The Ancient Word...

Jesus predicted that his followers would suffer throughout the entire period between his first and second comings:

You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (Matthew 24:9, NIV; compare Mark 13:9-13; Luke 21:12-17)

Paul warns that "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12).

Likewise, Peter reminds us that, for Christians, suffering is not an aberration but the norm:

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you...those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:12-19)

History has demonstrated the truth of these words. More often than not, in most places in the world, believers have been harassed, oppressed, and treated as second-class citizens.

In countries such as the United States, the Lord's servants have enjoyed an unusual measure of freedom and prosperity. Today, however, there is a growing movement to suppress the faith by systematically pushing the gospel to the fringes of society. And who knows what tomorrow will bring?

But why should people suffer simply for trying to serve the Lord? Jesus explains:

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: "No servant is greater than his master." If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. (John 15:18-21; compare Matthew 10:24-25)

In spite of the hardships and the threats, Christ's disciples should never despair. The Lord declares:

Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. (Luke 6:22-23; compare Matthew 5:10-12)

... for Today

Last week, the following news item broke:

Senior aides to the chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday that Marine Gen. Peter Pace won't apologize for calling homosexuality immoral -- an opinion that gay advocacy groups deplored. In a newspaper interview Monday, Pace had likened homosexual acts to adultery and said the military should not condone it by allowing gays to serve openly in the armed forces. "It's bad enough that he thinks that. It's even worse that he would be foolish enough to say that publicly," Arlene Isaacsen of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus told CBS radio station WBZ-AM. "It is crass prejudice, crass bigotry, and brazen ignorance, and it's disgraceful to think that someone in his position would think in these terms."

General Peter Pace is taking some heat for taking a stand based on his Christian convictions.

Of course, Christians can live comfortably in this culture -- provided they remain silent and tolerant of everyone else's choices. But dare to confront sexual promiscuity, gratuitous violence, corruption, injustice, greed, materialism, the adult entertainment industry, gambling, drugs, alcohol, or a raft of other destructive influences in our society, and you can anticipate labels like "crass prejudice, crass bigotry, and brazen ignorance."

The fact that many of us live with such high levels of social approval may reveal an Achilles heel rather than a badge of honor.

Discuss...

1. Describe some instances when your own faith has resulted in rejection or persecution. How did you deal with it?
   
   
2. How do we stand for Christ without becoming self-righteous?

Chris Davis, PhD & David Timms, PhD
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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