THE CONSEQUENCES OF PERSECUTION

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

For as long as Christianity has existed, there has been persecution and of course that included Jesus Himself. In His case, the Jewish religious authorities, self-proclaimed fervent God worshippers, couldn’t even get past their sinful hatred to realize that they were first plotting to kill and then executing God in human form.

And if this wasn’t bad enough, the Pharisees and Sadducees and teachers of the law, all members of the Sanhedrin, decided to double down on their transgressions and go after anyone who remained a follower of Jesus after His crucifixion, making an example out of Stephen through public stoning (Acts 6:8-15, 7:1-60).

Guess who was on the scene of this execution and in agreement?

We find the answer in the first verse of Acts 8:

And Saul approved of their killing him.

Yes, Saul who also had the name of Paul, the very writer of the words we read in today’s passage, words that speak to the consequences of persecution.

Indeed, if anyone knew about how to persecute Christians, it was Paul. He was very good at it, an instrument the Sanhedrin used to carry out their attacks on Christianity with the hope of eradicating it altogether.

But Jesus had other plans for him, plans to convert the best persecutor into the best Christian evangelist. And when that happened, the once Christian tormentor became the target of intimidation and attack, understanding and personally experiencing the kind of suffering he once imposed first hand.

I often wonder how Paul must have felt as he watched fellow brothers and sisters in Christ endure the kind of harsh treatment for their faith like he used to dole out. I can’t help but think he was constantly struck with sadness and remorse over the person he was before Jesus came along.

But we know he didn’t give up for the cause of Christ, no matter how much resistance and danger he faced. In fact, the constant threatening environment only seemed to embolden him more and as we see in these verses for today, he directed this spiritual confidence to encourage the Thessalonian believers. Look again at his words here:

For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.  1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

Here we find Paul letting the Christians in Thessalonica know that they weren’t alone in their persecution. For “God’s churches in Judea” which were “in Christ Jesus” were suffering “the same things” over the same cause, the cause of the Gospel.

The Christians in Judea, many of which were Jewish converts, were being abused by those of the Jewish faith, the same faith that “killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets”, the same faith that drove out Paul and the other Christian disciples. Paul makes it clear that this wicked conduct, an intentional hostility toward Christian believers to keep the message of salvation away from the Gentiles, had always heaped up the sins of the Jews to the limit while displeasing God.

And this would not go unpunished anymore than any persecution happening to Christians today.

For anyone who seeks to mistreat or hard anyone who is carrying out God’s will of salvation for all people will experience His wrath and no one can stand against such a judgment when it comes.

It’s an unfortunate truth but Christianity and persecution will always be found together until that day when Jesus returns to judge the world and bring perfect justice. Until that time, let us move forward to proclaim the Gospel with a bold courage like Paul, undeterred by anyone as we go forth to carry out Christ’s great commission while trusting God who has our collective backs.

Amen.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: You can learn about current persecution in the Christian church through two organizations dedicated to supporting those who experience hardship for the cause of Jesus.

International Christian Concern   https://www.persecution.org

The Voice of the Martyrs                 https://www.persecution.com

Both organizations offer the opportunity to support Christians in areas of persecution and prayers are always needed in this area.  

In Christ,

Mark

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