Christian Persecution and Persecutors

Recently I heard an evangelist describing how Bibles are carried secretly in countries where Christianity is banished and he recounted what a terrorist told a Christian missionary. The terrorist was afraid of the missionary and told him:" Do you know what the problem is with you Christians? You don’t believe your Bibles! "

Was the terrorist right? You as a Christian should answer for yourself. However, all who want to live for Christ as real, truthful Christians will suffer persecution, one way or the other. Maybe you should seriously question your Christianity if you currently don’t suffer any persecution whatsoever because of being a Christian. Seriously wonder…what’s wrong? Am I a Christian for real or is it just a religion I happened to inherit?

Getting back to persecution, the Babylonian Talmud says: "Let a man always strive to be one of the persecuted rather than one of the persecutors."

Right, but what if you are persecuted? How should you as a Christian treat those who persecute you? I have to underline one thing, to make the point very clear: persecution for your faith is different from any type of punishment as for instance, the legal consequences of stealing or any other illegal conduct. So because you stole a car and are in jail (and you happen to be a Christian) does not mean that you are persecuted. No, this is what you deserve for your deed.

Muslims for instance are severely maltreated if they become Christians; their right arm is being cut and depending on the country, there are many ways of mistreating Christians, not because they have done something bad, but just because of an inoculated hatred present in people’s hearts towards Christianity.

Yet, you don’t have to be in a foreign country to be persecuted. The Bible clearly states that in the times of the end, brothers will sell one another and betray one another, so don’t be too surprised if this will happen where you are, namely in your own church.

It is not exactly fun or easy to suffer persecution yet, Jesus is there with us and we will not have a greater burden than that we are able to handle. David and Jeremiah the prophet have also been in situations where their life was threatened by their persecutors:

"My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from my persecutors." Psalms 31:15

"Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?" Psalms 49:5

"How many are the days of Thy servant? When wilt Thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?" Psalms 119:84

"Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven't swerved from your testimonies." Psalms 119:157

"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than me." Psalms 142:6

"Yahweh, you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; don't take me away in your long suffering: know that for your sake I have suffered reproach." Jeremiah 15:15

No, we cannot control how we, as Christians are treated, but we can control how we treat those who persecute us. Let’s see how Jesus, Who was the most persecuted, guides us into behaving:

1.Pray for your persecutors.
"But I command you all, love your enemies, and pray for your persecutors;" Matthew 5:44 It is a commandment! Take note!

2.Bless your persecutors.
"Invoke blessings on your persecutors - blessings, not curses." Romans 12:14

3.Trust God, He will deliver you!
"But Yahweh is with me as an awesome mighty one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail; they shall be utterly disappointed, because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which shall never be forgotten. Jeremiah 20:11

"He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors." Psalms 7:13

Do not try to revenge yourself! Oh, God has such a great way of getting you out of the wide mouth of the lion! Yes, He has the arrows already prepared for your persecutors.

What if God allows your persecutors to take your life? Don’t be afraid, remember Jesus’ words "Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." Matthew 10:28

We have God as Father, therefore we have life, why be afraid? Remember that your persecutors have never really known God, that is why they mistreat you; had they known Him, they would have known that the love of God didn’t come to kill people but to save them. Talk to God about these things and remember that the first Christians had to suffer the same. If you suffer for Christ, you will also reign with Him!