The Bible has a great deal to say about persecution and the battle waged between the Kingdom of God and the forces of this world. In this section, you'll find a compilation of scriptures as well as articles, presentations, and book excerpts that represent the thinking of key Christian leaders on the subject of the persecuted Church and issues related to it. This section will be updated on a regular basis for your edification. You are invited to download this information and share it with others. Our prayer is that this helps you understand the grace we are given as we identify with Jesus Christ through suffering. What Is Persecution? Christ-followers are persecuted all over the world simply for what they believe. According to the United States State Department, Christians in over 60 countries face the realities of massacre, rape, torture, mutilation, family division, harassment, imprisonment, slavery, discrimination in education and employment, and even death. When we use the term "persecuted Church," "Church" refers to the worldwide body of people who have chosen Jesus Christ as Lord and leader of their lives. "Persecuted" refers to suffering similar to the situations listed above. As Paul Marshall describes persecution in his book, Their Blood Cries Out: "This plague affects two hundred million people, with an additional four hundred million suffering from discrimination and legal impediments." Is persecution of Christians new? Is it real? Christian persecution can be traced to Christianity's beginnings. Jesus Christ himself was martyred on the cross, and the early church faced widespread persecution. While Jesus was on earth, he bore witness to the battle between God's Kingdom and the temporal kingdoms of earth. He said this tension would sometimes result in physical harm, discrimination, and death for believers. Jesus said: "No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15:20). Modern-day persecution is well documented, despite some reports to the contrary. In fact, it is estimated that more Christians were martyred in the 20th Century than in the prior 1,900 years combined. For more information on both historical and modern-day persecution, go to Resources, Latest News, or Theology of Persecution/Articles. Don't we have enough persecution in western democratic countries to worry about? Today we might wrestle with serious issues over the relationship between church and state and the role of religion in public life. There are times when Christians are marginalized or even limited in the full expression of their faith. But as serious as these incidents may be, we must be careful not to equate them with the horrors facing Christians in other lands who suffer arrest, torture, imprisonment, enslavement, and death because of their faith. If we live in a nation that offers freedom of religion, we should be grateful for the blessings we enjoy. We must be careful not to minimize the persecution of our fellow Christians around the world. The Bible says that all followers of Jesus Christ should expect persecution (2 Timothy 3:12) and suggests that persecution leads to church growth. In light of this reality, should we really be working to stop persecution? The Bible also says that the poor will always be with us, but at the same time it urges Christians to give food to the hungry and clothes to the naked. Christians are clearly called to seek justice and to engage in acts of compassion (Zechariah 7:9, Luke 11:42, Matthew 25). In following Christ's example, we are to show mercy to those who are suffering, especially to the household of faith (1 Corinthians 12:26-27). God can work out good in any and all circumstances. He can use cancer to confront someone with his or her own mortality and to bring that person to faith in Christ. But that doesn't mean we glorify cancer. Persecution is evil. It is a sin on the part of persecutors that should be denounced. And while throughout history Christianity has grown tremendously after periods of persecution, we need to keep in mind that this is not always the case. The persecuted Church is not always strong and pure, and persecution can lead to a church that is divided, demoralized, compromised, and embittered. We must be careful not to romanticize persecution. Don't Christians sometimes bring persecution on themselves by their actions or unorthodox beliefs? Perhaps. However, persecution of Christians is ingrained in many nations' systems to a large degree and is not provoked by individual actions. Even if Christians may sometimes act unwisely and make mistakes by going to theological excesses or embracing unorthodox beliefs, this does not justify brutal oppression. We can define the right of people to practice their faith without also defending everything they say and do. Is it appropriate for Christians to speak to the government on this issue? Yes. In much of the world where people enjoy the relative freedoms of a democratic system, citizens are given the power and responsibility to hold their leaders accountable for national values. God has ordained governments as a mechanism for dispensing justice. The Apostle Paul, when facing persecution from religious leaders for preaching the gospel, invoked his Roman citizenship and demanded a hearing before the political leaders in Rome. Today, we have several means to do this. Most countries have committed to some form of religious freedom, and a charter statement noting this can be appealed to. As a member of a global community, we can urge adherence to international human rights agreements, such as the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees the right to religious freedom. (It is important