What is your typical response to these kinds of rejections? Do you want to hurt them back? Physically attack them? Seek revenge? See them in court? If no one could possibly know you were behind it, would you key their car? Slash their tires? Send incriminating letters to their boss and friends? Take measures to reveal their sins publicly? The prevailing thought in the world system around us is to get even, to hit back, to make those pay who hurt us.

A Christian’s Response

The Christians living in ancient Rome knew hurt. They were enduring the wrath of Emperor Nero, who accused the Christian community of starting a fire in Rome that they didn’t start. They were on the receiving end of some extremely painful abuse, and they likely wanted to attack their attackers, persecute their persecutors, and hurt the ones hurting them.

But the apostle Peter told them (and us) that Christians don’t respond that way. He says we are “to be holy in all [our] conduct.” The word holy means “distinct, separate, not the same, out of the ordinary, unusual.”

When the hurts come, and they will, a Christian responds with love, grace, humility, and forgiveness. In this way we reflect the nature of Jesus. In this way we are different.

Bottom Line

Believers in Christ have been commanded to live lives of holiness even when people hurt us. Is your response different?