, in verse 18, Peter says that Christ 'was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.' Those who fought and died in our nation's wars are parables of that God-spin - they surrendered their earthly lives, but their spirits are alive in our hearts and minds. And Jesus, says Peter, is the ultimate example of how God spins earthly death into life. He gave His Body and Blood, and the spirit of that giving is what we renew every time we come to the Lord's Table.

            Over this Easter season, we have been featuring a dance each week, as a symbol of our dance of faith with God. So far we have talked about the tango, the two-step, the Hokey-Pokey, and the rumba. Today's is a sacred dance, honoring the holy sacrifice of defenders of faith and freedom. And especially honoring our Lord, who enters into Holy Communion with us, giving his Body and Blood. But it's His spirit that keeps the dance going, giving us healing and life and peace. Let us dance with our Lord.