Am I in the right place?

'What am I doing here?' 'Are we in the right place?' These could be the questions of a Christian in the public sector, trying to tread delicately but truthfully during Pride month. Or the Christian minister in a church that is resistant to Biblical truth. Or Christians in a village in India actively hostile to the precariously small Christian community.

Peter’s first letter is addressed to 'God’s elect, exiles scattered'. It seems almost a contradiction. To be God’s elect may bring to your mind associations with honour, glory, status, privilege. Exile has associations with shame, suffering, being overlooked or looked down upon. Peter brings both together throughout the letter, right the way to 5:15 where greetings are sent from 'she who is in Babylon, chosen together with you'. Exiled in Babylon, yet chosen, elect.

This tension runs through the whole letter yet it is not really a tension because, in our crucified, risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ, God has united suffering and glory, rejection and honour, servanthood and privilege.

Paul writes to 'the Diaspora' – a term describing God’s people scattered across the nations. The image is of seeds scattered far and wide. At ground level it seems so haphazard, so random, so meaningless, but the sower knows what he is doing. In Daniel chapter 1 the word 'seed' (or 'vegetable') is used several times; some of the exiles taken from Jerusalem are of 'royal seed'. What might a seed experience? Perhaps a gentle beginning, warmed by the sun, but then violent separation from all that is familiar. Darkness, mud and worms when it is planted. Things start to split apart and then… life.

Jesus Himself is the seed that fell to the ground and died, but in His death He produced many seeds. We are seeds scattered across the nations, and so like our Saviour we experience a Christian life marked by constant death and burial; brought low in humility; darkness, mud and worms. And this is the way to life and fruitfulness!

So if you are asking 'What am I doing here?' remember that you are a seed because of The Seed. The pattern of His salvation is being worked out in you and through you. When it feels like death and burial then trust God who raises the dead.

When you wonder 'Are we in the right place?' remember that you are chosen in Christ, the rejected but chosen one (1 Peter 2:4); wherever you are located, you are sanctified by the Spirit, sprinkled with precious blood and called to be obedient to Jesus Christ. If all seems darkness you can still declare the praises of Him who has called you into his wonderful light, who knows who else may see the light in you and glorify God on the day He comes?

If you feel torn apart, remember that God has joined suffering and glory together, such that suffering with Christ is glorious and leads to glory. We are 'God’s elect, exiles scattered' because Christ is the chosen, rejected, fruitful and glorified seed, and we are in Him. You are in the right place.