The third hindrance - the will of others (Study 50) (5/8/16)

We began by asking whether it was justifiable for the author of the study to use this event in Peter's life to illustrate the dangers of following the will of others, or of culture. Peter had been brought up an observant Jew from birth. In the events of Acts 10-11 we see God overturning everything he had been taught in Mosaic law. There were clear hints in Jesus' teaching that Mosaic law was not intrinsically absolute with regard to food restrictions (Mk 7:18-19), but God was patient with Peter. He gave the vision three times, with no rebuking, because in this and the subsequent events in Cornelius' house He was revealing the truth that Gentiles did not have to become Jews in order to possess salvation by faith in Christ. Peter had twice before questioned and refused Christ (at Caesarea Philippi and at the upper room where his feet were about to be washed). In this instance his refusal, though proper, also had to do with his intrinsic character weakness of seeing and doing things his own way. In life we are often caught in difficult situations where we will sometimes be in a position to do the right things for the wrong reasons, or the wrong things for the right reasons. In this situation we have to always me guided by right motives rather than right actions.

Peter would later go on to deny the truth of what he had learned on the day of this vision and would be rebuked by Paul for this (Gal 2). The other example of someone who submitted to external pressure was King Saul, who said "I feared the people and obeyed their voice". We will obey the one we fear. So the fear of God must always be foremost in our minds, rather than the fear of man.

I mentioned that it is easier for younger Christians to feel pressured by external influences to compromise their faith. They are more likely to be under authority from parents, employers and teachers or supervisors. We must rightly balance the need to honour authority (Eph 5, Ti 3:1, Ro 13:1) with obeying the Lord. Then, we are also subject to pressure from peers, and the driving force behind this is the need for acceptance. And the reason why we need acceptance from others is that our sense of identity may not be well-formed. The way of the world is to get our identity from our pedigree, or talents, or looks, or possessions, or our associations. In the YMEFLC we learned about the importance of the substructure - the underlying foundations for our life that others cannot see. Our basic identity that must completely fulfill us is as children of the living God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe.

We mentioned examples of ancestor worship, clubbing and LGBT issues where we will be subject to social pressure. We have to keep in mind the principles of 1 Co 6:12 (not to do what is not beneficial just because it is permissible, not to be mastered by something), and of the need to please God rather than men (Ac 5:29). Yet in trying to please God we do not have to be morally condemning, but wise and tactful.