The default position of the Christ-follower is one of humility and submission and not obstinate rule-breaking and rebellion.

- Living in the tension of submission to God and submission to earthly authorities is part of the struggle for the family of believers (Joseph in Potiphar’s House & Daniel under King Darius’ law)

- What are just and unjust states?

- Just states are nations that more honour the Lord and unjust states are nations that more dishonour the Lord.
- Unjust nations and their laws are meant to be contravened. (Exodus 1:16-21; Acts 5:27-29)

“Noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

- The Hebrew midwives understood this – do not be docile when being presented with an opportunity to cooperate with evil…but when you act righteously, expect persecution.

- Did God bless a lie with the Hebrew midwives?

- The Hebrew midwives are blessed because of their deep reverence for God.
- The most extreme circumstances could necessitate choosing the lesser of two evils to save lives. (Eg. People who hid the Jews during WW2 and Rahab who hid the spies in Joshua 2).
- How do we contravene injustice? Through wisdom and innocence.

- Wisdom is knowing what to say, what not to say and when to say it.
- Let your actions match the good intentions of honouring the Lord.

How do we respond to persecution?

“How did Jesus expect His disciples to react under persecution? [In Matt. 5:12 He said], “Rejoice and be glad!” We are not to retaliate like an unbeliever, nor sulk like a child, nor lick our wound in self-pity like a dog, nor just grin a bear it like a Stoic, still less pretend we enjoy it like a masochist. What then? We are to rejoice as a Christian should and even “leap for joy” – John Stott

- Christians do not need to passively accept injustice towards themselves and the Church
- Paul appeals to his Roman citizenship (Acts 22:23-29)
- Do all you can to avoid persecution without being complicit in evil. Then accept the consequences

- Avoiding all sorts of suffering is not the Chief goal of the Christian life, it’s to become more like Christ (Matthew 16:24)
- Suffer for the right reasons (1 Peter 4:15-6)
- Prosperity, ease and comfort can be precursors to persecution.

Should persecution unexpectedly arise, will we discover that we have become soft, self-indulgent, and unwilling to sacrifice our reputations, worldly goods, lifestyles, possibly even our lives, in order to be faithful to Jesus? I trust not. – Thomas A. Tarrants, President Emeritus of the C.S. Lewis Institute

The early church is filled with normal men and women who received a courageous spirit from God and did more than they expected.

- Our strength is in the Lord. And your spiritual lineage is in those who trust and obey.
- No type of suffering or persecution or even malevolent being can break the bond between God and His people.

- We can still be victorious through persecution.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. What do you think about Christian persecution in Canada today? is it non-existent, overblown or something to be concerned about? Why?

2. Is it ever appropriate for a Christian to break a law or a rule? If so, why or why not? How are we to be careful that we're not just justifying our own bad behaviour or desire to have our way?

3. What do you think that was like for the Hebrew midwives to defy the King of Egypt? What can you learn from their courage?

4. How did the early church respond to persecution that gives you encouragement that you could do the same?

5. What can we do today to strengthen ourselves in case the intensity of persecution increases in the future?