Persecution and Suffering

When disciples react to hostility with hostility, whether by government, society, or individuals, Satan triumphs.

The reality of persecution raises important questions. How should we react to hostility and opposition? Should we engage in civil disobedience and public protests? Our human desire to live without conflict is natural. Nevertheless, Jesus warned that all men who decide to follow him would experience tribulation and persecution.

Jesus Christ summons us to follow the same path that he did. The “servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, so they will persecute you” - (John 15:20, 16:33).

[Lighthouse Photo by Michael Krahn (Ontario) on Unsplash]

We must conform to the Lord’s example, especially by denying our needs and desires and “taking up the Cross.” In the first century, crucifixion was a shameful form of death, but the disciple who refuses to walk the same path is “not worthy of me” - (Matthew 16:24).

It is a “blessing” and not a curse to suffer for Christ, although this is counterintuitive and contrary to the “wisdom of this age.” We should “rejoice and be glad” when we are persecuted for the Kingdom since “great is our reward in heaven” - (Matthew 5:12).

The teachings of Jesus about suffering are echoed in the writings of the Apostles. In Thessalonica, the congregation received the Gospel in “much tribulation,” yet its members welcomed Paul’s message despite the hostility generated by it.

The Thessalonian believers accepted the path of discipleship characterized by suffering for the Gospel’s sake. In doing so, they became “examples” for the other congregations of the region, and they became “imitators” of the churches “in Judea, who suffered the same things by their fellow countrymen” - (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8, 2:14-16).

After being compelled to leave Thessalonica, Paul sent Timothy to assess the situation. 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.” Persecution results from following Jesus. We should not be surprised when it does occur. Instead, we should rejoice!

Paul expressed similar sentiments to Timothy, including “what manner of persecutions” he endured.  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).

THE BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

The Biblical hope is forward-looking. Final rewards and everlasting life are received in the “age to come.” Present suffering is not pleasant, but it “is a slight and momentary affliction preparing us for an everlasting weight of glory beyond all comparison” - (2 Corinthians 4:17, Revelation 22:12).

Suffering “unjustly” is a sign of divine approval, evidence that one is a true follower of Jesus. “When you do right and suffer for it patiently, you have God's approval.” Enduring 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 must give thanks to God always for you, brethren, even as it is fitting, for that your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another abounds, so that we ourselves glory in you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the tribulations that you endure. This is a manifest token of the just judgment of God, to the end, you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer. If so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to those who trouble you, and to you that are troubled, rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven” – (2 Thessalonians 1:3-7).

We are not to succumb to fear because of the opposition we face. Hostility to our message is evidence of the coming destruction of our persecutors, but also of “our salvation.” God has graced us with the honor and privilege of suffering for His kingdom:

• “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one soul, striving for the faith of the gospel. And in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them an evident token of destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God, because to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer” - (Philippians 1:27-29).

We instinctively respond in kind to personal attacks. Human society sees self-defense and retaliation as necessary and even morally justified reactions to threats and assaults. However, Jesus prohibited his disciples from engaging in retaliation, and he provided no exceptions to the rule. Instead, we must “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.” By showing mercy to our enemy, we emulate God and become “perfect” like Him - (Matthew 5:44-48).

Likewise, Paul exhorts disciples to “bless them that persecute, bless and do not curse.”  We must “render no one evil for evil,” and we must “not avenge” ourselves but leave justice in the hands of the God who will “repay” if, how, and when He sees fit - (Romans 12:14-21).

The Apostle Peter also taught us to “endure patiently” unjust suffering. Doing so demonstrates our “approval by God.” He pointed to Jesus 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).

Previously, we were “enemies” of God. We were only reconciled to Him “by the death of his Son,” and he died for us “while we were yet sinners.” Our real “enemies” are not “blood and flesh, but the principalities, the authorities, the world-holders of this darkness.” Human agents carry out acts of aggression on behalf of their demonic overlords. However, Jesus triumphed on the Cross over “the principalities and powers” that enslave all men - (Romans 5:6-10).

We are called to emulate Jesus.  When unjustly condemned, he refused to respond with threats. When he was dying, he prayed for His Father to forgive the very men who condemned him to death and nailed him to the Cross. Again, we cannot “overcome evil with evil.” When we react to hostility with rage and violence, Satan triumphs, and we demonstrate just whose disciple we truly are.

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SEE ALSO:

• The Imminent Storm - (The New Testament warns of a future apostasy caused by deceivers and the Son of Destruction, the Lawless Man, before the Day of the Lord arrives)

• Accounted Worthy - (The Spirit of Antichrist operates in the world by sending deceivers into the church)

• The Conspiracy - (The prophesied plot of the Earth’s kings to unseat God’s Son is applied by the New Testament to the conspiracy to destroy Jesus – Psalm 2:1-6)

• Opposition and Proclamation - (Jesus began to proclaim the Gospel following the arrest of John, which represented the opposition that came to plague his ministry – Mark 1:14-15)