According to the Bible, when Christians live virtuously amid godless cultures, they will face persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). It should come as no surprise that following Jesus entails taking His footsteps. He too suffered persecution. Jesus reminded the disciples of the responses of the world in His final major lecture. He made a comparison between the world’s hostility and the love of believers in John 15:18–15:21. In other places, He states: “A time is coming when anyone who kills you will believe he is serving God” (John 16:2). Before his conversion, Paul held such beliefs (see Philippians 3:6).
Some Christians think that the Lord will protect us from any suffering. He is powerful to do so, right? Yes, He is indeed. But again: Scripture makes it very plain that Christians are subject to all the causes of suffering common to men, plus the added persecution that comes with taking a clear stand for Christ. A false teaching stresses that if you only have enough faith, you can avoid suffering and persecution. Persecution is a defeat in their eyes. However, in reality it is rather a mark of victory (Luke 6:22-23). And in all that may come, Christ will always be with us in every experience. That’s his last and final promise that has comforted millions of people in difficult circumstances: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
I suffer some hardships because of others. Is this persecution?
Many people believe that being persecuted for your faith only occurs when someone demands that you deny Christ while holding a pistol to your head. Persecution, however, goes well beyond that. Frequently, it’s a process that might ultimately result in what we just explained. There are typically three steps to this procedure, which can assist you identify what you have to go through right now.
- Misinformation. There will be a lot of misinformation about Christ-followers before there is severe persecution. In these situations, the media frequently serves as a messenger of how awful Christians can be. By doing this, they deprive Christians of their reputation gradually and fraudulently in a variety of ways.
- discrimination. Discrimination doesn’t necessarily have to be overt. Nevertheless, the outcome is the same: Christians are treated as second-class citizens. They are seen as having a lower status. From a legal, social, political, and economic standpoint, this is applicable.
- persecution. Because of the earlier stages, people already despise you in this stage, reject your name as wicked, exclude you, and hate you. In Luke 6:22, Jesus accurately predicted this. The abbreviation HEIR (Hate, Exclude, Insult, and Reject) encapsulates it all. However, we must remember that we are Jesus Christ’s heirs in all of this (Romans 8:16–17; Titus 3:7).
You may find it useful to identify the circumstances. In every situation, it is advisable to take whatever action you can to prevent this persecution process from getting any worse. Communicate your situation to [the global body of Christ], keep a record of the events, get a representative, and take advantage of all your legal rights.
What can I do to be prepared for persecution?
You may take a number of crucial steps in the correct direction right now to get ready for persecution. In fact, since those habits can really benefit you during these trying times, you might come to regret not doing some of these things today. However, they must be grown gradually, which is why you should get started right now. As a result, develop the habit of:
- Know God’s Word
- Have a firm belief in Him, which leads to interaction with Him
- Daily submit to the Holy Spirit
- Recognize that other believers are in your prayers, and offer up prayers for them.
