(a)'Highlight Peter's guidelines on Christian living among non-Christians. [9 marks] (b) What three challenges can Christians face among non-Christians? [6 ...

Answer Details

(a) Peter's guidelines on Christian living among non-Christians (1 Peter 2:11-17)

Peter addressed believers as "aliens and exiles" in the world and gave the following guidelines for their conduct among the Gentiles (non-Christians):

• Abstain from sinful desires: "I beseech you... to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul."
• Maintain good conduct: "Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that... they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." Their upright lives should silence the ignorant accusations of those who speak against them as wrongdoers.
• Submit to civil authority: "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution," whether the emperor as supreme, or governors sent by him to punish those who do wrong and praise those who do right.
• Do good to silence critics: It is God's will that by doing right they should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
• Live as free servants of God: "Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God."
• Show proper respect to all: "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the emperor."

(b) Three challenges Christians can face among non-Christians

1. Persecution, ridicule and false accusation: Christians may be mocked, slandered or opposed because of their faith and moral standards.
2. Temptation to compromise: pressure to conform to sinful practices such as immorality, dishonesty, idolatry and ungodly customs.
3. Discrimination and hostility: being treated unfairly, marginalized or denied opportunities because they refuse to follow ungodly ways.