Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Sermon on the Mount
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake.

Just what is “persecution”? Today’s definition of persecution is often shallow and self serving. Believers squeal when the slightest verbal affront comes their way, and many loudly suggest their “rights” are being denied to them. That is not true persecution at all. Everyone is verbally assailed at one time or another regardless of religious affiliation. Authentic persecution comes when the world comes against you in word and in deed for Jesus’ sake.
I purposely placed the last two beatitudes together since I see them as completely joined together. Many men do good to their fellow man even if they do not have faith. But in order for us to claim some kind of persecution it has to be against our Master and not solely against us. And meditate upon that point. That which is called persecution by believers in the west is many times directed at our views about abortion, homosexuality, and other issues. Rarely are we persecuted because we love and walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
In fact, I am convinced some are just beginning to see the extent to which we have strayed from living as Jesus would have us to live. I was saved in 1975 and quickly became gobbled up into evangelicalism as it is practiced in the west. I did not question the flag being presented and even pledged to in the sanctuary. I felt it was a Christian duty to vote, and I listened to Limbaugh and all the rest. Many habits that have crept into the body of Christ are embraced without any genuine searching of the New Testament. One day my best friend asked me this question:

Where in the New Testament does it give license to violently overthrow the government when you are over taxed as they did in the Revolutionary war?”

Have you ever had a moment of awakening that began a journey to unravel much of what you thought was true and the more you unraveled the more you saw that needed unraveling? That has been my path these last ten years. We should not seek persecution, but if we are to be persecuted let is be because we so clearly represent Him that sinners are either drawn to or recoil against the Master. The entire culture revels in controversy and argument. Men make millions of dollars doing nothing but spewing negativity and even hatred through different forms of media. But that should not be our way.
Many early believers were martyred and persecuted because they humbly refused to pay allegiance to Caesar. It is easy to confront subversive elements who employ violence and hatred, but what can a culture do to those who refuse national allegiance but are humble and gracious? In the early persecutions some of the believers were so humble as they were being persecuted and even put to death that it became a tool through which the Spirit drew onlookers to Christ. Some came to watch the Christians get what they deserved, but some left with a new found faith in Christ.
But would sinners have been drawn to Christ if believers yelled and screamed about their rights? The atmosphere today has become so toxic and so misrepresentative of the gospel that most unbelievers think that Jesus desires to implement His moral agenda in America, and many believers speak more about moral issues than they do about Jesus. Democracy has become a colossal stumbling block for the church in many ways. And that democracy is even practiced in church business meetings as everyone gets a voice and a vote. The church has been assimilated into the culture in which it lives.

Now what should are attitude be when we are persecuted? The words of Jesus:

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Oh how far have we fallen from the authentic manifestation of the Christian life? Believers complain about everything from the economy to the President to Muslims or to the latest legislation that is unbiblical. The entire “conservative” genre is filled with an ongoing complaint about liberals and other undesirables. And many believers have not only fallen prey to this deception, many embrace it with great vigor. And in the very midst of this carnal carousel there are believers shouting and holding up the Bible draped in the American flag and attempting to leverage power through numbers and votes. It is a pitiful spectacle to say the least.
We must have no agenda but His, and if persecution still comes then let us humbly rejoice that we have “been counted worthy to suffer shame for His name”. Oh the sacred privilege of being accosted for Him! Oh what an honor to suffer because we love and follow Him too closely! And how many martyrs went to the stake with songs of worship coming forth from their lips? Read the Foxes Book of Martyrs and meditate on those who gave God glory as they gave their lives. As they were burned at the stake many sang hymns of praise; many smiled with approval; many prayed with words of worship; and many gave some outward sign of faith.
It is recorded that one martyr had told his fellow believers that he would point to heaven while being burned as a sign of faith and worship. But because of the wind the fire began to consume him more quickly that could have been anticipated, and when his body became charred many thought he would be incapable of moving his hand. But slowly he lifted his blackened hand toward heaven in the midst of the flames, and directly his spirit was ushered into God’s presence. That, my friends, is persecution on a more profound level than squawking about gay rights legislation or touting some myth about the founding fathers.
So let us reexamine what it means to live as He directs, and in that journey let us revisit everything we were taught and see if Scripture itself is the source for what we believe. And if and when we are persecuted and people say things about us, let us rejoice! And then let us humbly and with sincerity and love reach out with kindness to each and every one who comes against us. The greatest force in God’s creation is love, and the most complete manifestation of that love is redemption. And redemption can only be found through Jesus the Christ.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps for me, learning about William Tyndale - how he lived and died and why - was the beginning for me - as far as learning what persecution really is and how we are to respond.
As he died he could have reviled against the king but he didn't. He prayed that the Lord would open the king of England's eyes. I was astounded by that. He had the perfect opportunity to start a riot with the people gathered around - but like a true Christian - he prayed for the king - his "enemy". And after Tyndale's death, Henry VIII ordered the "Great Bible", written in English to be placed in many churches. God opened the king of England's eyes.
God will use "evil men in power" to do His will. It doesn't so much matter who is on the earthly thrones - God is still on His throne.
Lisa

Rick Frueh said...

