1 Peter 5:5-11

Dear congregation,

I have often asked myself: What is the point of all these admonitions?

Paul admonishes. Timothy admonishes. And here too, in the First Epistle of Peter, we find an admonition. But where do they get the right to admonish others? And does it even achieve anything? Does admonish-ment not often provoke resistance?

So what is the deal with admonishment? And what does it actually mean? Admonishment belongs to the broad field of upbringing and education. We want a person to develop in a certain direction. As parents, we have an idea of what we want our children to become. We know what is appropriate, we want them to find their way – and we tell them so.

‘That's an ill-mannered child’ – that's a sad observation. Because without education, children become neglected. That's why we talk about enjoying a good education – because it should be seen as a gift and not as a constraint. But: How many of you like being told what to do? Criticism has fallen into disrepute these days. 

In theory, many people say, ‘Criticism is important.’ But in practice, I often experience something different: people are deeply hurt as soon as someone points something out to them. ‘How dare he or she criticise me?’

Parents take this liberty – out of love. Teachers are supposed to encourage their pupils – including through criticism. Good supervisors and mentors take responsibility by helping others through feedback.

It strikes me that as long as roles are clear and criticism is motivated by a desire to help others grow, then admonishment and feedback are important – indeed, essential. But what about among friends – or in the church? Are the roles still clear there?

We no longer live in the days of the Roman Empire with its rigid power structures: ruler and subject, slave and master, man and woman, young and old. These roles were unequally endowed with power – today this is no longer the case.

During our senior citizens' retreat, we dealt with the topic: "Life in changing times – my life change!" On the first evening, we playfully went through a century: from 1925 to 2025.

We asked questions such as: When did the first fully automatic washing machine come onto the market? Or: Since when have married women in Germany been able to work without their husband's consent? Roles in the world have changed. Dictatorships have become democracies. Human rights apply – equality and equal rights for all. At least on paper. Today, we are in danger of that changing. As soon as worries become too great and fear takes hold, people become authoritarian. But who can still admonish them today? Who is allowed to speak up – and with what authority?

These are my introductory thoughts on the sermon text, which is itself an admonition.

5 Likewise, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 

11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

‘Likewise, you younger ones, submit yourselves to your elders.’ This sentence alone arouses contradiction in me. I read ‘Likewise ’ – and ask myself: What does that actually refer to? Why was this particular passage chosen? It sounds as if it only applies to the younger ones. And there it is: the old tension. "You young people, if only you would preserve what we have built!" The young people come off badly – they are the rebels, the changers, those who do not honour the old. The old are the preservers, the knowers.

This creates division: young versus old, progress versus tradition. And even in the early Church, this was apparently an issue. Our synod also dealt with this question: How do we live together as a church when the generations are so different?

And: Who is actually allowed to ‘admonish’ anymore? Because young people are welcome – but often only as long as they don't ask too difficult questions. If they do, admonitions quickly follow – sometimes with words taken out of context.

But that is precisely what the First Epistle of Peter does not do. Fortunately, the word ‘likewise’ appears there. It refers to what was said before – and shows that it is not about young and old being pitted against each other. It is about cohesion in the community.

(1Peter, 1-3)To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

The elders here do not simply refer to the elderly, but to the church leadership. The letter asks: How can a church be led in such a way that conflicts are resolved effectively? How can a Christian church exist without adopting secular power structures?

How can leadership be exercised without domination – and community without chaos? How can we talk to each other in such a way that a dialogue based on equality emerges?

In other words: How can the church be led in such a way that it corresponds to the life of Jesus?

This was a tremendous challenge at the time – and it remains so today. For in the early churches, a slave sat next to his owner at the Lord's table. Women participated on an equal footing with men. Already in the Old Testament we encounter the young David defeating the old Goliath. From the very beginning, one of the roots of Christianity has been to question the secular distribution of power.

This is also what the end of Peter's letter is about: the concern that secular divisions are affecting the church. For the Christian community was and is something unusual – a community that turns the world upside down. But how can one live like this without creating chaos? If everyone is free, is there still order?

The letter struggles for the unity of the Church. And that is still a legitimate concern today. We know that churches have also promoted divisions – through power, through dogma, through fear. And yet there lives within them a spirit that dreams of a different community: a community that arises when people encounter each other as fellow human beings.

That is why this letter admonishes both sides – elders and younger members. Not just one group, not just the other. Both should look to Jesus Christ for guidance. Leaders and followers alike should learn from him: humility, service, love for humanity.

And the letter does not hide the fact that this is difficult. For there are forces that work against it. ‘Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion.’ A powerful image. Whether we speak of the ‘devil’ or of destructive forces – we know how real this is: discord, power struggles, hurtful words, divisions.

Here in South Africa in particular, people speak of the ‘devil’ in very realistic terms – as if he were a person who intervenes in people's lives. I would like to clarify something about this:

I do not believe in a devil with horns running around the world.

But I do believe in destructive forces – in powers that set people against each other, spread fear, destroy relationships. The Greek word used here is ‘diabolos’ – literally: the one who throws things into confusion, the adversary. So it is not about a being, but about that which disrupts God's love. And that is where it becomes concrete: this evil does not fall from the sky. We humans contribute to it. Every Christian whether old or young, leader or congregation member – can cause division through their behaviour. The adversary works where we become suspicious, where we are proud, where we no longer want to serve.

That is why the Epistle of Peter says: ‘Be sober and watch!’ Watch over yourselves, over your words, over your behaviour. Watch over whether you serve the community – or weaken it. Evil exists. But it is not simply the ‘devil out there’ who is to blame. It is also up to us. Each of us has influence: we can destroy community –or preserve it. And the good news is that in Christ we have the power to resist the adversary.

The following applies to everyone: love your neighbour from the bottom of your heart. 

Respect and humility. Serve one another with love. The danger of contributing to division ourselves is evident everywhere – even in the selection of sermon texts. Sometimes verses are so heavily edited that their original meaning is barely recognisable. Even this can unintentionally promote division.

Therefore: let us be careful with Bible quotations – and preserve the context! Let us do everything we can to promote the unity of the Church. That is the concern that lies behind this letter. It is not about all kinds of concerns, but about this specific concern: the future of Christian communities. 

"Cast all your cares upon him, for he cares for you." Yes, the history of the Church is full of ruptures. But in the midst of it all, God's Spirit remains alive – whispering to us and inspiring us with the thought:  There is another way! This inspiration is God's work. The longing to overcome domination and oppression remains – this too is God's work. The hope that people will treat each other with dignity remains – God preserves it with us and for us. This longing is preserved in the biblical writings and this hope is planted there.

Therefore: Let us continue to study the Bible abundantly – and let it admonish us to unity. Let us open our hands and hearts and receive the spirit of unity – at every communion, in every encounter.

Yes, how quickly we judge and divide – but Christ calls us to fellowship that is stronger than any adversary. The First Letter of Peter reminds us: it is not division, but fellowship that keeps the Church alive. All of us – young and old alike – have an influence on whether we give space to the adversary of division or hold fast to Christ, who unites us.

May the peace of God, which is higher than our understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen