Blessed? - Part 5
The Persecuted
12th May 2012
The last of the eight beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5 is:
Matthew 5v10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
I have no right to describe what it's like to be persecuted because of righteousness. I've never been persecuted for righteousness or for any other reason. Living in England as I do, I'm free to meet with other Christians, to read the Bible, to sing praises to the glory of God Almighty, and to preach the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven. I am no longer totally free to speak about biblical morality but, if I speak sensitively and carefully, I won't get into trouble (or, at least, I haven't so far). Of course, this state of affairs may change. I believe England to be at a crossroads, where we will either walk right away from God and his word, or will turn back to an understanding that the Bible is (at the very least) an important and valuable resource which we should respect.
Sadly, there are many countries where Christians are not free to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and the Bible as God's authoritative, inspired, holy book, who are not free to meet together or to proclaim the good news to their neighbours. Some are imprisoned, tortured and killed for their faith. These Christians can speak about being persecuted because of righteousness. They know what they're talking about.
But even though I don't know what real persecution is like, I can believe the holy scriptures, and can accept what Jesus says about it. He says you're blessed when you're persecuted because of righteousness, because the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as you. And, for what it's worth, I offer my very great respect to those who endure serious persecution and remain loyal to Jesus Christ our Lord.
In England, I do know of some who are persecuted by their families for their faith in Jesus, and some who experience the low-level persecution of being forbidden to wear a cross, or to take Sunday off to go to church, or to offer to pray for others in the workplace, or many other oppressive restrictions. But, of course, that's not the same as full-blown persecution. It can be very painful, nonetheless. For example, many Christian wives want to be more involved in their church, but their husbands would make their lives miserable if they did.
As I said before, I've never been seriously persecuted, because such minor persecution as I've experienced is nothing compared to what my brothers and sisters in Christ in many other countries experience. But, at a very, very low level, I have experienced persecution. I've been laughed at, insulted, and excluded from social events because I love Jesus and am prepared to say so.
("So what?" asks a Christian languishing in jail or mourning an executed husband, but I can only talk about what I know. It's for those who experience real persecution to talk about it).
Jesus says that when the motivation of our persecutors is our righteousness, we're blessed. We're blessed because this persecution is a sure sign to us that the Kingdom of Heaven is ours. He goes on to say:
Matthew 5v11-12
"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.
Dear brother or sister, whether the persecution you suffer because you love Jesus Christ is minor or whether it's life-threatening, you can take heart because you're in good company. The prophets of the Old Testament were persecuted because they were willing to stand up for righteousness, and speak God's message - even to people who didn't want to hear it. And you are following in their tradition.
We're all called to do this. And if we obey the call with faithfulness and sincerity, we'll be persecuted, and we'll know that we're citizens of Heaven. Paul tells Timothy:
2 Timothy 3v12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted
So we shouldn't be surprised when it happens, at some level.
But may I ask you this: if Paul was right (and, of course he was) and if you're not being persecuted - even a little - then something must be wrong, mustn't it? If everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, and if you're not being persecuted, doesn't that mean that you don't really want to live a godly life?
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Changing the subject a little, to those who - like me - life in a comfortable western country and have experienced a very minor sort of persecution, may I say this?
We are not blessed because we're persecuted, unless the reason for the persecution is our righteousness
Many British Christians can be selfish, thoughtless, boorish, insensitive, irritating, arrogant... and being persecuted because we're unpleasant is not blessed.
Perhaps Peter said it best:
1 Peter 3v14-16
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be
frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously
against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
We're blessed when we suffer for what is right. I suppose that, when we suffer a little, we're a little blessed, and when our brothers in other countries suffer much, they're very blessed.
But whenever we witness to the grace and power of God, that is when we give an answer to everyone who asks [us] to give the reason for the hope that [we] have, we must do so with gentleness and respect. But much of our (minor) persecution comes because we actually witness with insensitivity and arrogance.
Don't you think?