Matthew 5:10-12, John 15:16-25
Introduction
Max took his family to the bicycle shop to buy a bike for his 5-year-old daughter, Jenna. Jenna picked out a shiny “Starlett” with a banana seat and training wheels. Then daughter Andrea, aged three, decided she wanted one as well.
Max explained to Andrea that she was too young. He told her she was still having trouble with a tricycle and was too small for a two-wheeler. No luck; she still wanted a bike. He explained to her that when she was a bit older, she would get a bike, too. She just stared at him. He tried to tell her that a big bike would bring her more pain than pleasure, more scrapes than thrills. She turned her head and said nothing.
Finally he sighed and said this time her daddy knew best. Her response? She screamed it loud enough for everyone in the shop to hear: “Then I want a new daddy!”
Although the words were from a child’s mouth, they carried an adult‘s sentiments. Disappointment demands a change in command.
John the Baptist was in prison. He had dared to tell the king that he had done something wrong. Actually it wasn’t the king who kept him in prison, it was the king’s new wife who hated anyone pointing out that she was wrong to change husbands. John spoke up for God and was persecuted. Languishing in prison, John couldn’t believe that anything less than his release would be the best thing for all concerned. In his opinion, it was time to exercise some justice and get some action. But the One who had the power to do that seemed to be ‘sitting on his hands‘. We can hear this in his question to Jesus, “Are you the one or should we look for another?”
Rule of thumb: Clouds of doubt are created when the warm moist air of our expectations of blessing meets the cold air of God’s apparent silence in the face of persecution.
Violent Persecution
Persecution is that not-nice stuff that others throw at those who are loyal to Jesus Christ. Observers estimate that there are at least 250,000 Christians, in different parts of the world, suffering harsh, violent persecution for their faith at the present time. At least that number died for their faith in last year alone. More Christians have suffered and died for their faith in the 20th century than in all the other centuries put together and the 21st century looks to be going for the record. Persecution is not a thing of the past. Jesus’ words still apply.
Persecution is unfair, unjust and painful. It is undeserved. If we deserve it, it isn’t persecution. Our question, “How can God let it happen?” stems from our western view of pain. Pain is a problem for modern people because we developed a logic that doesn’t fit reality. Our theory is that if you’re good, if you don’t hurt others, you won’t get hurt. We think we’re entitled to a life that is fair, comfortable and relatiely pain free. This is sheer fantasy. Pain is part of life – so learn to deal with it.
In particular our logic has difficulty with the way God seems to intervene in some cases and not in others. Persecution sorts out those who are loyal to Jesus Christ from the rest. 15 years aago, in April 1999, Rachel Scott was killed at Coumbine High School. Her father wrote her testimony and she has been influential in strengthening others in their loyalty to Jesus Christ and in their discipleship. ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.’ Martyrdom strengthens the church.
Verbal Persecution
Persecution is often verbal and relational, rather than physical; subtle, rather than violent. Jesus said, “In the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” In what ways did they persecute the prophets? They killed some of them, but mostly they abused them. They told Amos to go and prophesy at home. Some men from Isaiah’s home town hunted him to kill him. They ridiculed, they insulted, they threatened. More than one had his face slapped. The effect of all this: they carried right on doing what God told them to do.
This is the only Beatitude where Jesus gives evidence for the reward. The evidence of our reward is that the prophets, who more certainly than any others deserved and obtained a reward in heaven, received exactly the same treatment that may befall the disciples.
Blessed are you when people insult you, and say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
In New Zealand today few of us expect to be killed for our faith. However, when people snub and reject us, when they treat us with contempt, when they ridicule our beliefs, we should start to suspect that such treatment might be persecution. When someone says untrue things about you, when you’re the focus of gossip and innuendo, when your character is assaulted and your motives are questioned – this too can be a form of persecution. There are times when hard words and bitter feelings and verbal attacks aren’t just the expressions of unhappy people or obnoxious personalities, but acts of spiritual war intended to inflict suffering on those trying to follow Christ. When that’s the case disciples shouldn’t hesitate to say, “Thank God! I’m being persecuted.” To be treated unjustly by people who hate us because they hate Jesus is cause for unbridled joy!
Why persecution?
We have to say one thing about Jesus: he was certainly honest! He didn’t pretend that life would be easy for his disciples. It has been said that he came, “not to make life easy, but to make men great.” Let’s get it straight: persecution is good. It’s a sign that Christians are doing something right. If we’re followers of Jesus we can’t avoid persecution. We don’t want to avoid it. We do, however, want to understand it.
There are basically two reasons why we are persecuted. One: because Satan is working against us. Satan seeks to destroy what God has created so he’s out to destroy us, especially to separate us from God; from our life. Jesus came expressly to destroy the devil’s works.
And two: because we are the conscience of the world. Anyone living a godly life in Christ will prick the consciences of those who aren’t. People hate having their consciences pricked and they do all sorts of things to deal with their guilty feelings. For example: a few years back, a couple came to New Zealand and spoke with a number of young people, encouraging them to abstain from sex until after they marry, and to sign a pledge to that effect. The reaction against this idea was strange until we realised that it was the reaction of guilty people.
Conscience is the real problem for half-hearted Christians. Perhaps the most effective undermining of faith comes from Christians —Christians who are scared to death that a Beatitude kind of discipleship is a comment on and criticism of the tepid Christianity they’ve chosen to practice.
We practice the Beatitudes at our own risk. Take the spiritual steps Jesus recommends in these statements, listen and act upon his instructions for becoming the kind of disciple he wants you to be, and there will be people you know and love – church members, family members, Christian friends – who will turn on you and tell you to ‘knock it off. They will ridicule your enthusiasm, slander and malign you, reject you and even try to destroy you. This is exactly what people in Jesus‘ church did to him.
How to respond to persecution
Persecution doesn’t just happen — the word means ‘hunted down’. We must avoid paranoia. And we don’t go looking for it. Just as important, we must not do it. We must not belittle others, put Christians down or say or do anything that puts them off the faith. We must build up one another and encourage one another to follow Jesus with enthusiasm.
Persecution is vindication and opportunity. Vindication of our faith – it means that there is something to persecute. And opportunity to show that the character changes God has effected in us are not just skin deep; that they cannot be rubbed off with a little abrasion.
The ability to suffer without retaliation, to bless those who curse you, to love your enemies, to do good to those who treat you cruelly – this is the ultimate virtue. To watch those you love turn against you, and to keep loving them. To hear people you trust slander and malign you, and to respond with graciousness. To see your credibility undermined and your witness ridiculed, yet to refuse revenge, trusting yourself instead to God. When you can respond to persecution in these ways, you embody the character Jesus wants to build in his disciples.
And you can rejoice and be glad. For you are in good company. Many godly men and women ‘have suffered for the cause of righteousness. And many have found in the crucible of pain the courage to demonstrate Christlike character. If you’re one of their number, count yourself blessed. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like you.
Summary
In a word, persecution teaches us to say, “”1 will follow Jesus – regardless.“ When faced with ridicule or rejection – even by those we know and love – our determination is to rejoice, endure and demonstrate the character of Jesus.
Prayer: Father, you ‘have promised that those who love you will experience persecution. if there were people who hated your Son, there will be people who hate me also.
I don’t ask to avoid those people, Lord, or the pain they may cause me. But I do ask that you: give me wisdom — to recognise persecution when it happens.
give me courage – to endure whatever pain I’m called to face.
give me strength – to react in Christlike ways even when I’m hurting.
Most of all, my Lord, give me joy – to see persecution as a sign of your favour and a chance to join your Son in his sufferings.
Amen.