Flunking Out
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 1 Peter 2:4 NASB
Rejected – We often wonder if we are really worthy of being followers of the Messiah. After all, we know our faults so well. We think Yeshua asks for perfection and we are far from being perfect. We wonder if our character will ever be like his. That’s when we need to read Peter’s statement. We might not think we share in the righteousness of the Messiah, but I am sure that we have had our share in his rejection. The Greek verb is apodokimázō. The TDNT makes an interesting comment: “From the stem word dokḗ (“watching”), dókimos means ‘tested,’ and thus a. ‘reliable,’ and b. ‘esteemed,’ ‘valuable’ (whether persons or things). adókimos is the opposite, used of persons.”[1]
Did you notice that “throw-away” line at the end. Adókimos is used of persons. This kind of rejection is not about discarding defective things. It’s about personal dismissal. It’s you and me flunking out! Ah, but by whose standard? According to Peter, we have flunked out of the world’s system. We are no longer considered worthy by the world. Heaven be praised, the world has no more use for us! We have graduated into Yeshua’s kingdom because we have been rejected by the system of men. This time grade F is the most important grade you could ever receive.
But sometimes it’s still upsetting, isn’t it? Sometimes we just want some tiny bit of recognition by the people who live in Babylon. Sometimes, even though we know we are following in his footsteps, we still wish it weren’t so emotionally stressful. Wouldn’t it be great if those who oppose the biblical way of life would just say, “OK, I don’t agree with you but I can surely see that you are trying your best to follow your way.” No, it’s more likely that we hear, “You’re falling into error again,” or “You’re wasting your life with all this nonsense.” Not even a smidgen of acceptance. As far as the system of the world is concerned, you and I will never qualify for a D-. We are total and complete failures. Thanks be to God!
When Yeshua told his disciples that the world would hate them, he wasn’t kidding. Of course, they didn’t think he also meant the religious world. Of course the system of Rome would oppose them, but certainly not those religious friends and family they grew up with. But the truth divides. And it’s painful to divide. We hoped for something different—for tolerance, for acceptance, for compassion—but it wasn’t designed that way. Nevertheless, we are not the ones who turn away. We are called to continue to show all the characteristics of the Father. Compassion, mercy, long-suffering, patience, forgiveness, great hesed. We don’t walk away even if we are left behind. That is also what it means to be rejected. Flunk out marvelously!
Topical Index: rejected, apodokimázō, 1 Peter 2:4
[1] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (181). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
People were created to belong. We all need each other. I need each and everyone else in the world, part of the Body or not. Exclusivity is not a hallmark of the Kingdom! I continue to need them, even if they don’t see that they need me back. And so the fracture still hurts. It hurts them, too, but because they are frozen, they are mad at the unfrozen for not fixing it; for not meeting them where they are stuck in their ditches. So how do I meet someone who is totally rejecting me because we are not coming from the same place? Forgiveness.
Forgiveness is how we continue to bridge the gap; continue to hold the fabric of reality together; continue to keep the door open for the future of relationship; continue to give another chance for the other person to change their mind. Forgiveness is what stops the hurt because it heals the fracture, for in that place I am walking in a share of the grace that God is unilaterally extending for the purposes of giving me the same. Without the grace that upfront forgiveness creates, the world still walking in sin would simply not even exist. Forgiveness continues to open the door to the future to those who are in the process of killing me.
We are told that forgiveness is not optional; for ours hangs upon it, too. Forgiveness rejoins my heart to YHVH’s, for that is where His is. It is His will, and so if I am to submit to that will, I will agree to practice what He is practicing. If love is the glue that holds mutually consenting reality together, then forgiveness is the glue that continues to hold it unilaterally, for at least one side has to love for either to exist. It is imperative that I love my enemies, even though they are not agreeing to participate in the other half of love, but forgiveness is unilateral love. Others may hate me because I am different from them, and, being stuck but still needing relationship with me in my difference, they have to hate as their way of silently screaming for me to do something! They are right. I am the one to take the responsibility to do that.
Forgiveness ‘unfreezes’ someone dead in trespasses and sins and gives them a taste of love, while they are yet unable to do the same. Forgiveness literally creates life for dead people. It resurrects dead bones and picks choices that were thrown away back up off the ground and returns them to their owners again. If someone hates me, it is imperative that I take the initiative. This is why we are commanded to love those who hate us. That just means it is our turn to keep our mutual life alive, for if we are separated, there are two dead parties; not just one. Forgiveness; our mutual life depends on it.
Proverbs 11:30 and 31 the seeds of Good Deeds become a tree of life a wise person when’s friends if the righteous are rewarded here on Earth what will happen to Wicked sinners? Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life good statement listen to the rest and few there are that we’ll find it. The wisdom of this world is foolishness unto God on the wisdom of God is foolishness unto this world. Many many ways to examine these scriptures fact remains the same they are true and confirming. A fooll to this world it’s a wise man in God’s eyes. The kingdom is upon us yet some do not see it. The children of God shall be peacemakers. Many shall cry peace peace but their shall no peace. When we seek Heavenly things that the people of the world do not know and cannot see they call us fools. But we carry on pressing on toward the High Calling which is in Jesus Christ.
After leaving the staff of a mega church, of which at the time I cared deeply for the work I did among them, these lyrics looped in my mind each time I drove by the campus. On a quiet day I can still here the faint echoes.
I keep forgettin’ we’re not in love anymore
I keep forgettin’ things will never be the same again
I keep forgettin’ how you made that so clear
I keep forgettin’
(Lyrics by Michael McDonald)
Yeshua gives His true followers something this world can’t get a grasp of:
a sword . . . His Word, with all its power and authority.
When we live by this Word, are lifted by this Word, are changed by this Word,
it spooks the living daylights out of those close to us, especially our families.
They’re not used to being so truly loved and forgiven.
The key for us is to know and expect their rejection. Yeshua spoke of it in Matt 10:34-39.
I remain convinced that as they watch us continue to walk through the narrow gate that
leads to life, they just might get a grasp, too. It happened to the thief on the cross!
I just found your web site this morning when I was looking for a word study on trust. Which I don’t do very well. As i read your article it brought me comfort to know that flunking out of this world is like getting an A+ in God’s. I don’t like rejection no one does but knowing that we suffer because of Christ eases the pain somewhat. What does it take to learn to love others even when they don’t even bother to notice our existence. We step up to wash someone else’s feet. It takes the love of Christ. I know on my own I would much rather swing a 2×4. I don’t want to be humble I want to be acknowledge for the things I do. Interestingly the compliment etc the good feeling is fleeting. The only love that really lasts is the love of Christ. Yet I can’t even comprehend just how much he loves us. I get a glimpse of it when I think of the love I have for my daughter. The verse that comes to mind is Zeph 3:17 Imagine our creator singing and dancing not only with us but over us. It just makes me smile. I am truly blessed.
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