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The Amish Voice 7
What is Christian Persecution?
Christian persecution is any hostility
experienced from the world as a result of
one's identification as a Christian. From
verbal harassment to hostile feelings,
attitudes and actions, Christians in areas
with severe religious restrictions pay a
heavy
price
for
their
faith. Beatings, physical
torture,
confinement,
isolation,
rape,
severe
punishment,
imprisonment,
slavery, discrimination in
education and employment,
and even death are just a few
examples of the persecution
they experience on a daily
basis.
According to The Pew
Research Center, over 75% of
the world's population lives in areas with
severe religious restrictions (and many of
these people are Christians). Also,
according to the United States
Department of State, Christians in more
than 60 countries face persecution from
their governments or surrounding
neighbors simply because of their belief
in Jesus Christ.
Theology of Christian Persecution
Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when
men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad: for great is your reward
in heaven: for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:10-12
Believers around the world stand strong,
despite the many obstacles that they face.
What are some of the things that we can
learn from their faith? There is something
about hardship that allows us to know
God deeply. When times get really tough,
we discover more about who God is and
how He works. Christians who have
endured persecution for their faith know
this well.
There are no easy answers for why God
allows his followers to face suffering.
However, the lives of persecuted
Christians reveal that even when things
look out of control, believers can rest
secure, knowing that God is still in
control. He is able to give courage, peace,
and even joy to stand strong through the
storm. It is through these storms that
believers discover God's love in new and
powerful ways.
One ministry that reaches out to
persecuted Christians has a study with six
lessons to help persecuted Christians.
1. Sometimes you need to build
yourself a cell.
Be still, and know that I am God
(Psalm
46:10).
One Chinese church leader who spent 23
years in prison once said this to
Christians who did not face persecution:
"I was pushed into a cell, but you have to
push yourself into one. You have no time
to know God. You need to build yourself
a cell, so you can do for yourself what
persecution did for me—simplify your
life and know God." It is vital that we
spend time with God, to grow in Him, so
we are prepared to stand strong in the
face of persecution.
2. God keeps secrets
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the
Lord. For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts
(Isaiah 55:8-9).
There have been countless
stories
of
persecuted
Christians who have died
without seeing the fruits of
their labor. However, God
knows all that has been and
all that is to come. Our labor
is not in vain; it is in His
hands.
3. Weakness is a direct
path to power.
Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s
sake: for when I am weak, then am I
strong
(2 Corinthians 12:10).
An Egyptian Christian reflected on the
way he was treated when he converted to
Christ: "In great suffering you discover a
different Jesus than you do in normal
life…. Pain and suffering bring up to the
surface all the weak points of your
personality. In my weakest state, I had an
incredible realization that Jesus loved me
even right then." True empowerment
does not come from human means, but
through Christ alone. It often takes being
at our weakest point to realize this.
4. Overcoming is greater than
deliverance
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome
evil with good
(Romans 12:21).
Persecuted Christians, no matter what
country they are from, do not ask us to
pray that persecution would end, but
rather ask us to pray that they stand
strong through the persecution. They do
Continued on next page
Persecution of Christians