1 Peter 2:11,12

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 

12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

~ 1 Peter 2:11,12

A theme that develops in the New Testament after awhile is the idea that our lives are like a journey.  On this journey, we encounter various things along the way.  In this same idea, presented here is the advice that some of the things we are going to come across are not good for the soul.  Fleshy lusts... this would be stuff like gluttony, lust, binge drinking, etc.  The Bible says that such things are at war with our soul.  They don't just hurt us, but can kill us.  Have you ever gone to a party, saw the free food, and then ate so much that you were sick or didn't feel good?  Have you ever thought to yourself, oh just another half hour of working out will make me that much skinnier, and then worked out another 5?  That also is war on the soul.

When you act in such a way that people who don't agree with your religious, and possibly political, views talk about you... they have only good things to say.  They see how you live and what you do, and know that God is at work in your life through your actions.