Have you ever heard the saying that “Christians are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good”? We learned in 1 Peter 1 that our allegiance to Jesus puts us at odds with the culture around us. What gives us hope is that this life and its trials are brief compared to what God has for us in eternity. As a result, many Christians live only for the future. That’s an overreaction. Chapter 2 explores how we should actually be while we’re still living here in this secular world. So when you’re caught up in a culture war, Peter reminds us to“be” four things:

Be defined by God’s kingdom.

The foundation for everything we do in life is our identity in Christ. If you understand who you are, how we engage the culture will reflect God’s priorities and purpose. This is what Peter reminds us about in the first half of chapter 2.

First, we are living stones in Christ’s temple (4-5). Everything God plans to accomplish in the world is compared to a new temple. With Jesus as the chief cornerstone (4), everything God does is built on him. But Christians are stones in that temple (5). We are integrally connected to Jesus. We are part of God’s plan. Peter points out that Jesus was rejected by his people, but chosen by God (4). This defines the relationship we have with the culture around us. We may be rejected, but we’re also chosen by God to represent him.

Second, we are a chosen people who belong to God, the recipients of his mercy (9-10). We don’t belong to any power or institution of the culture around us. We are royal priests of God. Like the Old Testament kings and priests, we are set apart to serve God and his people. Thus we aren’t defined by political affiliations, ethnic identities, nationality, social standing, vocation, or any other factor by which the world tries to define people – but by our relationship with God.

Third, Peter reminds us again (as in chapter 1) that we are “temporary residents and foreigners” in this world (11). Like exiles in a faraway land, we don’t conform to the local culture. We can never be fully at home here. The desires of the world (11) that mean so much to people around us should not drive us. 

Be a light to your neighbors. 

The first set of relationships Peter wants us to consider is the people who live around us. When we live as royal priests belonging to God (9), the result is that we “can show others the goodness of God” (10). More specifically, Peter says, “Live properly among your unbelieving neighbors” (12). He warns that people might accuse you of doing wrong, just because you don’t follow their beliefs and values (see 4:4). But the quality of our lives should refute any slanderous claims against us (see 15-16). When we feel like the surrounding culture is at war with us, we can make our neighbors the enemy. We can escalate the tension by how we respond to them. But chapter 3 calls us to explain our hope in Christ to them “in a gentle and respectful way” (3:16).

Be respectful to human authority. 

Next, verses 13-14 address our relationship with government authority. Human governments are often the source of opposition against Christians. This was true of the Roman empire in Peter’s time. Yet Peter expects us to “submit to all human authority” (13) – from the head of state on down. We don’t do this because we trust any government to be righteous. We do it “for the Lord’s sake” (13). God gave the government its authority in order to curtail evil and encourage right (14). It doesn’t always succeed, but because we ultimately trust the rule of God as King, we can respect the earthly king (17). 

This command is surprising! Being foreigners and exiles in this world, you might expect the Bible to be more antagonistic toward earthly rulers. Or you might expect it to ignore human authority as irrelevant. Instead, we’re called to submit to it – even when we might suffer at its hands. The only exception is when government officials explicitly demand that we disobey God. Years before Peter wrote this letter, the ruling council of Jerusalem commanded him to stop talking publicly about Jesus. He refused, telling them, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29).

Peter’s call to submission reflects a principle at work throughout the whole book. In verse 21, he says, “God called you to do good, even if it means suffering.” We could suffer because of the slanders of our neighbors. We might suffer at the hands of the government. But Peter warns us that if we do suffer, it should be because of our faith in Jesus, not because of any bad behavior on our part (4:15). He says, “If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you” (4:19).

To summarize, people who belong to God will be opposed by human culture. But we should continue to be a light to our neighbors and to respect human authority. That leads to the third sphere of human relationships affected by the culture wars:

Be connected to God’s people. 

Verse 17 gives a quick tease of a larger theme: “Love the family of believers.” Chapters 3 and 4 cover this in more detail. Simply put, in hard times, we need other Christians, and they need us! Many Christians today aren’t navigating the clash of cultures very well because they have isolated themselves from the community of faith.

This way of relating to others when the culture moves against us goes against the grain. We find ourselves lashing out against the people or forces that threaten us. It’s important to know that when God calls us to do good, even in suffering, our example is Jesus (21). When he was unjustly attacked on the cross, he didn’t retaliate, but left his case in the hands of God (22-23). As a result of his response, we have been forgiven and healed (24-25).

