Persecution

 

“If you suffer  as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but

praise God that you bear that name.”

(1 Peter 4:16)

 

 

Persecute: to oppress, subjugate, or

harass a specific group of people.

 

 

Christians are under attack throughout the world.  In some coun­tries, they are not permitted to practice their faith .  In other countries, Christians are actively persecuted or tortured because of their beliefs, even to the point of death.

 

Many Christians are surprised or dismayed at the persecution they suffer .  However, God’s Word tells us that Christians should not expect to live trouble free lives and that they should view per­secution as a blessing for those who believe in Jesus Christ and who suffer  for their faith .

 

Synopsis

 

Modern day persecution of Christians has its origins in the suffer­ing endured by the earliest followers of Christ.  Jesus’ disciples were hated, rejected, falsely accused, and insulted because of their belief in Him and because they followed His teachings. Christ was sensitive to their pain  and took time to comfort them.  He told His followers to be glad and rejoice that they were suffering in His name.¹  He  called  them “blessed” when they were hated, insulted, space

 

Blessed are you when people insult  you, persecute you

and falsely say all kinds of evil  against you,

because of me.  Rejoice and be glad,

because great is your reward in heaven .

(Matthew 5:11-12)¹

 

and rejected for His sake.²  He promised them that after they had suffered a little while on this earth, they would be rewarded greatly in heaven .^1,3 

Jesus was familiar with persecution because He Himself suffered at the hands of others throughout His ministry.⁴  Because He was hated by many of His contemporaries, He knew that His followers would also be hated.^5,6 In the end, Jesus endured the ultimate persecution when He was unjustly crucified on the cross.^7-9 

Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult  you and reject your name as evil , because of the Son of Man.

(Luke 6:22)²

All men will hate you because of me,

but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

(Mark 13:13)³

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows,

and familiar with suffering.

(Isaiah 53:3)⁴

No servant  is greater than his master. 

If they persecuted me they will persecute you also.

(John 15:20)⁵

If the world hates you,

keep in mind that it hated me first.

(John 15:18)⁶

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for

our iniquities…and by his wounds we are healed.

(Isaiah 53:5)⁷

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that

he must go to Jerusalem and suffer  many things at the

hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law,

and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

(Matthew 16:21)⁸

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then

twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. 

They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him

and mocked him.  “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.

(Matthew 27:28-29)⁹

After His crucifixion, Christ’s followers and all of the original disci­ples (except Judas) continued to be persecuted for their faith  as they spread the word about Jesus throughout the world.^10,11  Many of the disciples wrote about their suffering and pointed to the “positive” aspects of persecution.

God’s Guidance

If you suffer  because you are a Christian, do not to be ashamed.¹²  If you suffer  because you are doing good, this is commendable in the sight of God.¹³ Commit yourself to God’s work , and keep doing good.^14,15 

It was about this time that Kind Herod arrested some

who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 

He had James, the brother of John, put to death with

the sword.  When he saw that this pleased the Jews,

he proceeded to seize Peter also.

(Acts 12:2-3)¹⁰

They [the Jews] stirred up persecution against Paul and

Barnabas, and expelled them from the region.

(Acts 13:50)¹¹

If you suffer  as a Christian, do not be ashamed,

but praise God that you bear that name.

(1 Peter 4:16)¹²

If you suffer  for doing good and you endure it,

this is commendable before God.

(1 Peter 2:2)¹³

So then, those who suffer  according to God’s will

should commit themselves to the faithful Creator

and continue to do good.

(1 Peter 4:19)¹⁴

It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer  for doing good

than for doing evil .

(1 Peter 3:17)¹⁵

If you have been insulted because you are a Christian, consider yourself blessed.¹⁶  You should never fear the fact that men “put you down” or insult  you because of your beliefs.¹⁷

If you are a Christian, you should not be surprised that you are being persecuted.^18,19  If you are living a Godly life in Christ Jesus, you should expect to be persecuted.²⁰ Remember that Christ was persecuted and suffered for us and left us an example that we should all follow.^21,22

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,

you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory

and of God rests on you.

(1 Peter 4:14)¹⁶

Do not fear the reproach of men

or be terrified by their insults.

(Isaiah 51:7)¹⁷

Do not be surprised, my brothers,

if the world hates you.

(1 John 3:13)¹⁸

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial

you are suffering, as though something strange

were happening to you.

(1 Peter 4:12-13)¹⁹

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ

Jesus will be persecuted, while evil  men and imposters

will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

(2 Timothy 3:12-13)²⁰

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,

that you should follow in his steps.

(1 Peter 2:21)²¹

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ

not only to believe on him, but also to suffer  for him.

(Philippians 1:29)²²

Finally, despite the fact that Christians are often persecuted for their faith , take comfort in the fact that the Holy Scriptures promise us that nothing (including persecution) will ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.²³

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship  or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through

him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor

life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the

future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything

else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of

God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:35-39)²³