American Christians continually get caught up in the talk radio/Fox News cycle of worry and doubt. What if Hillary gets elected? What if the Supreme Court is irrevocably liberalized? What if Obama parks his rear in the oval office and refuses to abdicate?
You know what, worse injustices have happened in the history of the world.
But, they continue, the liberals are and will continue to target Christians! We will have to bake cakes and hire people we don't want to! We will, Heaven forbid, lose of 501c3 status!
Oh, the humanity!
Now, don't get me wrong. Christianity is losing favor increasingly in this country. As that favor goes, so our religious freedoms will go. Christianity is really an exclusive religion, meaning that those who don't like us usually hate us. The abuses of our religious freedom are injustices and we are right to combat them. However, we American Christians know little to nothing about persecution. That being said, we may encounter true persecution within our lifetimes.
So what?
Why is suffering the worst thing that we can imagine? Why is the loss of our religious freedoms (which we barely utilize now) so unfathomable to us? Our religious forefathers endured suffering. Our brothers in Asia and Africa are experiencing financial and physical persecution as you read this! Why should you be exempt?
Americans seem to detest nothing more strongly than perceived injustices. The Apostle Peter, however, viewed persecution in a distinctly un-American way (imagine that!). He tells us that, instead of bemoaning persecution, we ought to embrace it. 1 Peter 2:19 says, "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly." Much of his first epistle develops this concept of suffering for the sake of our faith and the fact that it is actually a blessing. Paul echoes this idea in Romans 5:3ff where he tells us that we should "glory in our sufferings" because suffering produces perseverance and so on and so forth. In 2 Timothy 3:12 he gives Timothy this assurance: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
How different this perspective is from our modern outlook! Two of the most prominent pillars in the Church of Jesus Christ agree that persecution is not only possible for the Christian, but that it should be expected. Furthermore, not only is it a real part of our existence, but it is actually a blessing. It is edifying. It is, as Peter says, gracious!
Why is that so hard to believe? Why is this so hard to process? Well, first of all, we Americans are extremely individualized and self-centered. Our religion, as with everything else, is primarily concerned with who "I" am and what "I" need.
Secondly, we are earthly-minded. Our fears and our hopes both revolve around what happens with our bodies, wealth, etc. We prioritize things of the flesh, failing to recognize the superior value of spiritual blessings and our spiritual hope.
Thirdly, we here in America are soft. We are wealthy. We're "first worlders," so to speak. We are easily offended and we harp on our rights as often as possible. We don't know the meaning of the word "endure." Christianity, instead of leading the way, has followed suit. Need proof? Look no further than mega churches and the average salary of a pastor. Preaching rarely includes anything that would disenfranchise or disillusion those sitting comfortably in the pews. We love our religious freedom, which usually means that we want to be able to go to church for an hour on Sunday (well, not every week, you legalist!) and then go watch some football. All the while we'll complain on Facebook about political and social issues.
What happens when we really do have our speech censored? What happens when people are thrown in jail for refusing to bake wedding cakes for homosexuals? If we complain this much over trivialities, what happens when real hardships come our way? Perhaps this is why God is allowing such hardships to come our way. Persecution has proven time after time to be the most fertile ground for Church growth and purification. Perhaps God has decided that it is time to purify His Church. Perhaps Christ has decided it is time to cleanse His bride. Maybe persecution is coming our way.
So what?
As Weird Al would say, it's good for you! Dying for your faith is not the worst thing in the world. Living a comfortable life and then hearing "I never knew you" is a fate far more pitiable. Persecution will certainly realign our priorities or show us our true selves. What's more important to us? Our bodies or our souls? Our comfort or the Kingdom of God? Our earthly wealth or our Heavenly treasure? If we suffer, we should thank God, as counter-intuitive as that may seem (Christianity has always been counter-intuitive). We should relish the opportunity to endure the purifying flames of persecution. Until then we should work towards rejecting the earthly hopes of this world, relying on and finding joy in Christ alone. We should also pray for and aid our brethren around the globe who are already experiencing persecution, remaining constantly aware of our solidarity with them.