All day, every day, the culture around us is reinforcing its values and beliefs. But when compared to God’s word, much of what we hear turns out to be dangerous misinformation. Nowhere is this more evident than what the world tells us about the family. 1 Peter 3 addresses men’s and women’s roles in marriage, along with relationships in the church as a whole. What Peter teaches may sound foreign compared to society’s prevailing norms. But if we’re willing to make choices that go against the flow, Peter offers us a better way.

Our culture says “I’m the boss of me.” The Bible says “Submit to authority.”

The secular culture places a high value on personal autonomy. People don’t want anyone to tell them what to do. They are quick to reject authority if their leaders don’t support their preferences. By contrast, the Bible teaches that authority systems are established by God to help human beings thrive. Even though they are imperfect, we should respect and submit to the authorities God has placed over us. In chapter 2, this includes governing authorities. The exception is when the authorities demand something contrary to God’s word (Acts 5:29).

In chapter 3, the focus shifts to leadership in the family, where wives are expected to follow the lead of their husbands (1 Peter 3:1-2). The word “submission” means “to voluntarily arrange yourself under another.” That means it’s not about who is superior or inferior, but is simply an arrangement to bring order to family life. So rather than seeking autonomy from her husband, a wife should seek to be a team player in support of his leadership.

We’ll see below that there are two sides to this coin. In verse 7, husbands are called to act in ways that make it easy for their wives to submit. The larger principle is found in Ephesians 5:21, where husbands and wives are told to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Both husbands and wives yield to each other, but in different ways. But what if your husband is not a follower of Jesus? Peter gives the encouragement (2) that a wife’s godly behavior and attitude can go a long way toward winning him over to Jesus.

Our culture says “Beauty is skin deep.” The Bible says “Beauty comes from within.”

Popular culture is obsessed with external beauty. Millions of dollars are spent each year on beauty aids, and more than 15 million cosmetic surgeries are performed annually. Women pursue ever-changing beauty fads and trends. Looking your best is not wrong. But the culture’s ideal of beauty is often crushing for ordinary women. Peter points to a better way.

 Peter points out that personal character creates an inner allure that is far more important than skin-deep beauty. Specifically, he mentions “a gentle and quiet spirit” (4). This is not about a certain personality type, nor is it calling for women to be timid or passive. The Bible gives many positive examples of strong, successful women – but inner beauty goes beyond just these qualities. And Peter reminds women with non-Christian husbands that they won’t be won to faith by outward attractiveness, but by the inner beauty of an exemplary character.

Our culture says “Patriarchy is evil.” The Bible says “Godly men exist.”

Many in our culture believe male leadership is simply an excuse to subjugate women. Sadly, plenty of examples in American history, including church culture, support this view. For much of our history, women could not independently own property or vote in an election. Abuse of male authority is all too common in contemporary society as well, from media CEOs who sexually exploit subordinates to men who physically and verbally abuse their wives.

The biblical approach is that male leadership does not have to be toxic. Godly men lead differently. Peter calls for men to “give honor” to their wives (7), esteeming them highly and expressing their value to them and others. Peter also expects men to “treat your wife with understanding” (7). Men need to know and understand their wives and lead them with wisdom.

This reflects a larger biblical principle of leadership. Jesus explained that leaders in any culture are likely to flaunt their authority to control others. But to his followers, he said, “Whoever wants to be a leader must be your servant” (Mark 10:43) Jesus himself provides the example, for he “came not to be served but to serve others” (Mark 10:45). Christian men are called to lead at home by honoring, understanding and serving their wives.

Our culture says “Men and women are the same.” The Bible says “Men and women are equal.”

Our culture is divided on this issue. Some act like men and women are the same, minimizing the innate differences between them. Others treat women as inferior – marginalizing, demeaning, and objectifying them. The biblical perspective is that men and women are different, but they are also equal before God. Verse 7 calls attention to one obvious difference: men are physically stronger than women. At the same time, Peter emphasizes their equality, pointing out to men that one’s wife “is an equal partner in God’s gift of new life” (7). Even though men and women have different roles, they are completely equal in their worth to God and access to his grace. 

Our culture says “Christians are divided.” The Bible says “Christians, unite!”

Our culture is torn by division of many kinds. Many people expect the same from the church. Instead of one people of God unified by our common identity, they see denominational, political and social divides rending the church.

