Expect Persecution

We have been talking a lot about the Gospel message, what it is, how people are saved through it, and how to share it with others. We have stressed that conversion is one of God's miracles, an act of the Holy Spirit that produces new life in a soul that was dead in sin. It is NOT the result of our clever or persuasive arguments, though we still honor God by using every tool He has given us to present truth and give a "reasoned defense for our faith" (1 Peter 3:15-16). So whenever we preach the Gospel to another person we give our best effort to be clear and we even try to be persuasive, but we are hoping, praying, and trusting that God will show up and do something amazing in his or her life. We also hold on to God's promise to bless the word He has given us, that it will not be powerless (Romans 1:16), but it will accomplish everything He has intended (Isaiah 55:10-11). However, this does not mean that everyone who hears the Gospel will respond the way we hope they will.

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 that Christians are to God "the pleasing aroma of Christ." For some people, that is "an aroma that brings life," but to others it is "the aroma that brings death." Jesus told His disciples plainly that the world would hate them because it first hated Him (John 15:18-25). Jesus explained that the world hated Him because He spoke to them about their sin (v. 22) and testified that their deeds were wicked (John 7:7). If we want to be like Jesus, then we need to lovingly address sin in the world and call people to repent and believe the good news just like He did (Mark 1:15). The world hated Jesus because He told people they were wrong. If we're following in His footsteps, we should expect to be treated the same way.

No one wants to be hated, but experiencing persecution can be a sign that we are on the right track. Paul said that "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). If we are NOT being persecuted, it may be that we are either preaching the wrong Gospel or we simply are not engaged in the world around us. The Bible describes the Christian life as a spiritual battle. If we are not experiencing any conflict, it may be because we are avoiding the fight. There is a reason why we are supposed to "put on the full armor of God" (Ephesians 6:10-20). We also know that the Gospel is offensive. If we are regularly preaching God's Word to unbelievers and no one is upset by it, we may need to check and see if what we're preaching is biblical. However, we want to be very careful and wise to make sure that if someone is offended by us, it is because we have accurately communicated the Gospel, not because we have twisted Scripture or behaved sinfully in the process.

When (not "if") we are persecuted, we should find hope and comfort in the blessings that will come after our struggle. While Jesus was very clear in telling His followers that they would be persecuted, He also told them that they would be blessed because of it (Matthew 5:10-12). The Bible tells us that those who suffer for Jesus' sake will be rewarded. Paul writes that "our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). This statement is coming from a man who was no stranger to suffering (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). It does not matter how terrible our earthly experiences may seem at times; they are nothing compared to the greatness of knowing and being with God for eternity. In fact, Paul recognized that part of knowing Jesus more fully involved "sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death" (Philippians 3:10). When we endure pain and insults from the very people we are trying to love, we gain an even deeper appreciation of Christ's love for His Church. And let us not forget that the Apostles considered suffering for Christ an honor even while they were in the midst of it (Acts 5:40-42). They were excited to be identified with Him even at the cost of being publicly beaten and disgraced.

The goal of the Christian should not be to avoid persecution. The Bible makes it clear that it WILL be a reality for those who follow Christ. Our task is to hold on to what is true as our faith and perseverance are tested through trials and suffering (James 1:2-4). We must cling to the hope of what Jesus has secured for us, both in this life and the next. We must remember that God will sustain us, help us, and lead us through any difficulties we may face in life (2 Peter 1:3-4, Matthew 10:19-20, 2 Corinthians 12:9). And we must recognize the honor of serving and even suffering for our Lord, our King, Jesus Christ.