NO GROUND FOR REPROACH

NO GROUND FOR REPROACH

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. (1Peter 2:12)

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. (Daniel 6:4)

The  Christians of the early church suffered terrible persecution, that St. Peter in his exhortation, encouraged them to  do good, remain upright and blameless, even  when mistreated and insulted by their pagan neighbors. 

The  religious prejudice, and violent opposition  against the early  Christians are hardly  surprising. They refuse  to worship the pagan gods of their gentile neighbors that they were branded as atheists. Under the   reign of the powerful Roman Emperors, deity is accorded the Roman Emperor, and they refused to worship him, so they were accused of rebellion against Roman authority.

St. Peter believed that the best defense for Christians to survive in this situation is to do good. Peter advised his fellow  Christians to keep their conduct  honorable.  As Christians they worship the true and living God who commanded them not to repay evil for evil. The only way by which they could repel the evil that is spoken and done against them is to do what is good  and to live honestly so that regardless of the wrong things charged against them, by the unbelievers, their good conduct  will shine like lights, before the eyes of their persecutors. Like Daniel, they could not find in him any ground for reproach, for he was trustworthy, and neither corrupt nor negligent.

Peter capped his exhortation by this most inspiring statement: “And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.”