to note, however, that numerous countries that signed that declaration continue to persecute Christians.) For more information on persecution and the situation of millions of Christians today, go to Latest News, Theology of Persecution/Articles, or Resources. Scriptures Regarding Persecution/Overcoming Faith Exodus 4-7 Job 19:25 Psalm 115:6 Psalm 119:161-162 Proverbs 24:11-12 Isaiah 52:13 Matthew 5:11-12 Matthew 5:43-48 Matthew 6:5-15 Matthew 10 Matthew 10:38-39 Matthew 10:42 Matthew 27:19-26 Matthew 27:32-43 Matthew 27:57-60 Mark 8:31-38 Mark 14:65 Mark 16:1-20 Luke 6:27-36 Luke 14:25-35 Luke 15:16-20 Luke 18:1-8 Luke 21:12-14 Luke 22:47-54 Luke 24:39-43 John 13:16 John 14:1-4 John 15:16 John 15:18 John 15:20 John 16:2 John 16:22 John 16:33 John 19:28-37 Acts 12:5 Romans 8:17 Romans 8:18 Romans 8:23 Romans 8:36 Romans 8:37 Romans 12:14 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 1 Corinthians 4:12 1 Corinthians 12:12 1 Corinthians 12:26 2 Corinthians 1:1-12 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 2 Corinthians 4:17 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 2 Corinthians 11:16-30 Galatians 6:9-10 Galatians 6:17 Ephesians 4:1-6 Philippians 1:28 Philippians 1:29 Philippians 3:9-10 Colossians 4:18 2 Thessalonians 1:4 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 1 Timothy 2:1-2 2 Timothy 1:8 2 Timothy 3:12 Hebrews 10:19-39 Hebrews 13:3 James 1:1-4 James 5:7-20 1 Peter 2:13-25 1 Peter 3:8-18 1 Peter 4:12-19 Revelation 2:8-11 Revelation 2:17 Revelation 3:7-13 Revelation 6:10 Revelation 20:4 Revelation 21:12 Ideas for Church Leaders "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7) Leaders of the persecuted Church may seem very different from church leaders in the West, but each have many things they can learn from each other. Leaders in countries like Sudan, China, and Vietnam lead their flocks at the risk of their safety, their family's security, or their very lives. Their constituents must be ready to step forward in leadership should their pastor be arrested, harmed, or simply "disappear." As Carl Lawrence explains in his book, The Coming Influence of China: "These leaders each lead several congregations, preach in many pulpit ministries, evangelize in new territories, and nurture believers both young and old. By day they are farmers, carpenters, fishermen, teachers, and factory workers. They receive no pay from their congregations. Some are so young that the Public Security Police ignore them, thinking them too young to have a significant position of leadership. Some are mothers with little children tied to their backs.. These leaders are thrust into pastoral roles-almost to the person-because so many new Christians are hungry to be fed, looking at them as mature Christians." (Vision House Publishing, Inc., Gresham, OR, p. 150) U.S. church leaders and leaders of the persecuted Church have much to offer one another. As a church leader in a country that provides religious freedom, your role is pivotal in educating your constituents about the plight of their persecuted brothers and sisters. Where do you begin? 1. Become informed. There are daily news reports about the persecuted Church, daily prayer requests, and dozens of excellent resources that can help you educate yourself-and, in turn, educate your congregation. There are even a few resources that have been designed specifically for church leaders. Go to Resources and search under keyword "church leader." 2. Read through Acts, or the entire New Testament, with new eyes about modern day persecution that mirrors the early Church. Or go to Theology/Scriptures for a list of New and Old Testament scriptures referring to persecution. For Biblical answers to common questions about persecution, check out What Is Persecution?. 3. Commit to pray. The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church began with the belief that there is inherent power in prayer when offered by Christians in a spirit of unified humility. Awareness must be followed with prayer and other appropriate action. 4. Commit your Sabbath service to the suffering Church. Join thousands of churches around the globe on November 12, 2000, for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). The IDOP has become the largest prayer day event in the world, with approximately 300,000 churches worldwide joining together in intercession for suffering Christians. For service ideas, go to Get Involved/IDOP Service Suggestions, or go to What Is IDOP? for more information about the IDOP itself. 5. Promote a teaching series, Bible study, or Sunday School curriculum that emphasizes unity in Christ with persecuted Christians. There are a few teaching resources already available from some of our partners and from some denominations. But there is still much room and need to develop other creative ways to inform and encourage churches in the area of religious freedom and the theological realities around persecution. 6. Partner with an organization that works directly in persecution ministry. There are a number of faithful organizations working directly with persecuted Christians. For a list and hyperlinks to those organizations with whom we work closely and recommend most highly, go to Ministering to the Persecuted . 7. Encourage a persecuted Church support group to be established in your church. Although these groups have been incredibly successful as lay-led ministries, your pastoral support and vision casting are invaluable in both the inception and encouragement of such a group. Get Involved/Getting Started goes into further detail about getting your church involved in this way.
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