Peter expresses the perspective of the whole Bible when he urges Christians to live in unity, as described by five commands:

• Be like-minded: harmony comes when Jesus is the lens for everything else in life.
• Be sympathetic: care enough about others to share their joys and griefs.
• Love one another: create bonds of affinity and affection by sharing life together.
• Be compassionate: respond inwardly, at a gut level, to the needs of others.
• Be humble: don’t think too highly of yourself, but value others highly.

When we contrast the values and ideas of the culture to the Bible’s viewpoint, it’s clear that Christians are swimming upstream in a swirl of misinformation. When we put the Bible’s values into practice, we can expect antagonism. But our marriages and relationships will flourish most when we follow the better way of Jesus.

Christians tend to think of culture wars in terms of “us” versus “them”. It’s true that because we follow Jesus, we are foreigners in this world. It’s also true that the prevailing culture will oppose our most important beliefs and values. But while denouncing ideas and forces in society around us is easier, the culture war isn’t just a battle we fight on the outside. It’s a character war we need to win first on the inside. 1 Peter 4 addresses both our attitudes and our habits to show us how to win the war within.

Chase God.

In verse 2, Peter warns us to not waste our lives chasing our own desires. Instead, he says, “Be anxious to do the will of God.” This is where godly character begins: with a choice to put what God wants first over what we want. Verse 1 tells us that trials have the power to help us overcome sin. God uses hardships to purify our lives and develop maturity (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-4). But trials are only transformational when we’re putting God first. If we’re not chasing God, trials will only make us bitter, not better. We win the war within when we choose to respond to hardship by focusing on God and his will.

Don’t plunge into destruction.

Peter’s audience lived in a culture marked by immorality, lust, feasting, drunkenness, and wild parties (3). Those values and practices are common enough in our culture as well. Most of us have at least dipped a toe in that stream, while some of us have been immersed in it. But Peter warns that those waters are dangerous – like a wild and destructive flood (4). Our culture offers plenty of enticement to sin. We see it normalized in entertainment media of all kinds. Our own hearts can draw us toward the water’s edge. But Peter says, “You have had enough of that in your past” (3). So we win the war within when we draw a boundary that we just won’t cross, no matter what others might say. 

Sharpen your prayers.

As antagonism ramped up toward Christians in the Roman empire, it must have felt like the end of the world was near (7). For those who became martyrs for Christ, it was. Peter wasn’t wrong about the end. The Bible teaches that Jesus could return very soon to wrap things up – or our own lives could end at any time. We simply don’t know the timing of either event. That’s why Christians have always lived with a sense of urgency. With that in mind, Peter says, “Be earnest and disciplined in your prayers” (7). He’s talking about serious prayer, not casual but focused and intentional. So when you feel the pressure of the culture bearing down on you, get on your knees. Prayer is vital if you hope to stay strong under outward pressure – and if you want to win the character war in your own heart.

Show love in practical ways.

When we feel embattled by the world, many of us will isolate from others and become self-centered. But Peter calls us to a better choice, to “show deep love for each other.” First, this means bearing with and forgiving others. In verse 8, “love covers a multitude of sins,” in the sense that love is patient with others’ faults (see Proverbs 12:10). We’re not quick to be offended or to make a fuss when others blow it. Second, love means hospitality (9). In the Bible, hospitality is not mainly friends having each other over for dinner. It’s about using your resources – like your home or your food – to care for people in need. Both of these expressions of love go against our selfishness. That’s why, when we act this way, we’re winning the war within. 

Use your spiritual gifts.

Verses 10-11 build on the idea of loving each other. Not everyone has material resources to share with those in need. But all of us have abilities we can use to help each other (10). Peter points out in verse 10 that every Christian has a spiritual gift, that it comes from God, and that there are many different gifts. But all the abilities God gives us can be divided into two larger groups. There are speaking gifts and helping gifts (11). Some people are good with words. Among other things, they might have the ability to teach, comfort, encourage, challenge, or evangelize. Others are good with practical help. They might have the ability to make meals, fix things, organize events, handle money, solve practical problems, show compassion, and more. Serving others is a very important part of character development, because it helps us realize that life is not just about us. When we get outside ourselves to serve others, we’re winning the war within.

The last verse in 1 Peter 4 sums it up: “Keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” To win the inner war, embrace these two priorities. As you commit yourself to trust and obey God, the kind of attitudes and habits Peter refers to will take shape in your life. We may or may not succeed in influencing the values and beliefs of the culture around us. But we can win the character war within our own souls.

