Christianity, Persecution, Blessing

The persecution of Christianity in its simplest terms, historically and worldwide, can be outlined progressively:

               1. Social Persecution
               2. Legal Persecution
               3. Violent Persecution

Graphic from
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/publiccatholic/2013/03/degrees-of-christian-persecution-where-does-america-fit/

Where are we in America?

Social persecution of Christianity is commonplace – even fashionable. Disapproval, insults, hatred, ridicule and criticism. By and large, the media will not tolerate any expression of Christianity.

We have been wading into the waters of Legal persecution of Christianity for years. How many court cases have targeted or successfully hampered the free expression of Christianity? The Gospel of Peace is now officially “hate speech”.

At least we haven’t experienced Violent persecution yet . . . or have we? Take some time and see for yourself. It’s buried, but it’s there. In this country there have been an increasing number of violent crimes and murders against Christians for no other reason other than their faith. But if Social persecution already exists, which it does, you can expect the media to avoid such stories like the Plague.

Whether you are a Christian or not, you need to know how this relationship works. Numbers of people are really inconsequential. Temperature is what matters. The spiritual temperature of Christianity is almost always directly proportional to the degree of persecution.

CHRISTIANS! Have you ever noticed that the capstone of Jesus’ Beatitudes is this:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Everyone wants a blessing, but they won’t take what the Lord gives. Stop fighting and arguing with those whose understanding is darkened. Stop useless boycotts with no power behind them. Stop feeding your natural desire to get even and win and stand up for your rights. Stop wasting your life.

READ THE WORD.

DO WHAT IT SAYS.

GET READY.

A Door of Opportunity

. . . a great door for effective work has opened to me,

and there are many who oppose me.

1 Corinthians 16:9

The Apostle Paul wrote those words to the Corinthian church that he established sometime after he arrived in Ephesus to work. He ended up staying longer in Ephesus than he did anywhere else in all his missionary journeys. It sounds like he was pretty excited about what God had in store for him. But it’s also a curious verse, mainly because of the last part, “and there are many who oppose me.” Is that supposed to be good, or bad?

Well, people, especially Christians, are fond of the old “door of opportunity” expression. I’ve heard lots of church folks say that a door has been opened to them – this door, that door. But I have never in my life heard anyone say it like Paul did.

Think about all the “doors of opportunity” Paul went through after he met Jesus. With most of those he passed through, he planted a new church. But the opposition got tougher as he went. As a matter of fact it became flat out life threatening. By the time he made it to Ephesus, he had passed through countless “doors of opportunity,” planted dozens of new churches along the way, and at times had to run for his life.

Now, what’s this about a “great door for effective work” that opened up to him? Well, I don’t exactly know for sure, but while he was in Ephesus, he and his disciples held discussion daily for two years so that “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” If that ain’t a great door for effective work, I don’t know what is.

Who was against him? Oh, just the people that started a citywide riot against him in Ephesus – estimated population: 250,000 persons. They were angry because Paul had “convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia,” and it was killing their idol business.

So here’s the point of it all. It comes down to a question. Can there be “a great door for effective work” that is not accompanied by opposition? And I’m not talking about that crybaby opposition you’ll get just for being alive in this world. I’m talking about trouble.

I think there are a variety of doors that open up to believers. I think one taken most often is not one that the Lord has opened up to them. That door usually leads to greater comfort, personal success, prestige, money – worldliness.

I think the “great door for effective work” is at first sight, ugly. I think it is surrounded on both sides by trouble. I think there is nothing attractive about it – to the mind that loves things of this world. But the door is transparent to those who truly – and I mean truly – love the Lord, Jesus. They see the Lord’s will carried right on through to the other side. They see the trouble too. They also know the scorn they will endure for passing through. But it’s worth it. They pick up their cross, and follow their Lord . . . and they suffer for it. And he’s pleased with them.