What is Our Persecution?

I asked this question along with sharing a few verses to my friends and fellow comrades in arms, which we call brethren. Here is a few highlights from my inquiry to give background and also a letter I got in response from a real friend. I really appreciated his view point- How about you? What do you think? Leave a comment or e-mail jonluketws@gmail.com


Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
—Matthew 5:10-12   

Yea, and all that will live godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
—2 Timothy 3:12   

The Question:

I have a question about our commitment to Christ.***Learning about some major persecution going on in India, I asked a missionary or board member from that country about his opinion. He told me that it was there fault for openly challenging and preaching to their Hindu and Muslim neighbors. In return their churches and houses were burnt to the ground by the hundreds, and lives lost. He went on to explain that his personal tailor was a Muslim and a great personal friend and that they got along quite well. If there was ever any chance of confrontation we would be sure to evacuate our missionaries and send prayers of support to our native brethren. I am not wanting to be critical of the brother or our mission program. In fact who is to say that I wouldn’t do the same.***Maybe the Church has a different role to play in these matters than my dim vision can percieve. It is up to God, what he wants us to do. We say our persecution is stress, choices, and living in a sex saturated society. However it seems that other countries suffer stress and immorality, albeit with less choices. What is our persecution?? What are our marks on our bodies that we bare for our Lord Jesus Christ?***However am I ready to suffer for my Lord and brother and sisters. It is one thing to die but another to carry a cross that includes suffering. I don’t wish suffering on anyone, but this Christmas season can we relate with these verses. I am not talking about the first of the year bills either. Do we have that lively hope that is constantly running over. I want to be willing to be all I can be with the help of the grace of God. How will the revival start. This article is not meant as a reproof, but as a challenge and a question. Is this an area that we are lacking in? Please open up a discussion to open my eyes on these matters.

The Response:

What is our persecution?
 
I don’t know if I can answer all your questions, Jon, and I don’t know either if I can get all my scattered thoughts together on this subject as I’ve pondered it
 
There were a few thoughts that came to me as I read this verse: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5. 10.
 
We ask “Why aren’t we persecuted?” I don’t believe there is any value in persecution itself. There are many groups of people that have been persecuted throughout history. Today some gay rights groups feel they are persecuted because they are not recognized as “normal”. So does this mean they are blessed? No... the blessing comes to those who are persecuted because of righteousness.
 
Sometimes maybe we think that being persecuted IS righteousness. Or that it somehow makes us better or puts more stars in our crown (maybe it does… I don’t know.) But this type of mindset puts the focus on our own good works. There are some radical fundamental groups which thrive under this thinking and believe that the more they are persecuted, the more God smiles upon them. Their persecution actually becomes their “righteousness”. But that is somewhat backwards thinking. Matt 5:10 says that persecution may be a RESULT of righteousness, not that it is righteousness itself.
 
So what is righteousness?
 
Is it “going out of our way to be persecuted”? Is it “preaching boldly in anti-Christian atmospheres”? Or is it simply recognizing that all our righteousness is as filthy rags, and out of thankfulness for Christ’s covering of righteousness, stepping forth in service to God and our fellowman? Filling our place of service, small or great, at home or abroad, with the leading and blessing of God and His Church? All our righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight. Only as we are covered by the Blood do we become “righteous” in God’s eyes.
 
Having said that, I do believe that we are wanting to have it too easy, and more and more the thought of “persecution” is becoming foreign and distasteful to us. But this doesn’t start in the mission field.. it starts at home. Denying ourselves of unnecessary earthly possessions, material pressures, the latest technology, etc, may be the persecution we are being called to. Living as pilgrims and strangers upon the earth. Being willing to stand out. Building a moderate home or buying a gently used vehicle instead of going all out, even if we could afford it. Showing a non-resistant, non-materialistic spirit when we are being taken advantage of in the business world. I dare say at times this may be harder persecution to stand up to than preaching to hostile Muslims, but I’m not speaking from experience so I can’t really say. How are we faring in the arena of a materialistic society? Are we giving in to escape the roaring lions? Commitment to Christ starts at home, not on the mission field.
 
But this probably doesn’t address your questions of physical persecution in foreign lands. I do believe that the Church is trying to stay in tune with God’s leading in this area. I once heard someone say regarding the Great Commission (“Go ye therefore and teach all nations…… teaching them to observe all things..”) that the part of the Church today seemed to be more in the area of “teaching them to observe all things” rather than introducing people to the Gospel. A large majority of the world has heard about Jesus. Many churches are in every country preaching the Gospel, and many are coming to salvation thru this. But how many of them have been exposed to the Church, a visible united organism that preaches and lives the whole Gospel? We could be more vocal and bold about preaching the Gospel in foreign lands, but don’t you think that a consecrated mission family living in a village speaks louder than “just another voice” telling about Jesus? Regarding your comment about the “dark land” of Bangladesh.. many people may have heard about Jesus, but how many have been touched by Him as our eye clinics and harelip programs are attempting to do? If the missionaries in that land would start openly preaching and challenging the society around them with words very likely these programs would be forced to close down very quickly. (I’ve read some recent letters from my wife’s cousin who is in Bangladesh and the ARE sharing the Gospel as the door opens up.. and it hasn’t always been in a friendly environment... ) Think about Jesus’ example.. He went about healing the sick, not preaching to them. Is this what we are doing in Bangladesh? I’m not trying to excuse a fearful, laid-back approach to mission work, but rather sometimes God works in areas far beyond what we can see. Also, I’m sure our missionaries undergo more than we realize. We need to be "wise as serpents, harmless as doves."
 
We can’t change the world. No amount of talking or challenging other people’s religions is going to do this. Only God can change men’s hearts (altho it may at times include talking or sometimes challenging others.) As we submit to God (and the Church) at home, He will use us in the way He sees fit. Our focus should be on carrying out His will, and if it results in persecution, may we rejoice as Paul did to suffer for the Lord! Chad G.

Thanks for the answer!