roadrunner570
June 20th, 2005, 09:32 AM
Persecution
by
Tim M.
When talking about the end times or other things, I’ve often heard people tell me things like “God would never let his children suffer.” Or “The Bible says we’re not subject to wrath.”
But does it? The verse often used to point out this position is:
1Th 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Okay, but whose wrath? Well, lets look at Romans:
Ro 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath , when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
God’s wrath. Okay, I can buy that. God would not subject his children to his wrath.
What does this have to do with persecution you ask? Well, lets take a look at Hebrews:
Heb 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Fellow prisoners? You might ask yourself “Why would they be a fellow prisoner? I haven’t broken any laws.” This might be true. But what prisoners is the Bible referring to? Is it thieves, murderers? Well, there’s more in Hebrews about this:
Heb 10:32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.
Heb 10:33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.
Heb 10:34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
So that’s it! Other believers are the prisoners they’re referring to. During this time of the early church, Christians came under heavy persecution. As a result, many were thrown in prison.
Now you might say “Yeah, but that doesn’t happen today does it? We live in a free country!”
True, but there are many places in the world who are not so free. According to the Voice of Martyrs prayer site at www.basicfellowship.com here are people currently being held prisoner around the world solely for their Christian faith:
China: 20
Egypt: 2
Eritrea: 2
Iran: 1
Laos: 1
Pakistan: 5
Vietnam: 12
Keep in mind, these are only the prisoners whose addresses are known, or that anyone even knows of. Christianity is illegal in at least 30 countries, and of countries were it is legal, there are at least 8 additional countries where Christians are persecuted even though its legal. In many of these countries, Christians tend to just disappear or turn up dead somewhere. In many Muslim countries, its considered blasphemy to convert to Christianity and is punishable by death. And yes, this is all happening in the world TODAY.
So why does this happen? Why doesn’t God protect his people? Well, lets look back to scripture:
Mt 24:9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me
Jn 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
These things happen, because Jesus said they’d happen. Most of the apostles were even martyred.
Phillip: Stoned to death, Phyrgia in AD 54
Peter: Crucified, Rome AD 69
Paul: Beheaded, Rome AD 69
Andrew: Crucified, Achaia, AD 70
Matthew: Beheaded, Ethiopia, AD 70
Thomas: Speared to death, Calamino AD 70
James: Clubbed to death, Jerusalem, AD 63
John: Abandoned, Isle of Patmos AD 63
These were men hand picked by Jesus to be his apostles. They gave their lives to preach the word of God.
For many of us, this whole subject makes us uncomfortable. Sure, we love the Lord, and go to church, but we don’t want to get beaten up or killed for it do we? These men did, and people today around the world still do. Some of you might say “I just don’t like to think about it. If I pray for them, I’ll have to think about it and get worried.”
Well, this is true. Paul had a thought on this:
1Co 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
If our brothers and sisters in Christ are in prison and suffering, then we all are suffering with them. Just like Hebrews 13:3 told us, remember them as if we were one of them. This was not a request or an option, but a mandate. It did not say “Remember them if your comfortable with it” or “If you get time, try to remember them.” It said Remember. Throughout history, many suffered and died for their faith in Jesus Christ so that we today can read the Bible in our own language, and worship as we please. The least we can do is to remember those who are in prison today.
by
Tim M.
When talking about the end times or other things, I’ve often heard people tell me things like “God would never let his children suffer.” Or “The Bible says we’re not subject to wrath.”
But does it? The verse often used to point out this position is:
1Th 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Okay, but whose wrath? Well, lets look at Romans:
Ro 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath , when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
God’s wrath. Okay, I can buy that. God would not subject his children to his wrath.
What does this have to do with persecution you ask? Well, lets take a look at Hebrews:
Heb 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Fellow prisoners? You might ask yourself “Why would they be a fellow prisoner? I haven’t broken any laws.” This might be true. But what prisoners is the Bible referring to? Is it thieves, murderers? Well, there’s more in Hebrews about this:
Heb 10:32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.
Heb 10:33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.
Heb 10:34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
So that’s it! Other believers are the prisoners they’re referring to. During this time of the early church, Christians came under heavy persecution. As a result, many were thrown in prison.
Now you might say “Yeah, but that doesn’t happen today does it? We live in a free country!”
True, but there are many places in the world who are not so free. According to the Voice of Martyrs prayer site at www.basicfellowship.com here are people currently being held prisoner around the world solely for their Christian faith:
China: 20
Egypt: 2
Eritrea: 2
Iran: 1
Laos: 1
Pakistan: 5
Vietnam: 12
Keep in mind, these are only the prisoners whose addresses are known, or that anyone even knows of. Christianity is illegal in at least 30 countries, and of countries were it is legal, there are at least 8 additional countries where Christians are persecuted even though its legal. In many of these countries, Christians tend to just disappear or turn up dead somewhere. In many Muslim countries, its considered blasphemy to convert to Christianity and is punishable by death. And yes, this is all happening in the world TODAY.
So why does this happen? Why doesn’t God protect his people? Well, lets look back to scripture:
Mt 24:9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me
Jn 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
These things happen, because Jesus said they’d happen. Most of the apostles were even martyred.
Phillip: Stoned to death, Phyrgia in AD 54
Peter: Crucified, Rome AD 69
Paul: Beheaded, Rome AD 69
Andrew: Crucified, Achaia, AD 70
Matthew: Beheaded, Ethiopia, AD 70
Thomas: Speared to death, Calamino AD 70
James: Clubbed to death, Jerusalem, AD 63
John: Abandoned, Isle of Patmos AD 63
These were men hand picked by Jesus to be his apostles. They gave their lives to preach the word of God.
For many of us, this whole subject makes us uncomfortable. Sure, we love the Lord, and go to church, but we don’t want to get beaten up or killed for it do we? These men did, and people today around the world still do. Some of you might say “I just don’t like to think about it. If I pray for them, I’ll have to think about it and get worried.”
Well, this is true. Paul had a thought on this:
1Co 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
If our brothers and sisters in Christ are in prison and suffering, then we all are suffering with them. Just like Hebrews 13:3 told us, remember them as if we were one of them. This was not a request or an option, but a mandate. It did not say “Remember them if your comfortable with it” or “If you get time, try to remember them.” It said Remember. Throughout history, many suffered and died for their faith in Jesus Christ so that we today can read the Bible in our own language, and worship as we please. The least we can do is to remember those who are in prison today.