Are We Getting Enough Persecution?
August 28, 2006
Dear Friends
Are we getting enough persecution?
You may think that I mean this question to be funny. It kind of sounds that way. If we were asked “are we getting enough sleep?†we would know intuitively what the question meant. Sleep is something we all want and need. But who wants to be persecuted? Perhaps after thinking about it a little, we will!
The Bible has some counterintuitive things to say about persecution. For example, Jesus says:
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:10-12 NASB)
It is not the normal course of human behavior to rejoice in being insulted, persecuted and lied about. In fact, it is not a stretch to suggest that we would expect the exact opposite response. We would expect that anyone being treated in such a way would be sad, mad or depressed. Why would Jesus suggest that we should be glad? He tells us, “for your reward in heaven is great.†In other words, Jesus is saying that it will definitely be worth our while.
Jesus goes beyond this in the next quote. Jesus tells his disciples that one of the way you can discern a true disciple of Christ is by the fact that they are persecuted. Notice what he says.
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!
Jesus doesn’t say that his disciples might be maligned. He says they will. The things that happened to Jesus will happen to his disciples. If there is any doubt about this, we look at John’s account which puts it beyond question. “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.’†(John 15:20 NASB)
The Apostle Paul asserts the same principle concerning the persecution of the saints. He says “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.†(2 Tim. 3:12)
Being persecuted is not an absolute positive value. It depends on why we are being persecuted. The Apostle Peter touches on this in his epistle when he speaks to slaves. He lays down for us the principle of suffering for Christ’s sake. “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.†(1 Peter 2:20) So it is not suffering for the sake of suffering that the believer should pursue. Suffering, in itself, is no good. However, if you are working in the truth, preaching the Gospel and shining your light before men and suffering for it, great is your reward.
This begs the question—if you are not being persecuted, why not? It is because people don’t know you are a disciple of Christ? Are you hiding your light under a bushel? Are you taking the path of least resistance? Do you blend in so well with the world that it disciples mistake you for one of their own? Only you can answer these questions for yourself. But the question still stands—
Are you getting enough persecution?
Have a great week,
