Persecution

     In over forty years in the church in America, I have heard almost nothing preached or taught on the subject of persecution. Probably this is because we have not experienced the overt suffering and even death that many of our brothers and sisters around the world have had. Yet 2 Timothy 3:12 is clear. "All those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." I suspect one reason why we have not had the same level of persecution as those in many countries is that we have not lived in a very godly way. We have allowed the society to push us into our church buildings. We have had little impact on the surrounding culture.
     Yet persecution is coming nonetheless. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18) The prince of this world hates Jesus and His followers. Persecution is a prominent theme of 1 Peter, for example. In chapter 2:21ff Peter writes that we have been called to follow the example of Christ in suffering. In chapter 4:16 he writes, "If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." ( 1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
    Hebrews speaks of the same suffering for our faith. "But recall the former days when... you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated." ( Hebrews 10:32-33 ESV)
   Paul was imprisoned for his faith, and he and all of the other original apostles except John were martyred. We see ever increasing prejudice and hostility against Christians in the US. A couple in Idaho face arrest, imprisonment, and loss of their wedding business for refusing to marry gay people. Pastors in Houston are facing the same punishment for refusing to give up their sermon notes and e-mails. This is just the tip of the iceberg of anti-Christians sentiment here. Don't kid yourself. If you live godly in Christ Jesus, you will suffer persecution.