Faithfulness In The Midst Of Persecution

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Alex Hale | Cabot, Arkansas

In his book, Five Cries of Youth, Merton Strommen asserts that the loudest cry of young people is their need to be accepted or loved. As we think about our youth, do we not find that to be true? Many times our self-worth was tied to the opinions of others. Perhaps, for this reason, you wore your hair a certain way or dressed according to the trends of the day. Young people often struggle because of an inferiority complex, which stems from the idea that no one loves or appreciates them. We long to be loved and accepted.

This particular “cry” does not leave us as we get older. Adults still tend to say and do things to impress or gain the approval of others. I certainly do not mean to rain on anyone’s parade, but Jesus warns us that if we follow Him, we should expect the exact opposite of love and admiration. Just a few hours before His arrest, Jesus told His disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19).

Suffering comes when one follows Christ. His words in John 15 are not the only time the Bible tells us to expect persecution (see also Matthew 24:9; Philippians 1:29; 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-13). In spite of what many in the religious world may tell you, Jesus did not teach a prosperity gospel. Instead, He preached a gospel that prepared His followers for persecution. We should not be surprised when it comes. The Lord said, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).

Nowhere is this more evident than in the book of Revelation. John makes it clear to the brethren in Asia Minor that their profession of faith was the cause of their suffering. The apostle had been exiled to Patmos, an island in the Aegean Sea, roughly 60 miles from his home in Ephesus. He stated he had been placed there “on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (1:9). In that same verse, John calls himself a “partner in the tribulation.” This statement meant that the brethren in Asia Minor were being tried and persecuted for the same cause as John – the cause of Christ (2:10; 6:9; 20:4).

John calls for their faithfulness by highlighting Jesus’ suffering. Jesus refers to Himself as the “faithful … witness” (3:14; cf. 19:11), a term used in Revelation to refer to martyrdom (2:13). When John sees Jesus in the throne room, he sees a Lamb standing as though it had been slain (5:6), an image which takes the reader back to Jesus as the suffering servant led as a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). If the world treated Jesus in such a fashion, His followers should not expect any different.

The persecution comes from an enemy who has been defeated. Satan is the one behind the suffering (12:9). Satan continuously worked to oppose the purposes of God in Christ. He desired to devour Jesus at birth (12:4; Matthew 2:16). When he was unable to do so, he sought to defeat the Lord through temptation (Matthew 4). When that did not work, he attempted to stop the Savior through physical death (Hebrews 2:14). However, the resurrection dealt Satan a blow from which he could never recover.

Because of what Christ has done, Satan’s power is limited (John 12:31; 16:11; Genesis 3:15). Though Satan was able to stand before God as the accuser (Job 1:6, 9-11; Zechariah 3:1), there is no longer any place for him to accuse the faithful (12:10). The earth is the only place left for him (12:12). We cannot miss this, however – though he has been defeated, Satan continues to fight (1 Peter 5:8). He unleashes his fury against those who keep the commandments of God and keep the testimony of Christ. His main supports in this cause are often those with political or even religious power (Revelation 13). Certainly, this was true in the days of the first-century church, which was persecuted and martyred. The same continues today.

Such suffering can come in a variety of forms. In speaking to the church in Smyrna about their tribulation, Jesus mentions at least three kinds of suffering (2:9-10).

1. Poverty. We understand that financial success is often directly related to “who you know.” Jews had built up relationships with other Jewish businessmen and patrons (as well as with the Romans). Pagans had established ties with others who shared their beliefs and interests. Christians were left on the outside looking in. Many of the significant aspects of life in first-century Asia Minor were tied to the predominant idolatrous religions of the day (specifically emperor worship). Assimilation would have been financially advantageous to the Christians, who refused to participate in pagan sacrifices, rituals, and celebrations. As a result, though society may have been thriving financially, Jesus’ followers were not. Yet, in spite of their poverty, Jesus says that they were rich. Though earthly riches can be a blessing, there are times when we must be willing to forsake those things to stand up for what is right. It is better to suffer for what is right than to have earthly success and forsake godly principles.
2. Slander. With regard to Smyrna, Jesus speaks of the harassment which came at the hands of the Jews. In the mind of the Lord, these Jews have forfeited their right to be called God’s chosen because they have rejected Jesus and are now working as Satan’s agents. It is likely that in first-century Asia Minor (particularly in Smyrna and Philadelphia), some of the greatest opposition for the churches came from the Jewish community. This persecution would have followed a pattern, beginning in the early days of the church (Acts 9:23; 13:45, 50; 14:19; 17:5, 13; 20:19). One of the main tactics used by the Jews was slander, as they worked to build distrust of Christians by the Roman authorities. Early disciples were accused of a range of behaviors, including cannibalism, orgies, incest, atheism, and treason. Even today, people use unwholesome speech as an effective means to malign those who would follow Jesus. Christians are labelled as narrow-minded bigots because of our commitment to the timeless truths of Scripture. Jesus taught that having people speak evil against you falsely for His sake was a blessing and a sign of one’s faithfulness (Matthew 5:11-12; Luke 6:26).
3. Physical harm, including death. Jesus does not always promise that the suffering will get better in this life. Yet Jesus urged His followers to remain faithful, even to the point of death (2:10). Christians in first-century Asia Minor are not the only ones to experience such persecutions. Around the world today, those who profess faith in Jesus are the victims of religiously motivated violence and oppression.

What can we do?

1. Recognize that persecution is not just something that happens “over there.” The violent persecutions experienced by brethren, both in first-century Asia Minor and around the world today, began with intolerance. In the judgment of this writer, this is where our country finds itself today. America is becoming increasingly hostile to Christians.
2. Don’t expect the government to save the day. Governments should be an authority for good (Romans 13:1-4), but this is not always the case. Just as Satan used the worldly power of the Roman Empire to do his bidding, he can find support for his “war on the saints” in today’s earthly powers. Even governments established on principles of righteousness can stray from such foundations. Though at this point, the United States government mostly protects our religious liberties, our government also sanctions and even promotes all kinds of immoral behaviors. Furthermore, many who are in power seek to end religious freedoms that do not align with their personal views. We must be ready to stand alone against unrighteousness if and when our society completely loses its way (Ephesians 5:7-11; Philippians 2:14-16).
3. Find our hope in the One seated upon the throne. All that the first-century Christians could see was suffering, and it was going to get worse economically, politically, and socially. As we look at our world, this may be what we see as well. Yet when we look at things from a heavenly perspective, we see something different (4:1-11). God’s throne supersedes the thrones of men. A heavenly perspective of world events will not reveal a president or military leader ruling the world, but rather God firmly in control of both heaven and earth.

20.01.07 | GROW magazine