Why We Get Persecuted Pt4
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Wednesday 12th November 1997
Why We Get Persecuted Pt4
Some of the reasons why Christians get persecuted are basic to the
warp and woof of a fallen world and "this present evil age". The
economic, religious and political power structures are self-protecting
and earth-bound. By earth-bound I mean that they do not consider
eternal consequences. Paul states this quite clearly when he writes:
(1 Corinthians 2:6-9 NKJV) However, we speak wisdom among those who
are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of
this age, who are coming to nothing. {7} But we speak the wisdom of
God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the
ages for our glory, {8} which none of the rulers of this age knew;
for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
{9} But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have
entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for
those who love Him."
The rulers of this age are "coming to nothing" and they do not
comprehend the wisdom of God for if they knew God's wisdom they would
not have cricified the Lord of glory. The utter pragmatist and lack
of spiritual insight of the current political, religious and economic
structures means they are doomed and will pass away. It also means
that they will fail to grasp what Christianity is on about and will
crucify the Lord of glory - and persecute His followers. This leads
us to our five final reasons for why Christians get persecuted.
16. As part of a power struggle against God and Jesus Christ. (Acts
4:26 NKJV) The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers
were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.'
17. It's a standard response to convicting spiritual truth.
(Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV) Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11}
"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all
kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. {12} "Rejoice and be
exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.
18. Because new converts to faith are often very zealous e.g the
Hellenists Jews were struggling for acceptance and persecuted
Christianity in order to be accepted as true Jews. (Acts 9:29 NKJV)
And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed
against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
19 Because the gospel threatens certain types of trade e.g. drugs
today. (Acts 19:25-27 NKJV) "Men, you know that we have our
prosperity by this trade. {26} "Moreover you see and hear that not
only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has
persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods
which are made with hands. {27} "So not only is this trade of ours
in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the
great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed,
whom all Asia and the world worship."
20. Because a servant is not greater than his Master. (John 15:20
NKJV) "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not
greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also
persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
So we see that speaking and living the truth in the midst of
powerful but blind social structures can be a perilous thing. We are
not persecuted because we lack tact or because of faults in us. We
are persecuted because this present evil age will resist the light
and reject that which it does not understand. The world is sometimes
reasonable and rational but ultimately we encounter people, groups
and cultures swayed by deeply irrational and evil impulses. The
massacres in Sudan today or the outbursts of rage at the mention of
the name of Jesus Christ in front of some people testify to the fact
that we need to be on our guard. There is a godly wariness that
Christians need. (Matthew 10:16-17 NKJV) "Behold, I send you out as
sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and
harmless as doves. {17} "But beware of men, for they will deliver you
up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Prayer:
Lord give us that astute wisdom that makes us able to survive amidst
the wolves. Teach us which men to beware of and which to trust. Guide
us to the truth so that we avoid both fearfulness and paranoia and
gullibility and destruction. Make us wise, make us bold, give us
power in the Spirit and victory over this world. May Your Kingdom
come. Amen.
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