Encouragement for the persecuted in Christ

Encouragement for the persecuted!

This is a message of encouragement to my Christian brothers and sisters suffering persecution in the world from a bible study I did today. Let me begin by saying that I notice a lot of churches and Christians are too afraid to speak out regarding anything controversial. This is tragic. Most churches in the USA have shifted their focus in the last 2 decades. They place a higher value on being a friend to the world than being a friend of Jesus. This is a problem in many churches. We are called to be a light in a dark world. Jesus told us that we should expect persecution from the world. He didn't say we should expect to be everyone’s friend. In fact, he said that if they hated him, they will surely hate us. Not encouraging, right? Read on.

If they hated Him, they will hate us

John 15:18-19 says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul tells us the following: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Persecution is proof of your walk with Jesus

By these two verses, I think it is pretty clear that Christians are supposed to be persecuted by the world, not loved by the world. Yet, I notice all too often that most Christians I know are too afraid to ever witness or say anything about the Bible to their non-Christian friends and family for fear of persecution. I am reminded of that verse in Proverbs 29:25, which says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” Fear of man is definitely a snare for many, but we have the Lord on our side…What should we be afraid of? Oh yeah, someone might not like us. Someone might say we hate others based on our biblical viewpoints. Someone might ridicule us for believing something in that “outdated book.” I believe that if we are not being persecuted by the world, we are not about the Lord’s business, and that should concern any Christian. 

I need to remember that the world will not understand me and will even hate me for not joining them. 1 Peter 4:3-4 says, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” 

So, if I am doing the will of the Lord in my life, it is pretty clear to me that I am not going to be liked by everyone. In fact, some will hate me. Why then do many churches act more like they want to tolerate everything and be everyone’s friend, than do the will of the Lord. Ask just about anyone who calls themselves a Christian under the age of 25 about a number of social issues that are clearly spoken against throughout the Bible, and they will respond that we need to tolerate, we need to keep silent, we need to do anything but share the scriptures with people on these topics. Sad, oh so sad. 

The best for last

Finally, here is the word of encouragement to my Christian brothers and sisters that I promised at the beginning of this post. Persecution is a form of a trial and James tells us in chapter 1 that trials make us strong and develop spiritual maturity. It is the world’s response to answer an insult with an insult. 1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. So, when you respond correctly to persecution, you will receive a blessing. This is a stupendous bonus. Not only are you representing the love of Jesus in your life to others, but you have the added motivation in the back of your mind of knowing that if you respond in love to persecution, you will be blessed as well! So be emboldened, speak the Word of God fearlessly, grow spiritually, be persecuted, respond in love, and get blessed!!!