The book of 1 Peter has challenged us that we’re in a culture war. Because we belong to Jesus, the world around us will always be antagonistic toward our beliefs and values. But the battle with our culture is not a losing effort. If Christians stand firm, the result may not be major changes in the culture. But that’s not the ultimate measure of victory. Peter understood this because thirty years before, Jesus had taught him how to succeed in the battle. Now Peter takes the principles he had learned at Jesus’ feet and applies them to his situation – and ours. As we compare 1 Peter 5 with Luke 22, three final instructions become clear. 

Approach the battle with humility.

Luke 22 recounts the last night Jesus spent with his closest followers before he went to the cross. After eating with them, Jesus imparted some final words of wisdom. At one point, the disciples began arguing over who would be the greatest among them (Luke 22:24). Jesus set them straight. “In this world,” he says, “the kings and great men lord it over their people” (Luke 22:25). But his followers must reject the pattern of the culture: “Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be the servant” (Luke 22:26).

Jesus’ words are echoed in Peter’s. He opens chapter 5 by speaking to the leaders of the churches. He warns them, “Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care” (1 Peter 5:3), but serve them like a shepherd. Then he applies the principle to everyone: “All of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another” (1 Peter 5:5), trusting that “at the right time God will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6). Humility is not the opposite of courage. It doesn’t mean being passive or giving up the battle. Humility is simply trusting the outcome of our battle to God, seeking to give honor for the results to him instead of ourselves.

Satan is the real enemy, not culture.

On that last night with his followers, Jesus knew that he was about to be falsely arrested, brutally punished, and ultimately executed by Roman and Jewish authorities. But he also knew where the real battle would be waged. So he warned Peter (using his given name), “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:31-32). Satan wanted to test Peter’s allegiance to Jesus. That would happen in just a few hours. But Peter ignored the warning. He still hadn’t learned the lesson of humility. He declared that he was ready to go to prison or even die for Jesus. Yet three times that same night, he denied even knowing Jesus.

Eventually Peter figured it out. He recovered from his cowardly denials. Over the next 30 years, Peter passed the test through all kinds of ups and downs. The Jewish leaders had arrested and flogged him because he wouldn’t stop talking about Jesus (Acts 5:26-40). The king had thrown him in prison to await execution (Acts 12:1-4). Through all this, Peter understood that the people who opposed Jesus and made trouble for him were not the real enemy. Ephesians 6:12 confirms this view. It explains that our fight is not against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against spiritual powers at work in the unseen world. In light of this, Peter calls us to action: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9). 

The real fight doesn’t happen in politics, media, or the academic world. It isn’t against the people or governments who oppose biblical values. We should stand firm for Jesus in those realms. But we don’t dare to neglect the more important fight that takes place through prayer (1 Peter 4:7) and personal holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Trust God for ultimate victory.

Peter has been honest with his readers about the trials (1 Peter 1:6), the slander (1 Peter 2:12,15; 4:4), and the suffering (1 Peter 3:17; 4:13) they would have to face. He warned that Satan is like a powerful lion seeking to destroy us. In spite of these challenges, Peter wrote with great hope, because he knew that God – not the culture, and not Satan – would win the victory in the end. Peter learned this directly from Jesus. In Luke 22, with his death only hours away, Jesus encouraged his followers: “You have stayed with me in my time of trial” (Luke 22:28). In response, “I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom” (Luke 22:29-30). Jesus promised that his death was not an ultimate victory for evil. Christians might suffer in many ways for a time, but God would reward his faithful followers in the end.

1 Peter ends with this same hopeful news. In verses 10-11, Peter reminds his readers of the great truth he introduced in chapter 1: “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory…” (1 Peter 5:10). Suffering is only temporary. In the end, Peter is confident that God “will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation” (1 Peter 5:10). That’s why Peter can say, in verse 7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you.”

The promise of verse 10 has two important applications. On one hand, we have the assurance that God will keep us strong when the culture comes against our values and beliefs – even if we suffer as a result. When we stumble, God will restore us – as Peter knew first hand. But Peter also knew that the culture war might lead to martyrdom, as it did for him. So the second application of this promise is eternal. There is an ultimate restoration ahead, when we are united with Jesus at the end of the age.

So don’t be afraid when the culture comes against you because of your faith. Stand firm! Don’t stop doing what’s right! We have every reason to trust in God. No matter what happens to us in this life, we belong to him, and he will win the ultimate victory.