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.
