December 3 - Persecution

December 3 – Persecuted

Matthew 24:9-14, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-19

Persecuted for Christ’s name. I have been highly offended during the last several years as I watch schools, governments, public facilities overextend themselves to offer parity to other religious expression, yet completely eliminate the possibility of Christianity having a voice.

As I read these verses, I realize that Jesus was telling us while He was still on earth that this would happen. So, why do I get upset? Why am I personally offended? I can’t change the fact that Christians will be hated and ridiculed simply because we believe in Jesus Christ. Though it is hard to swallow, it is what we are expected to live through. Any righteous indignation on our part will only make things worse.

Jesus says in Matthew 24:10 that many will turn away from the faith because of this, they will betray others and hate the Christians they left behind. It is difficult to watch this happen. It happens all the time whether we believe we are in the end times or not. We see in Luke 21:16-17 that even parents and relatives will betray their families and will even go so far as to put Christians to death.

But what Jesus doesn’t tell us to do is to return the hatred, bitterness and anger. All He asks us to do is to ‘stand firm.’

In Mark’s gospel we find out that our witness to Jesus Christ will be quite public as we are called to stand before governors and kings. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus goes on to say, “make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”

One of the outcomes of our witness to the Gospel of Jesus is that from persecution comes witness. The church saw its greatest growth during the periods of persecution in the centuries immediately following Jesus’ crucifixion. That’s a difficult thing for us to understand, but living a life filled with grace in the face of intense persecution will draw more to Jesus than living a life of ease.

“The gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all nations.” (Matthew 24:14)

God has a plan in place. We are part of that plan. We don’t know when the time will be or when Jesus will return. He has given us things to watch for – things that are the beginning of the birth pangs. We aren’t expected to know His plan, we are simply expected to stand firm in the face of persecution.