Persecution

There's no doubt that we have been blessed by having freedom of religion here in America. However, that being said,I think that there's been something of an abuse of this blessing in America, and I think that there's been an abuse of this blessing. I think there's been this mindset that when we hear about persecution of our brothers & sisters-in-Christ overseas, we tend to think that their problems are just "over there."

We hear stories of Christians imprisoned, tortued and killed in Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China, Ethiopia, Somalia, the Sudan, Belarus, Egypt, Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos, and other countries. We might think "oh, that's so horrible." But, in fact, Scripture promises us that we'll be persecuted.

"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)

"For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know." (1 Thessalonians 3:4)

"Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:10-13)

How, then, shall we react to persecution?

Jesus Himself tells us that "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27-28)

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14)

Jesus Himself states about persecution that: "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." (Matthew 5:10-12)

Jesus Himself remarks that "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.... Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way." (Luke 6:22-23 & 26)

On a side note, we read in Hebrews 11:36-38 of the some of the prophets that "others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground."

Now, we recieve these promises in Scripture about those who are persecuted, which should fill the persecuted church with hope.

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)

"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)

"When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also." (Revelation 6:9-11)

"Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."(Revelation 20:4)

Now, I believe it was evangelist Ray Comfort who said someting along the lines that if we wanted to preach "Your Best Life Now," we should hide Foxe's Book of Martyrs Now, for those who haven't read it, I would strongly recommend that you read it. It was published in the early late 16th century by John Foxe (1517-1587) & dealt with the stories of those who were martyred from the time of Christ, and particuarly focuses on the those persecuted by the Roman Catholic Church at the time of Reformation, especially, under the reign of the Roman Catholic Queen Mary.

This video deals with the idea of God having a wonderful plan for our life. Now, this one, and the next one, is graphic, but proves the point.


This one deals with a particuar story.


I seriously think that if Joel Osteen were to come into countries where Christians are being persecuted, or went back to the 1st or 2nd century church, he would be laughed out.