The Persecuted Christian

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  II Timothy 3:12

While Christians in the United States have not suffered persecution like those in other countries where Christians are a very small minority and regarded as a threat to the other religions that are in the majority, persecution is coming.  I am reminded of the rage of the Pharisees and other religious leaders during the time that Jesus walked the earth.  They, too, felt threatened that they would lose their prestigious positions because they could see more and more of the people of Israel following Jesus.  He was persecuted constantly by their accusations and tricks to try and catch Him violating God’s law, the same law that they had skirted around for years yet forced the people to obey some really burdensome rules and regulations that they invented to prove their power.  We have now a group of religious people who desire to rule the world and have threatened to kill everyone who does not follow their false religion.

Paul certainly had his share of persecution, mostly from his own people, the same kind as those religious leaders who desired to eliminate anything to do with Christ and His gospel.  Paul had been one of them, thus he saw persecution from both sides, the persecutors and the persecuted.  Now, as he wrote to Timothy, he was confident that Timothy knew that he was nothing like the false teachers and the pretenders of faith in Christ.  As Timothy traveled with Paul, he had become well acquainted with the correct doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.  Timothy was also aware of the simple and righteous life that Paul lived, and he understood Paul’s purpose in reaching as many people as he could with the gospel.  Paul’s faith in the Lord was evident in every action taken and every word spoken.  His patience was beyond reproach, and his endurance was astonishing.  He definitely lived a godly life in Christ Jesus, and thus he suffered from those who opposed him and opposed his efforts to bring the gospel to various cities across Asia Minor and Greece.

People who hate God, and there are a lot of them, also hate anyone who loves God and Jesus and commits his or her life to upholding godly values.  It is evident that the world hates God, and this hatred is only growing among the lost.  We see it every day on television in just about every program where sin is displayed as a “normal” way of life with no consequences.  According to society in general, there is nothing wrong with having sexual relations with someone to whom one is not married, to members of the same sex, using abortion as a form of birth control, or trying to convince young people that there is something wrong with them if they don’t question their own gender.  Those who oppose these sins are the ones who are ridiculed.  Satan has certainly done a thorough job of deceiving multitudes into lifestyles which will eventually lead to an eternity of misery.

Sin is a slippery slope.  The sinner starts out perhaps not intending to do wrong, but he or she has no power to avoid sin without the help of the Holy Spirit.  One sin leads to another and before you know it, a pattern of sin has developed.  The pattern of sin grows in the lives of those who do evil.  They continue to deceive others, but they, too, are self-deceived believing that they will not be held accountable.  Those who try to convince sinners that they are on the wrong track and will suffer for it are treated as if they didn’t know anything, that they are old-fashioned or backward, ignorant, or intrusive.  If sinners could only see down this track on which they are speeding and see the train wreck up ahead, perhaps they wouldn’t be so quick to judge those who are only trying to warn them.  However, most sinners don’t bother to consider how they might end up on the sin trajectory.

Those who bother me the most are those who claim to be Christians yet support and promote some of the most ungodly ideas and policies.  Some of these folks are people in places of authority, but they have failed to recognize Who is really the Authority.  I watch them on television as they push their wicked ideas and policies, and think to myself, do they not understand what they are doing?  Jesus talked about the blind leading the blind.  He was referring to that which comes out of a person’s mouth which originates in the heart.  It is these ungodly ideas, words, and policies that defile a person.  The disciples became upset because the Pharisees were offended at Jesus’ statement.  Jesus told His disciples that every plant that God did not plant will be rooted up and to let them alone.  If the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:10-14).  We pray for our leaders that God will convict them, and they will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  While nothing is impossible with God, it seems the further one goes out into sin makes it less likely that he or she will ever know the truth.

Persecution is coming on God’s people.  We haven’t felt the brunt of it yet, mostly ridicule, mocking, and political persecution.  We can only hope and pray that Jesus will come for us before it gets too bad.  I surely hope we have a change of leadership, one that supports Christians and life, but if God allows the status quo, which will lead to more persecution of believers, then I fear it is because His judgment is coming full force upon our sinful nation.