Faith in Hostile TimesShembull

The Rising Tide of Persecution

Your parents or grandparents may have said things like, ‘What’s the world coming to?’ Maybe you’ve caught yourself saying something similar, because certain cultural or political realities strike you as signs the world has gone all kinds of crazy. It’s true we face rising pressures as believers in Jesus. What’s right is being called wrong, and vice versa. Media feeds are increasingly aggressive and polarised. And yet none of the antagonism we see, hear, or experience personally surprises God, and it shouldn’t surprise us either. What may come as a surprise is how God calls us to respond to it, and that’s what we’ll consider over the next five days.

If you long to follow Jesus and impact others with His love, you may be wrestling with how you can love people unconditionally without compromising your beliefs. You may also have bumped into the reality that most people who don’t yet know Jesus aren’t interested in hearing the truth about Him. Please don’t retreat in the face of opposition to the gospel. It’s possible to be courageous without being confrontational, and we’re called to share the fantastic news of eternal life with a world that doesn’t want to hear it.

Society is bent on prerogatives, and this entitlement culture is rubbing off on God’s people. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul was concerned that the Corinthian believers insisting on their rights would come at the expense of others encountering Jesus, so he urged them to live considerately and forgo their rights, remembering that combatting aggression with aggression doesn’t attract people to Jesus. We should definitely defend the biblical position on contemporary contentious issues, but let’s not yell back at opponents of the church. We’re called to win souls, not arguments.

In another letter, Paul explains to Timothy that he should expect persecution. Maybe you’ve experienced violent or legislative persecution, or a measure of social rejection or career side-lining, because of your faith. In the areas of your life where you’ve experienced this hostility, consider what might it look like practically for you to be ready to give an account, gently and respectfully, for the hope you live with.

Francis Schaeffer said, ‘Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.’ When people insult your Saviour, it’s tempting to lash out, but this is never beneficial (least of all on social media). The next time someone cold-shoulders you or blatantly attacks you because you’re a Christian, ask God for ways to give them a piece of your heart instead of a piece of your mind. Don’t forget: Jesus didn’t stand up for His rights. He laid them down.

The flames of persecution are getting hotter. But as they do, let’s keep reminding one another not to fight fire with fire. Jesus has already won the battle. His Kingdom can’t be overthrown. Let’s trust the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us as we love the lost.