Recently, in a Middle Eastern country, a teenage girl was beaten by her family for refusing to renounce her faith in Jesus. In Africa, a young boy was nailed to a board because he attended a church service. Around the world, pastors and other believers are treated harshly because they hold church services in their homes.
In the days of the early church, persecution was widespread. Peter and John were imprisoned for speaking publicly about Jesus (Acts 3-4). Stephen was martyred for his faith (Acts 7). Paul, a former persecutor of Christians, was whipped, beaten, stoned, and imprisoned (2 Corinthians 11:22-33). Christian tradition holds that he was finally decapitated.
Many of us do not face life-threatening persecution today. But we shouldn’t be surprised when it comes our way. After all, Jesus told us that just as He was persecuted, we too would face persecution if we follow Him (John 15:20). He said, “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. . . . The time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God” (John 16:1-2).
In Matthew 13:20-21, Jesus warned that those who do not have deep roots will fall away when they are persecuted for believing the Bible. To develop deep roots, we need to immerse ourselves in reading, studying, and obeying the Word (2 Timothy 3:12-17), and in prayer (1 Peter 4:7). We can also have confidence that we don’t have to face persecution on our own. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised to send us the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-14) who now comforts and counsels us.
Persecution will come. The good news is God’s reassurance: “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5; see also Deuteronomy 31:6,8).
More:
• Matthew 24:9
• John 15:18-19
• Romans 8:35-38
Next:
How can God use persecution for good? What subtle or overt persecution have you experienced recently? How did you respond?
Mark L on May 10, 2009 at 8:48 am
I heard a pastor say once “if you can’t live for Jesus now when times are easy, how can you live for Jesus in times of persecution’? If followers of Christ in foreign countries with harsh laws or in lawless areas can hold fast to their faith, how much more should we who live in a free country proclaim the good news of a risen savior? Living without Jesus is not living. These are troubled times, pass a tract, tell someone about Jesus.
evelyn on May 10, 2009 at 8:49 pm
It’s so easy to worship, praise and proclaim that we will follow Jesus to the ends of the earth when we have the religious freedom to do so but what happens when the freedom is taken away….
I’ve often wondered, if I were to face persecutions like those mentioned by Alyson whether I would deny Christ…