5 Ways to Live as a Christ Follower in a Post-Christian Culture

Heart pumping furiously, leg muscles screaming, the marathon runner rounds the last bend. The cheering crowds grow exponentially louder as he approaches the end of his race. What’s the worst thing he could do at this moment? Take his eyes off the finish line.

Peter opens his letter by reminding us of our great and glorious finish line – the end result of our salvation. We are “born again to a living hope, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven” for us (1 Peter 1:4). Our faith, proven genuine and more precious than gold by the fires of suffering will result in “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3-9). Like a marathon runner, we have to keep the end goal in mind. We cannot be deceived into spending our time and energy preoccupied by what’s happening in the culture so much so as to forget our future.

Slowing down to listen to the cheering (or mocking) crowds, looking around to compare our pace to another runner, or stopping to look backwards at where we’ve already been are all ways to guarantee we stumble and fall.

Have you noticed the division that is occurring in the body of Christ over cultural, political, and social issues? Are you discouraged by the criticism and mocking of those who despise Jesus? Have you been tempted to compromise to win the crowd’s approval? How many times have you heard, “I just can’t wait to get back to normal?”

For the true believer, the Holy Spirit will compel and convict us to finish, but we don’t want to stumble into heaven, distracted and scarred by worldly values. The culture we live in has many distractions. Keeping a heavenly perspective will give us the right focus and desire for living in it without being caught up in it. This is not our home, and we ought to think often of our home. We are to “fix our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).

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Living in a post-Christian culture requires an awareness of spiritual warfare. There is a battle going on for the souls of men, and this battle rages between the Spirit of God and the angels of heaven, and our enemy, the devil, and his demonic spirits, the fallen angels. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Peter tells us to “prepare our minds for action” (1:13). In other words, put your game face on, suit up, get ready for battle! Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, we are to “arm [ourselves] with the same purpose” (4:1); in context the purpose is setting our minds not to sin. When culture disintegrates around us and distractions come, we recognize them as the schemes of the devil who is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. We are to “resist him, firm in our faith” (1:9).

Peter reminds us repeatedly in his letter of the importance of living godly lives in an ungodly culture. We are not to participate in the sensual, lustful lifestyles we see around us because God called us out of sin to live in holiness (1 Peter 1:14-16). We are not to be like the world, having a reputation for malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, or slander, but are to be called out, separate, holy people who belong to God (1 Peter 2:1, 9). Peter urges his readers “as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul” and to “keep our behavior excellent” so that evildoers will glorify God (1 Peter 2:11-12).

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Have you ever taken care of a hungry baby? One moment they are lying in your arms perfectly content and in about sixty seconds they can be screaming like they haven’t eaten in days. When it’s time for milk, they make their need known in no uncertain terms.

This craving, this absolute, can’t-be-satisfied-with-anything-else basic human need is exactly the kind of desire Peter tells us we must have for God’s Word. “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). Once we’ve tasted the kindness of the Lord, nothing else satisfies.

If we are to survive in a post-Christian, anti-Christian culture, God’s Word must be the final authority and the highest priority of our lives. It is by the living and enduring word of God that we are born again; it is this Word that was preached to us, and we must cling to it without question (1 Peter 2:23-25). One of the greatest threats in a post-Christian culture is the diminishing respect and belief in the Bible. If we walk away from God’s Word in even the smallest compromise, we will undermine our faith and lose our credibility to proclaim the gospel at all.

This love of and faith in God’s Word protects us from the false teachers who are even now in our midst and will grow in number and influence as the time of Jesus’ return nears (2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 2:18). God’s Word will give us wisdom as we submit to human authorities (1 Peter 2:13-20), recognizing that God’s authority always supersedes man’s laws (Acts 5:29). God speaks through His Word, teaching us what is right and good; time in God’s Word strengthens us, encourages us, and equips us with the answers we need to witness in a post-Christian culture.

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In a post-Christian culture, there are only two types of people: those who love Jesus, and those who don’t. Yet, both kinds of people need the same thing. Jesus taught us to “love our neighbor as ourselves” (Luke 10:27). All people need the love of Christ, especially in a post-Christian culture.

Peter gives us insight as to what this love looks like. For those who know Christ (our spiritual brothers and sisters), we are to “fervently love one another from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22). We have a connection in the Holy Spirit as the people of God; we are “living stones being built up as a spiritual household” (1 Peter 2:5, 10). We are to exhibit grace and forgiveness to one another, as “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). As members of the body of Christ, we are to serve one another, show hospitality, and fulfill our callings and responsibilities in the church with grace and humility (1 Peter 4:9-11; 5:1-6).

For those outside the faith, we are called to an even higher kind of love – a love that seeks to impact the unbeliever with an indisputable representation of Christ and the gospel. If we are reviled or accused, we are to trust God and keep silent, just as Jesus did (1 Peter 2:21-23). If we are insulted, we are to return a blessing (1 Peter 3:9). We are to be harmonious, sympathetic, kindhearted, and humble (1 Peter 3:8). We are not to fear intimidation or be troubled but use every opportunity to share the gospel in a gentle and reverent way (1 Peter 3:14-15), praying that the Word of God will bring spiritual life to those who are dead (1 Peter 4:6).

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Peter mentions suffering sixteen times in his short letter. The word appears far more than in any other book of the Bible. Clearly, he wanted to make a point. Those who desire to live for Christ in an antagonistic environment hostile to God will suffer persecution, trials, temptations, insults, and evil acts intended to harm and destroy.

Even though suffering is the main topic of his writing, Peter’s letter is uplifting and encouraging because he tells us how to navigate life in the face of it. Suffering identifies us with Christ (1 Peter 2:21). Suffering for doing what is right finds favor with God (1 Peter 2:20). Suffering refines us and purifies us into the image of Christ (1 Peter 4:1). It reveals our faith as genuine and will result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus is revealed (1 Peter 1:7). And thankfully, suffering only lasts for a short time, as we view this life in the perspective of eternity (1 Peter 5:10).

A Final Encouragement

We are living in a post-Christian world. Scripture tells us the freedom to worship God will eventually be taken away from all of us, and a command given to worship a one-world leader, the antichrist. Will you be ready to suffer for your faith? Now is the time to focus. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and run with endurance so that we will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3). We must determine to keep ourselves holy, separate from the temptations and distractions of the enemy, and put our roots down deep into the infallible Word of God. We must love others with the same kind of love that God loved us, surrounding ourselves with brothers and sisters of like-minded faith, while reaching out to the lost who need Jesus, with gentleness and respect.

When suffering comes, as it inevitably will, Peter tells us to cast all our anxiety on God, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). A commitment to prayer will bind our hearts and minds to Christ and give us the power we need to live as Christ-followers – sojourners and pilgrims on our way home.

1 Peter 5:10 – “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

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