You know what, worse injustices have happened in the history of the world.
But, they continue, the liberals are and will continue to target Christians! We will have to bake cakes and hire people we don't want to! We will, Heaven forbid, lose of 501c3 status!
Oh, the humanity!
Now, don't get me wrong. Christianity is losing favor increasingly in this country. As that favor goes, so our religious freedoms will go. Christianity is really an exclusive religion, meaning that those who don't like us usually hate us. The abuses of our religious freedom are injustices and we are right to combat them. However, we American Christians know little to nothing about persecution. That being said, we may encounter true persecution within our lifetimes.
So what?
Why is suffering the worst thing that we can imagine? Why is the loss of our religious freedoms (which we barely utilize now) so unfathomable to us? Our religious forefathers endured suffering. Our brothers in Asia and Africa are experiencing financial and physical persecution as you read this! Why should you be exempt?
Americans seem to detest nothing more strongly than perceived injustices. The Apostle Peter, however, viewed persecution in a distinctly un-American way (imagine that!). He tells us that, instead of bemoaning persecution, we ought to embrace it. 1 Peter 2:19 says, "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly." Much of his first epistle develops this concept of suffering for the sake of our faith and the fact that it is actually a blessing. Paul echoes this idea in Romans 5:3ff where he tells us that we should "glory in our sufferings" because suffering produces perseverance and so on and so forth. In 2 Timothy 3:12 he gives Timothy this assurance: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
How different this perspective is from our modern outlook! Two of the most prominent pillars in the Church of Jesus Christ agree that persecution is not only possible for the Christian, but that it should be expected. Furthermore, not only is it a real part of our existence, but it is actually a blessing. It is edifying. It is, as Peter says, gracious!
Why is that so hard to believe? Why is this so hard to process? Well, first of all, we Americans are extremely individualized and self-centered. Our religion, as with everything else, is primarily concerned with who "I" am and what "I" need.
Secondly, we are earthly-minded. Our fears and our hopes both revolve around what happens with our bodies, wealth, etc. We prioritize things of the flesh, failing to recognize the superior value of spiritual blessings and our spiritual hope.
Thirdly, we here in America are soft. We are wealthy. We're "first worlders," so to speak. We are easily offended and we harp on our rights as often as possible. We don't know the meaning of the word "endure." Christianity, instead of leading the way, has followed suit. Need proof? Look no further than mega churches and the average salary of a pastor. Preaching rarely includes anything that would disenfranchise or disillusion those sitting comfortably in the pews. We love our religious freedom, which usually means that we want to be able to go to church for an hour on Sunday (well, not every week, you legalist!) and then go watch some football. All the while we'll complain on Facebook about political and social issues.
What happens when we really do have our speech censored? What happens when people are thrown in jail for refusing to bake wedding cakes for homosexuals? If we complain this much over trivialities, what happens when real hardships come our way? Perhaps this is why God is allowing such hardships to come our way. Persecution has proven time after time to be the most fertile ground for Church growth and purification. Perhaps God has decided that it is time to purify His Church. Perhaps Christ has decided it is time to cleanse His bride. Maybe persecution is coming our way.
So what?
As Weird Al would say, it's good for you! Dying for your faith is not the worst thing in the world. Living a comfortable life and then hearing "I never knew you" is a fate far more pitiable. Persecution will certainly realign our priorities or show us our true selves. What's more important to us? Our bodies or our souls? Our comfort or the Kingdom of God? Our earthly wealth or our Heavenly treasure? If we suffer, we should thank God, as counter-intuitive as that may seem (Christianity has always been counter-intuitive). We should relish the opportunity to endure the purifying flames of persecution. Until then we should work towards rejecting the earthly hopes of this world, relying on and finding joy in Christ alone. We should also pray for and aid our brethren around the globe who are already experiencing persecution, remaining constantly aware of our solidarity with them.
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