Scriptural Reference:
Peace in times of Persecution:
"But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my
persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be
greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion
shall never be forgotten."
Jeremiah 20:11
The situation
as in unfolds:
"Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you."
1 John 3:13
“If the world hates
you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the
world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the
world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they
will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me."
John 15:18
“These things I
have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will
put you out of the synagogues [today it might be from churches]; yes,
the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers
God service. And these things they will do to you because they have
not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that
when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them."
John 16:1-4
Reflection:
Knowing Jesus the Christ as your Lord and Saviour does not mean that
life will be a bed of roses. Every rose has thorns. So there will be
discomfort and pain. In fact the Lord warned those who follow him that
they World would hate and despise them for the very fact that they have
chosen the righteous perfect grace of God over the corrupt sinful ways
of those who live in the World. So we are told not to be surprised that
people we once were on good terms with will betray us and start attack
us. In an interesting book I am reading presently (Faith that Endures)
it tells of a young actress who had become a Christian. She complained
that she didn't understand why people hated her. She professed (rather
proudly) that she was nicer, more honest and all round better now she
knew Christ. Her expectation was that being a Christian sets someone
apart and makes them special and loved. The reality is that is sets
people apart from the World and the World hates this. People are complacently
comfortable in the filth and mire they call humanity. Anyone who steps
out is seen as rude and up themselves. So they attack these individuals
in the hope of bringing them back down.
This hatred that
is directed towards Christians goes back a very long time. In fact prior
to the individual becoming a Christian. As we read in the Gospel, the
World hated God and Jesus from the start. Oddly it points out a startling
fact that is relevant in today's tragic World (John 15:18). Some will
go about killing Christians thinking that offer a service to God. How
often do we hear today the angry cruel words from some crazed Muslim
saying they are killing for Allah or God (John 16:1-4). The concept
that those who do the persecution do not know either God or Jesus is
strongly felt today. Those who prescribe to an Atheist stance reject
any form of religious belief. Though they tend to take a nasty disposition
towards Christians. While those who have a religious stance can tend
to reject Christians as a form of intercultural clash of faiths. Where
faith is no longer a personal choice and journey, but has taken on a
strong cultural bias.
Oddly as I type this I remember that the very term Persecution is argued
and debated by some. For some, the term can only be applied to anyone
who has been tortured and lost their life as a direct result of refusing
to recant their faith. While, for others, it is an ongoing battle that
Christians have while following Christ and living in the World. The
first tend to see persecution in dark drastic terms of extremes. While
the second considers it to be an everyday part of life. What does Jesus
say about it?
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Reading this simple
yet powerful passage informs us of three concepts. The first is a blessing
on those who are feeling persecuted. The second is a statement that
persecution is a fact of life for a Christian. While the third gives
a glimpse of the reward for those who stay the path of righteousness.
Then there is this next verse...
"Blessed are you
when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me."
John 5:11
Notice the word
"when" is used. It doesn't say "if". The use of
this word is important as it signifies the fact of persecution. People
who follow Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, are going to be persecuted.
It becomes a fact of life. Perhaps on always in life and death situations,
but in such ways as their faith will be challenged. This negates the
person who says they were 'persecuted' because someone cut them off
and took the parking spot they wanted. But it supports the feeling of
persecution when someone is denied a promotion because they are a Christian.
The first is just an everyday factor of life that everyone has to deal
with and has not connection to the individuals faith. While the second
speaks directly to the individuals faith.
So where have you been 'persecuted' this last week? What sort of witness
have you been for the Gospel?
Prayer:
Lord,
Let me count it a blessing,
When someone;
Rejects me,
Insults me,
Abuses me,
Hurts me,
If only for your sake.
Amen