Expect Persecution and Suffering: 2 Timothy 3:10-12; Matthew 5:10-12; John 15:19-20

Many people believe that when they become a Christian they will have a better life. This is true if by a better life we mean that we have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is true if a better life means that we are serving a God who loves us, protects us, and provides for us. This is also true if a better life means that we have the assurance and joy of knowing that we have eternal life. Indeed, the life of a Christian is a better life than the life of a person who does not know Jesus. Jesus forgives us of our sins and knowing this is a better life than living with the guilt and penalty of sins. However, many people think that a Christian lives without problems. They think: “People will like me and people will respect me.” People do not think that a Christian should be persecuted and suffer. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was blessed to have a mother and a father who warned me that if I do what is right and stand up and speak up for what is right it is likely that I will be attacked by some, disliked and rejected by some. I was blessed to receive the same warning from preachers in the pulpit and Sunday school teachers. As a child growing up I thought that these adults were speaking from their personal experiences only. I have learned that the bible has much to say about the persecution and suffering of a Christian. The scripture says, “Indeed all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12, NASB). Paul wrote to the church at Philippi and said, “For you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Phil. 1:29, NASB). In this article I want to say to us that we who are Christians are to expect persecution and suffering. Let me begin by giving a definition for the words persecution and suffering. The word “persecute” means to be oppressed or to be harassed with ill treatment. Persecution is the act or practice of persecuting. It is being victimized by the persecutor. Suffering is the condition of one who suffers. We suffer when some stimuli causes pain and distress. In the New Testament Christians suffer because people who are opposed to Jesus and His message persecute them. The goal of the persecutor is to eliminate someone by causing them to cease to exist. This may be accomplished by causing them to depart or leave and suffering. We shall see how this plays out. Did Jesus say anything about Christians being persecuted and suffering? Let’s see. In His sermon on the mountain Jesus makes a unique statement. He says, ‘“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, 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’” (Matt. 5:10-11, NASB). So, we can see that early in His ministry Jesus tells the people what they can expect if they choose to be His disciple. When Jesus sends out the twelve disciples He gives them this warning. He says, ‘“You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved’” (Matt. 10:44, NASB). John records Jesus’ instructions to His disciples to stay connected to Him so that they can bear fruit. He warns them that the world will love its own, and it will hate them because the world hates Jesus. He says, ‘“Remember the word that I said to you, “a slave is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also’” (Jn. 15:20, NASB). We can say that a person can escape persecution if they agree with the world and its philosophies and practices. If one proclaims the name Jesus and holds to His teaching she or he can expect to be persecuted. Persecution is a historical reality. We see the disciples of Jesus being persecuted since the early inception of the church. Let me cite two examples. In Acts 4:1-5:42 Luke records the conflicts between the apostles Peter and John and the religious leaders, the priests, the Sadducees, and Pharisees. They are threatened, beaten, and put into jail. John and Peter do not allow this to deter them. Luke records their attitude. “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as Christ” (Acts 5:41-42, NASB). Did you notice who are opposed to the name Jesus? It is not people in the world. It is the religious leaders. It is the religious leaders who respond to the cry of the mob of religious folk that oppose Stephen’s preaching that Jesus is the Christ. The leaders led the people to stone Stephen to death (Acts 6-7). We are called to suffer with Christ and for His name. Peter writes to Christians in Asia Minor who are suffering persecution. He instructs them to endure suffering for doing what is right, and they will find favor with God. On the other hand if they suffer when they do wrong they will not find favor with God (1 Pet. 2:19-20; 3:14-18). Peter writes, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21, NASB). The apostle Paul writes much about his persecutions and suffering in his letter to the church at Corinth (2 Cor. 11:23-33; 12:7-10). He suffers from been beaten at the hands of both Jews and Gentiles. He suffers from things that take place in nature. He suffers because of being deprived of basic human needs such as the need for food, water, and shelter. He suffers on behalf of the churches because he is committed to suffering for the sake of Christ and His kingdom. The scope of this article will not allow me to cover the many accounts of the persecutions and sufferings that the people of God have endured throughout history. As we study these accounts we discover that it is their faith in God and a new heart empowered by the Holy Spirit that enables them to endure persecution and suffering. If we desire to live a godly life we can expect to be persecuted and to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ.