Why are Christians Persecuted?

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you… (John 18: 18-20) (ESV)

21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me… 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (John 18: 21, 25) (ESV)

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3: 12-13) (ESV)

The world hated Jesus. The world persecuted Jesus. Because the world persecuted Jesus, it will also persecute his followers. Christians are in the world but not of the world, therefore the world will hate them. If you call yourself a Christian but are not experiencing persecution of any kind, perhaps you are not openly living “a godly life in Christ Jesus.”

In the West, the persecution of Christians may not be obvious. Christians may be quietly excluded from social activities. They might be passed up for promotions or pay increases. They may be ridiculed for their beliefs, receive lower grades from their teachers, and even bullied. But in the West, Christians are still free to worship as they choose. However this historical freedom is rapidly changing. As the politically-correct western world becomes more intolerant and hateful toward Christianity, the subtle persecution will become much less subtle.

In the end times, persecution will be increased. Christians in the West need to be prepared for what it really means to follow Christ. They may soon experience the same level of persecution that Christians in the rest of the world has been experiencing for over 2,000 years.

In the non-western world, the persecution of Christians includes being: robbed, impoverished, kidnapped, starved, beaten, burned, raped, tortured, mutilated, enslaved, and/or executed. Yet in the areas that experience the highest levels of persecution, Christ’s church grows exponentially.

 The Last Days

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3: 1-5) (ESV)

The end of this age began more than 2,000 years ago when Jesus Christ walked this earth. The last days refer to the final part of the end of this age. In the past few years, the world has rapidly moved closer to the description listed above. In the last days, things will become much much worse.

But God is still in control and what he has foretold about the end of this age will come to pass.

 The Great Commission

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)

Jesus commanded his followers to share the Gospel with the world. God does not want anyone to perish but for all to come to salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

There are only two major world religions that command its followers to make disciples: Christianity and Islam. Since Islam is the antithesis of Christianity, it follows that they would have a command to spread Islam – but their Koranic mandate condones the use of force whereas the Holy Bible prohibits forced conversions (choosing to follow Jesus Christ must be an act of genuinely free will).

Islamic blasphemy laws prohibit speaking anything that contradicts Islam, Mohammad, or the Koran. In Islamic-controlled nations, non-Muslims are coerced to leave, convert, pay the excessive tax, or be executed. In ISIS-controlled areas non-Muslims are given only two choices: convert or be executed (in keeping with the Koran’s end of days teachings).

Areas with proselytism laws (e.g. Islam, Hindu, Communist controlled areas) prohibit the spread of any religion other than the dominant one of that area. These laws are adamantly enforced in Islamic-controlled areas because the majority of Muslims who leave Islam for another religion choose Christianity. This further fuels Islam’s determination to eliminate Christianity.

Christians are commanded by Jesus to boldly spread the Gospel and lovingly speak the truth regardless of personal safety.  Doing so in Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Communist controlled areas involves great personal risk and ultimately results in severe persecution.

At the end of this age, Christians will also be targeted for persecution by the politically-correct adulterous one world religion which demands tolerance and conformity.

God’s Holy Spirit

10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13: 10-11)

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 18: 26-27) (ESV)

After Jesus Christ returned to the Father, he asked the Father to send His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of truth, God’s Holy Spirit, bears witness to Jesus Christ and helps Jesus’ followers to bear witness.

 Abide in the True Vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (John 15: 1-3) (ESV)

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15: 4-5) (ESV)

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15: 6-8) (ESV)

Christians must abide in Christ Jesus. Without him we can do nothing. Fruit is evidenced by a Christ-centered life. It includes demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23). In addition, Christians are to obey Jesus’ great commission to spread the Gospel, baptizing disciples of all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 Whatever You Ask

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7: 7-8) (ESV)

You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives… (James 4: 2-3) (NIV)

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 18: 7-9) (ESV)

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 18: 16-17) (ESV)

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14: 12-14) (NKJV)

When we seek God with the right motives and heart, God will grant our requests. When we love Christ, we put God first. When our focus is on His kingdom (not ourselves or the world), the desires of our heart are in keeping with His good and perfect will. Jesus promises to do whatever is asked in his name so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

 The Way of the Cross

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8: 34-37) (KJV)

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple… 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. 34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14: 27, 33-35) (ESV)

When we put God first, our perspective changes. Worldly things lose their importance. We don’t take offense easily because we can see the woundedness of others and feel compassion for the lost. We prioritize differently because we can see things for what they really are instead of making it about us or getting caught up in the world.

Following Jesus Christ involves denying selfish worldly desires and living for Christ. We must put God first in our lives. Nothing is more important. No one is more important. Just as Jesus took up his cross, his followers must be also prepared to take up their crosses.

 The Cost of denying Christ

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8: 38) (KJV)

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10: 32-33) (KJV)

Virtually every major religion (including Islam) permits its followers to publicly deny their faith and worship privately if it saves the life of the person or somehow benefits that religion. But there are two major religions that forbid its followers to deny God: Judaism and Christianity.

Because Jews and Christians are forbidden from publicly denying their God, His holy people will not be able to submit to the one world religion that will be in power during the end times. As such, Jews and Christians will be considered “religious extremists” and targeted for persecution during the time of Great Tribulation.

When the Antichrist comes into power, God’s holy people will be severely persecuted. A mark of loyalty will be required in order to buy or sell. Christians will recognize that it is the mark of the beast and know that anyone who takes that mark will be damned for all eternity. In addition to not taking the mark, God’s holy people will be compelled to speak the truth so that other people don’t forever perish.

 Do not be Afraid

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14: 27)

Written by

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *