Are YOU Persecuted?

 “Christ’s followers cannot expect better treatment 
in the world than their Master had.”  Matthew Henry

 

  According to one survey, about half of all Americans believe evangelicals face discrimination. Still, others believe they’re facing actual persecution. I’m not sure. What is true is that we’re living in a post-Christian society where the Christian faith is no longer automatically respected.  

  Our culture has changed. The media is less sympathetic to stories where Christians face hate speech or violence than identical stories where other groups are victimized. Social institutions such as academia, media, entertainment, and the arts are likely to be places where anti-Christian prejudice and discrimination take place. Those institutions greatly shape our cultural values. As a result, those with anti-Christian attitudes are in a position to create and sustain anti-Christian perspectives. There’s also evidence that anti-Christian hate can result in discrimination. 

  What should we do? The answer leads to a more important question: What did the early church do? What did first-century Christians do?

  Study the pages of the New Testament and you won’t find those early Christians playing the victim card or screaming oppression. Their response to persecution in Acts 5:40-41 is shocking and convicting. After the Apostles were called in before the Sanhedrin…“they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.”

  As I read Christian History and track the persecuted Church around the world today, there is little that’s “persecution” in America, though as our culture grows increasingly secular that may change. What we face in comparison to believers in China, Sudan and innumerable other places in the world is hard to label “persecution” or even “oppression.” 

  American Christians need to refuse to go along with a trend of oversensitivity. Our Lord offers us a much better way. He said: “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 abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either… If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27-36).  

  How are Christians to respond when they’re mistreated? With grace, love, and kindness. Kindness is a choice to act like Jesus when everything in us tells us that we shouldn’t. It’s not in the big things but in the little ones.

  It’s as small as mowing a neighbor’s lawn or sharing vegetables from your garden with a co-worker. It’s simply speaking to, interacting, and thanking the clerk at the gas station. It’s asking your server if before you ask the blessing for your food if you can pray for them. It’s befriending that co-worker or student who is friendless. It’s using social media to encourage others, noticing birthdays, anniversaries or a child learning to ride a bike. It’s listening to a child or an elderly person. It’s paying for someone else’s meal anonymously. It’s smiling and looking pleasant…like you have Jesus in your heart…because really you do.  

  In the movie, The Hobbit, Gandalf says, “Saruman (a wizard who goes to the dark side) believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I’ve found it is in the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love.” 

  Making a difference isn’t the big things, it’s the little acts of kindness. Real love is empowered by God, who loves everyone. We would do well to mentally picture these words on the forehead of everyone that we meet: “For whom Christ died.” If God loves everyone, then He’s our source of power to love anyone. Love takes time, empathy, and the discovery of who others are. The power to love everyone is not from us. It comes from our relationship with the God who loved us when we were unlovable, because He loved us we can love anyone.

  Recently, I read of a 19-year-old Christian girl in China who was beaten and thrown into a filthy cell. It was dark, but from the smell, she knew that the slimy floor was covered with human excrement. There was no bed or chair. She had to sit and sleep in this filth. She squatted down so that as little of her bleeding body as possible would touch the floor and silently gave thanks to the Lord that she was worthy to suffer for Him. She asked Him for wisdom and strength, not to get out of this terrible place, but that wherever He put her, she would be able to continue to share the gospel.

  One day as she quietly sang a hymn, the Lord impressed on her, “This is to be your ministry.” She thought, “I’m all alone. Whom can I witness to?” Suddenly an idea came to her. She stood up and called for the guard.

  “Sir, can I do some hard labor for you?” The guard looked at her with contempt, mingled with surprise. No one had ever made that kind of request before. She said, “Look, this prison is filthy. Let me go into the cells and clean up the excrement. Just give me some water and a brush.”

  Soon she found herself on her hands and knees cleaning and sharing the gospel with people who’d lost all hope of ever seeing another human being who did not come to beat them. When they realized that they could have eternal life as God’s free gift, they repented of their sins and trusted in Jesus Christ. Soon all of the prisoners had believed in Jesus Christ. The warden was furious. He gave her a sheet of paper and told her to write out a confession of her crimes against the revolution. She wrote out the plan of salvation so that the warden and even others heard about Christ.

  You and I will probably never have to suffer for the gospel as she did, but we must follow her example. If we face cruel words, oppression or persecution, we should respond with love, kindness, and serving others. We must respond with grace. And we should be unstoppable in our commitment to the Lord’s work in the world, of proclaiming the good news of Christ to those who are perishing.

  God loves the world. Jesus died to save it. Let’s you and I commit to being Jesus even to those who hate Him and us?

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.