Persecution

What happens in your heart when you hear of being persecuted for following Christ? Fear? Avoidance? Resolve? As Americans, we have not been accustom to facing persecution for believing in Jesus Christ, worshiping Him in our assemblies or sharing Christ in our communities. However, just because we do not have as much experience with it, does not mean that the persecution of believers is not happening around the world and even within our own country. Jesus finished the beatitudes by helping his followers understand how to handle persecution. If believers live according to the truths Jesus preached in the sermon on the mount, persecution in some form must be expected.

Recently, research conducted by Family Research Council (FRC) indicates that criminal acts against churches have been steadily on the rise for the past several years, and the first quarter of 2023 has continued the upward trend. The first three months of 2023 saw approximately three times the number of acts of hostility perpetrated against churches in the same timeframe last year. The fourth quarter of 2022 saw an additional 54 incidents, for a total of 191 in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, 69 incidents have already occurred.

As believers in and followers of Jesus Christ, we must be fortified to stand for Jesus no matter the cost. William Wolfe, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense at the Pentagon and a director of legislative affairs at the State Department, wrote, “Despite what some may claim, Christians are being persecuted in America. That might be hard to hear, but it’s true. Even though the United States is, arguably, the freest nation on the planet, and offers the First Amendment protection, Christians still face already-and-increasing persecution here between our shining seas. We need to recognize this and prepare for it to get worse.“

Let be reminded of several truths:

Jesus promises a blessing for the persecuted. He gives divine grace and internal peace to endure through persecution. Jesus reassured His disciples before He went to the cross in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” We should remember that all the grace that we need to stand for Jesus will be ours in the moment. The greatest blessing we could receive is hearing “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy lord.“
Those that give their lives for Jesus Christ will receive the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 tells us, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.“
Believers are commanded to pray for those in bonds for their faith. If we are to pray for them, we must know about them. There are many organizations that exist to raise awareness of Christian persecution around the world. Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.“

I have read many books detailing the brave faith of Christians for Jesus Christ. There are two that I would recommend for your consideration. Forward in the Face of Fear by Edgar Feghaly will challenge your heart about the power of God and the Gospel in difficult, hostile regions. The Insanity of Obedience by Nik Ripkins will open your eyes to the plight of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world.

I pray that our Savior will strengthen you to stand for His sake wherever you are and whatever you may face.

“May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Two Moravian Martyrs

The Insanity of God. An eye catching title, I know! When this book was first recommended to me, I have to admit, it didn’t sound like a book I would read. You can never judge a book by its cover! From the first pages I was struck with the powerful testimony of God’s guidance in the life of Nik Ripkens who sought God earnestly. Here are some of the lessons I learned from the book and why you need read it as well.

God is a Rewarder: “…he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Nik’s heart to seek God and to do His will is obvious throughout the book. There is a progression of growth in the author’s life that makes one thirsty to seek God also. By the last chapter, there a sense that Nik had experienced enormous growth in both the knowledge and love of God. It is time that American believers seek God in sincerity.
God is Working in the Midst of Persecution: Much of the world does not know the freedoms that we experience in America. Persecution is a daily occurrence for many believers around the world. As Americans, we think restriction and persecution limits the work of God, but the opposite is true. God’s power is revealed in the most amazing ways in the most heavily persecuted countries. Persecuted believers in Somaliland, Russia, China and in Muslim lands are seeing God work as He did in the pages of the New Testament. Though we ought not seek persecution, we ought to embrace living for and serving Christ with same focus and passion as our persecuted brethren. As Stoyan said, reference American believers, “I took great joy that I was suffering in my country so that you could be free to witness in your country.” He went on to say, “DON’T YOU EVER GIVE UP IN FREEDOM WHAT WE WOULD NEVER GIVE UP IN PERSECUTION— AND THAT IS OUR WITNESS TO THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!”
God uses Dedicated Disciples: I discovered that these persecuted believers knew by experience what Jesus meant in Luke 9:23 when He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” I was left asking myself, “Do I know what that means.” They serve Jesus gladly even in the face of death because Jesus is worthy. Reading of their dedication, I have no question why God used them as He did. Let us decide to be dedicated to Jesus no matter what happens. He is worth it!
God is the Same: The Bible tells us that God is always the same. We read the Biblical accounts of God’s powerful works and conclude, “That was just for Bible times.” Nik asks, “Is the resurrection power that the New Testament describes still real and available to believers in our world today? Nik discovered that the God of the New Testament had not changed and was still able and ready to show Himself strong. Our God is not limited by governments. He is not limited by evil. I was personally convicted of my lack of faith in the unlimited power of God. How we need a fresh realization of the grandness and power of our God.

After reading this book, I plan to recommend it to everybody I can, simply because it was a huge help to me. I am hungry to see God work in America and more specifically in my own community. This book challenged me not to get sidetracked by the thrills of life, but to seek to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.

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