Christian Response to Persecution
When Christians react in kind to hostility, whether from government, society, or individuals, Satan triumphs – Matthew 5:12.
In Thessalonica, the church received the gospel in
“much tribulation," yet its members welcomed Paul’s
message despite hostility. In this way, they became “imitators”
of the Apostle and of Jesus. Instead of anger or dismay, they accepted the way
of discipleship characterized by suffering, and thus they became “examples”
to the other churches in the region - (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8).
By enduring persecution, the Thessalonians became “imitators”
of the earlier saints “in Judea…who suffered the same things by their own
fellow-countrymen.” Indeed, in the books of the New Testament, the
proclamation of the gospel routinely produced hostile reactions - (1 Thessalonians
2:14-16).
After being compelled to leave Thessalonica, Paul sent Timothy to
assess the situation, having heard of the church’s afflictions. He wanted no
one to “shrink back in these tribulations. For you yourselves know that we
are appointed for this… We are destined to suffer
tribulation.” Thus, according to the Apostle, persecution is part
of what it means to follow Jesus.
Years later, Paul expressed similar sentiments to Timothy who had
observed his life, including “what manner of persecutions” he had
suffered. He pointed to his sufferings as a pattern for disciples to imitate,
for “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted” - (2 Timothy 3:10-12).
By no means was Paul the first or only church leader to teach that
disciples should expect to endure persecution. His understanding was
derived from the teachings of Jesus himself. For example, in his “Sermon
on the Mount,” he declared the “blessedness” of the disciple
who was persecuted for his sake:
- “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” - (Matthew 5:10-12).
Our desire to live without conflict is understandable.
Nevertheless, Jesus warned that all who would follow him in this world “will
have tribulation.” And he summoned his disciples to follow
the same path that he did, for the “servant is not greater than his master.
If they persecuted me, likewise, will they persecute you” - (John 15:20,
16:33).
Everyone who chooses to become his disciple is called to emulate
him by “taking up the cross,” and in Christ’s day, crucifixion was
a graphic symbol for suffering, torture, and violent and shameful death.
Yet disciples who refuse to “take up their cross” for his sake are “not
worthy of me” - (Matthew 16:24).
And it is a “blessing” and not a curse to suffer for him,
as counterintuitive as that is. To follow the slain Lamb often
entails suffering for him. Therefore, Christians should not be surprised when
persecution does occur. Moreover, we are to “rejoice and be glad”
when we are persecuted, for “great is our reward in heaven.”
But a this-age mindset focused on
the “meat that perishes” sees suffering for him as a curse. Only the eye
of faith can perceive that suffering produces everlasting rewards in
the “age to come” - (Matthew 5:12).
Thus, Christian hope is forward-looking.
Final rewards and everlasting life are received in the “age to come.” Suffering
in the here-and-now is not pleasant, but it “is a slight momentary
affliction preparing us for an everlasting weight of glory beyond all
comparison” - (2 Corinthians 4:17, Revelation 22:12).
If anything, to suffer “unjustly” is a sign of divine
approval, evidence that one is a true follower of Jesus, though that is not
true of human suffering brought on by sin and circumstances. “When you do
right and suffer for it patiently, you have God's approval.”
To endure rejection is what it means to follow the Lord who “also suffered
for you, leaving you an example to follow” - (1 Peter 2:19-20).
We are not to “be frightened in anything by our opponents.”
Hostility to the gospel is “clear evidence” of their destruction but
also of “our salvation.” God has graced us
to suffer for His kingdom, and we ought to respond with the understanding
that it produces everlasting rewards - (Philippians 1:28-29).
But we also instinctively respond-in-kind to
personal and corporate attacks. Human society sees self-defense and
retaliation as necessary and even morally justified responses to threats and
assaults, whether from individuals, groups, or governments. Yet, Jesus prohibited
his disciples from engaging in retaliation. Revenge may be the “way the world
works,” but disciples are called to something vastly different.
When we are persecuted, we are to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.” It is precisely by showing mercy to our enemy that we emulate God and become “perfect” like Him - (Matthew 5:44-48).
Likewise, Paul exhorted Christians in Rome to “bless them
that persecute, bless and do not curse.” They are to “render
no one evil for evil.” God’s justice is not blind, but believers must “not
avenge” themselves, and instead, they must leave justice in the hands of the
God who will “repay” if, how and when He sees fit - (Romans 12:14-21).
Peter also taught us to “endure patiently”
unjust suffering. Doing so demonstrates our “approval by God,” which,
logically, means our unwillingness to endure persecution and our determination
to avenge ourselves demonstrates His disapproval of us. And Peter pointed to
Jesus and his death as the ultimate example of how we are to respond to
hostility – For to “this you have been called because Christ also suffered
for you leaving you an example” - (1 Peter 2:19-23).
Our desire to react to evil with evil stems
from our tendency to view persecutors and accusers as “enemies”. But
we must recall what we once were. No one is born a Christian - every believer
is a convert. Previously, we were “enemies” of God and were only reconciled
to Him “by the death of his Son.” Jesus died for us “while we
were yet sinners” - (Romans 5:6-10).
The true “enemies” of Christ are not “blood and flesh,
but the principalities, the authorities, the world-holders of this darkness.”
Human agents unwittingly carry out acts of aggression on behalf of their satanic
overlords. But on the Cross, Jesus did not overthrow the national and political
enemies of Israel. Instead, he triumphed over “the principalities and powers.”
And now, in him, God is reconciling fallen
men to Himself, and He has bequeathed the ministry of reconciliation to us. And
since we have received mercy, who better to show mercy to our persecutors?
We are called to emulate Jesus. When unjustly condemned, He
did not respond with anger or threats, either to the Jewish authorities that
betrayed him or to the representative of Rome that executed him. And when he was
dying on the Cross, he prayed for His Father to forgive the very men who had
condemned him to death and nailed him to it.
When persecution does occur, if we wish to be his disciples, we must
not respond with belligerence, rage, civil disobedience, and especially, not
with violence. One cannot “overcome evil with evil.”
When we react to hostility with hostility, Satan triumphs, not Jesus, and we
demonstrate exactly whose disciples were are.
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