Propoganda Warfare Against the Early Church

1 Peter 2:12

Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.

Joan Jett sings a song entitled “I Don’t Give a D**n About My Bad Reputation”.  It is the context and culture of a rock star.  Peter has a similar message, but from a very different point of view.  His audience has been ‘maligned as evildoers’.  In the wider context of the passage, this 'evildoing' seems to have sexual overtones. 

But while Joan Jett is reflecting musically on the context of the rock culture, Peter is trying to address a campaign of misinformation against his audience. 

The “Jesus movement” is splitting from Judaism.  And it is not simply disappearing into the historical vortex of failed religions.  It is causing enough of a stir that it is becoming a threat to the Jewish mainstream, or at least perceived as a threat.  At this point, the followers of Jesus had no political power or influence.  God was their power to be a threat-and God will lead them to dominate the empire.

At work here is a fundamental lesson of propaganda warfare.  If you cannot attack their ideas, attack their character.  If they seem to be doing good things, attack their motives.  Do whatever you can to undercut their ability to function in polite society.  Sounds like politics as usual, doesn't it?

It is not that Peter doesn't give a...hoot...about their bad reputation.  Ultimately, he knows that they are in God's hands, not those of the people.