Tyndale was an example to all of us.

Steve said...

Thoughtful and Spirit-given comments as always, brother, and sister.

It's exactly the crux of the American Church' choice. Are we creatures of this worldly kingdom which loves and glorifies rebellion, and children of the rebel "founding fathers" ? Or are we children of God and citizens of His Kingdom, Who hates rebellion as He hates witchcraft ? If the latter, our enemy, the first rebel, delights to persecute us.

On that score, I understand why the American Church has never really suffered persecution. Satan has more than one string on his bow: persecution is only one way to attack the Church (and one that ultimately only STRENGTHENS the Church). Much more successful for him is to co-opt the Church; which leads to our co-operating in his deeds. The American Church loves rebels and rebellion: why would Satan persecute us ?

In Jesus, Steve

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your kind words, brother Steve.
You know - Tyndale is an example to all of us - but how many in the organized church even know of him?
We're surrounded by a sea of Bibles in this country. I remember teaching a Sunday School class about William Tyndale. I so wanted the 6th graders to understand what sacrifices were made so that they could have the privilege of having God's word in English. Each had their own and there were stacks of them on the table...they need to be taught that many people have lost their earthly lives - not only Tyndale - for even possessing portions of scripture in English.
They need to know true church history!
Lisa

Rick Frueh said...

Lisa and Steve,

Good comments. Your observations about the wstern church are accurate. Lisa, you are right on when in spite of all the CDs and colorful presentations the western church is mostly ignorant of the history of Biblical Christianity.

The sacrifices of great and humble men are mostly ignored, while any famous athlete who makes a profession of faith is idolized.

Rick Frueh said...

Oh, and may I add humble women like this:

http://judahslion.blogspot.com/2009/10/blandina-o-ne-sure-way-to-have-wrong.html

Steve said...

Regards Lisa's comments: when the Church is most combative about the doctrine that God's word is literal, it is often least willing to acknowledge His sovereignty over the process of its transmission to us.

We who believe that God entered history in human flesh must, of all people, acknowledge history as a witness to His great love toward us !

In Jesus, Steve

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Rick, for that article about Blandina. I hadn't heard of her before. How heart-wrenching to read - I can't imagine actually being there!
And thank you, Steve, for your comments...
We are brought up in a culture of "inalienable rights" and "rebellion", aren't we? We need to mirror Christ - not this world.
It's so wonderful to find fellowship with fellow believers. True fellowship is often lacking in the organized western church. Too much politics. Too fat. And I don't mean physically.
Bless you both, Lisa

Rick Frueh said...

The reason Blandina was murdered was not because of any political or economic reason. She refused to pledge her allegiance to Caesar.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I understand that, Rick.
I was just trying to address both issues at once.
Christianity was not about politics then - it was about Jesus.
Today often what passes for Christianity in the western world - is about politics.
My family is very political and my attitude is - if you reject "Conservative so-called Christian-Republican" politics that's fine.
If you reject Jesus - well, that's between you and God...
But don't think they're the same thing because they're not.
Those who are of Christ follow His word and obey it. His word is very different from the words that western mainstream churches often speak and do.
Lisa

Rick Frueh said...

Lisa - I agree, I was just clarifying the story. :)

Steve said...

Thank you, Lisa and Rick, for your always spiritually-insightful comments.

And with Lisa's point, I'll add: another site I follow is having a lengthy and thought-provoking discussion of anti-Christ.

Many different ideas, of course. But one thing that seems clear is that he has both a political and "spiritual" power-base: part of his being in one person false King and false High Priest, as Jesus is in His Person both, in Truth. High Priest (Pontifex Maximus) and King (Caesar) is exactly the Roman Emperor's claim that Blandina would not acknowledge with worship.

In line with Lisa's comment, it strikes me forcefully that the "conservative" movement, which is in both the political realm and the Church: which purports to be "real Christianity" and is not: might be the kind of power-base exactly suited to anti-Christ's purposes.

I'm not at all insistent that's the case: the thought flashed into mind upon reading Lisa's post, and I haven't yet given it the deliberate scriptural vetting and meditation it needs. But I'll throw it out there for your thoughts too.

Blessings to you both (and to others who read here) !

In Jesus, Steve

Anonymous said...

(blush)
I'm sorry, Rick. I was preaching to the teacher. It's brothers like you and Steve Lumbley and Jack Hook that taught me these things to begin with.
Just needed to state it, I guess.

And Steve, I have pondered that very thing - the Christian-conservative power base being where anti-christs come from.
Judas was one of the 12. Jesus called him the "son of perdition" (in some translations).
Persecution can come from and often has come from those who claim the name of Christ.
Remember Roman Catholics and the Inquisition. Protestants have persecuted the Church, too.
Protoprotestant weblog has a lot of historical information there.
God bless...Lisa