Persecuted

 From the beginning, Christians have faced persecution.  Jesus predicted it.  “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well,” (John 15:20).  Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven,  Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” (Matthew 5:10-12). 

 According to church tradition, all of the disciples died a martyr’s death except John, who suffered torture and exile. Paul, who persecuted Christians before his conversion, later listed the things he suffered for his faith: “beaten times without number, often in danger of death.  Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned,” (I Corinthians 11:23-25).

 Most of us have not suffered persecution for our faith. Americans have benefited from the protection of the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”  This does not mean that all Christians are immune to rejection. In our increasingly secular society faith in Christ can be a liability. A pastor who recently resigned his church discovered that including “pastor” on his resume automatically removed him from consideration for numerous positions.

 According to the most recent statistics, the level of persecution against Christians world-wide is growing.  Global Christian Relief reports that 388 million believers face high levels of persecution globally.  15 countries now rank at extreme persecution levels. Nigeria remains the deadliest country in the world for Christians. Archbishop Balestrero, speaking to the UN on behalf of the Catholic Church stated that at least 5,000 Christians are killed for their faith every year, more than 13 persons per day. 

 The archbishop went on to denounce other forms of persecution that are “more subtle and often silent forms of persecution,” such as gradual marginalization or exclusion from social and professional life “even in traditionally Christian lands.”

 Knox Thames is an international leader in the area of religious freedom and persecution.  He served over 20 years as a State Department special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East and South/Central Asia under both the Obama and Trump administrations.  He is currently Executive Director of the Everett Center for Global Religious Freedom at Dallas Baptist University. His recent book, Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom was published by the University of Notre Dame Press.  It is available on Amazon.

 Thames said, “People of faith face violence and persecution on account of their beliefs every day. … “Repression on account of faith is the most personal of human rights abuses, as targeted individuals, both women and men, pay a heavy price for what they believe.”

 May the Lord give us courage to stand with fellow believers who pay the ultimate price for their faith in Christ.  May we be bold in proclaiming the truth of the gospel. May we be like those early believers who went on their way “rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name,” (Acts 5:41).

This is the 8th Reflection in a series on the Beatitudes. Order Bill Tinsley's book, We Beheld His Glory FREE on Amazon eBook, October 6-9.