Capps - Understanding Persecution

Among the spiritual principles in the Bible, there are many statements made about the laws of sowing and reaping, the results or end punishment of wicked living, and the results or rewards of righteous living. The Word of God speaks truth to our hearts about every avenue of living so that we will not be shocked or surprised by anything that confronts us.

We know that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus; but occasionally we fail to realize that in order to be a conqueror, there must be something or someone to conquer and overcome.

One of the areas in life that we must learn to overcome is persecution. Of course, I recognize that there are different degrees of persecution. Here in the United States, for instance, we do not know the kind of persecution experienced by Christians in other lands. But the Word of God does not give us different principles for overcoming these varying degrees of suffering by

Jesus suffered much persecution in His ministry, even to the point of being executed by His enemies. But was He overcome by it? No! He arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. Neither did He let it affect His life and attitudes. Even at the cross, He cried out for forgiveness for His enemies.

How did He do it? Let's look at some statements Jesus made early in His ministry.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake.

Matthew 5:10

Jesus always said what He meant and meant what He said. After all, He spoke only the words He heard His Father speak. He said, Blessed are they which are persecuted. Blessed. How could He say that? How could a person be blessed by being persecuted? Certainly the person who is persecuting another is not pronouncing blessings on him! The word blessing means favor , benefit, and fortunate.

If you are being persecuted, you must be in favor with God because of righteousness. Those who persecute are not in favor with God because of their unrighteousness.

Jesus continues:

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Matthew 5:11

Before we continue, we need to take note of this verse. You are blessed when people speak evil against you falsely. Jesus did not say you are blessed when they speak the truth about you. Only a person who is living righteously can truly be persecuted in the manner Jesus taught, i.e., for righteousness sake. If you are living unrighteously and are guilty of the accusations, then you are simply reaping what you have sown. So living righteously will bring persecution.

The Nature of Persecution

Most people approach the subject of persecution from a very negative standpoint. They say, "I'm just suffering for Jesus."

But persecution is not a negative subject. The Word of God tells us that godly living will cause us to suffer persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12.) To make such a statement is not anti-faith; it's just a fact. (Some Christians have been persecuted without even knowing it.) However, the Word of God also says that faith overcomes persecution.

To be persecuted for righteousness' sake means for being righteous and for walking uprightly in the uncompromising Word of God.

Jesus did not say, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for unrighteousness' sake." You are not blessed for living unrighteously , nor are you blessed when rebuked for sin. You are blessed when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for Jesus' sake.

You can still overcome persecution suffered because you sinned, but the Word of God says that you are blessed when men speak all manner of evil against you falsely.

Why Persecution?

There are several reasons for persecution:

1. Righteousness

2. Pride

3. Jealousy

4. Religious Spirits

1. Righteousness

Jesus said there will be persecution for righteousness' sake. He was not making a "bad confession" or a negative statement; He was simply warning us so that we could count the cost of following Him.

Why would anyone want to persecute a believer who is trying to walk according to the Word of God?

The answer is simple: The light of God that is in a righteous person exposes the darkness in others, and it makes them extremely uncomfortable. The truth is they can't stand it because it reveals the wickedness in them. If you were covered with dirt and grime, you certainly wouldn't want to stand next to someone dressed in clean, white clothing. It's too much of a contrast.

Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19.) If sinners keep company with other sinners, they don't look quite so bad!

I have been around some people who couldn't even stay in the same room with menot because I am superspiritual ; but because of the life, the light, and the righteousness of God that is in me. That light exposed their evil deeds (to them) and convicted them of their sin.

If people are uncomfortable around you, it is probably because the Light is shining through you. That Light reveals all their sins. If they are religious, their "dirty clothes"the filthy rags of their self-righteousnesswill be exposed.

Once after having a perfectly good day, I stepped into a fast-food restaurant and ordered a hamburger with mustard (no onions!). The man behind the counter put my sandwich in a sack and said, "That'll be $1.85." When I paid him, he took my change out of the cash register and threw it at me! I had to pick it up off the floor.

I thought, God, what's wrong with me? I didn't do anything to him.

God said, "The light in you exposes the darkness in him."

Even in a restaurant, without a word said about God, that Light was shining, revealing and exposing.

The light and life of God shone through evangelist Smith Wigglesworth and exposed the darkness in others, even as he rode passenger trains. God's presence in him caused people to fall on the floor, screaming out, "God save me! I'm a sinner!"

2. Pride

Another cause of persecution is pride. When the light comes, people realize they are wrong; but because of their pride, they don't want to admit they have been in darkness.

Those who have been blinded by the god of this world (the Devil) are not guilty of spiritual pride because they have not chosen of their own will to remain in darkness. It's just that they have never been enlightened.

In John 9:39-41 Jesus said:

For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth .

These Pharisees did not want to admit that they had been in the dark because it would have been an embarrassment to them. It would have hurt their pride. After all, they were the religious leaders of the day! They would rather stay in darkness than come to the light and admit that they had been wrong. They would rather persecute Jesus and kill Him (put out the Light) than change.

Not long ago, I heard an evangelist tell a story about the pastor of a church in which he had preached the Word for a week. Before the evangelist left that church, the pastor said to him, "I recognize that what you have been preaching is the truth; but I'd rather die than admit I've been wrong all these years."

Shortly thereafter, that man fell dead in his pulpit. Why? Because of pride. The light came and the darkness of religious doctrine was exposed, but pride would not let him admit that he had been wrong.

3. Jealousy

Jealousy over Christians' blessings is also a cause of persecution.

When my family was struggling to make a living as farmers in Arkansashaving our crops destroyed by hail, stretching to make ends meet, wondering what we were going to do nextno one persecuted us. They just felt sorry for us. They certainly weren't jealous of what we had!