8-27-2014 Persecution

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.                     Psalm 9:9-12

Lord I’m concerned and I’ve been taught by Your Word to bring my concerns before You.

The issue is persecution: more specifically; degradation and physical harm to another human being or group of human beings by another group who do not believe or abide by the same cultural or spiritual values.

My concern is even more focused though, more personal. Recently it seems that in this country, in my protected little Safe Zone, I may have been turning a blind eye to escalating violence against my fellow believers around the world. I am now tuning in to see that across the globe, Your body is hurting, families and individuals are being martyred.

What am I to do? I’m not a person of influence or power; I don’t have much money to offer; I live so far away from many of the “hot spots” I hear and read about: I’m not trained nor prepared in the ways of protection for others…

…Or am I?

OK, You remind me by scripture and the example of others that there are things I can do. Ephesians 6 says I can use Your Word and prayer as offensive weapons to protect Your saints. Does that really help when my brothers and sisters are being chased and cornered and killed for their faith?

You tell me in Matthew 5 that I’m blessed when others insult me and persecute me and utter all kinds of evil against me falsely because of my relationship with you Jesus. Am I truly an example of persecution? Do I stand up for You boldly, regardless of the circumstances? Do I support and offer defense for others who do?

Then there is of course the persecution of Your people, the Jews. They are not Christians—do I really need to be concerned about their plight?

Of course I do! Your word assures that they are 
Your people forever. Your word says that those who bless Israel are blessed, those who curse Israel…well let’s not go there. So what can I do about the injustices and attacks against the Jews?  Are they the only others besides my sisters and brothers in Messiah whom I am to be concerned for?

What about non-believers who suffer persecution? Surely I don’t need to be concerned with them? And yet Your word again convicts me: Who is my neighbor ? You suggest that I’m to do to others as I would have them do to me. Does that include standing up for those who are victimized yet do not call on You, Jesus as Lord and Master?

It seems to boil down to this confession, Adonai: I want so badly to believe that my “side” is the only side victimized, but I know better. Because of whose I am. Once long ago, a man by the name of Joshua asked You prior to a great battle; “Whose side are You on?”

Your answer? You are on God’s side. I must get right with You and not worry so much about who is not right with me. Does this mean I must be tolerant and submissive to other religious classes? Lord, not at the expense of You! But it is You who teaches me a very…VERY difficult persecution lesson. It reads as follows:

" Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

   For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

   I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

   Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

   Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 25:37-46

Is it only coincidence that You share this lesson scripturally after Your dire premonitions about the coming of the next age? I can’t imagine the placement being an accident. The worst persecution period of any age is nearing. Am I prepared? Whose side am I on?

Here is the sadness of the situation. I whom You love, persecute You daily. I whom You love, persecute others, even if by ignorance. I want to be recognized by my suffering on Your behalf, yet I do not always behave as a son of God, even to the Son of God.

But I’m learning…growing. You love me enough to teach, me correct me and forgive me; not persecute me.

So I pray about the conditions of today for my fellow brothers and sisters suffering; the land and the people of Israel; the slave trading of women and children; those being ethnically cleansed by slaughter.

And there is one more group which then You bring to my attention as a new lesson: Those who wave the banner of false persecution—who want the world (and possibly You, Adonai?) to perceive them as persecuted, not for relief or redemption, but for power, control and positioning. How am I to respond to them?

I’ve got to start with You: With Your word given for understanding; with Your commands to guide my mouth, my hands and my steps in obedience:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being

experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.              1Peter 5:6-11

And I’ve got to end with You: The One in dominion, the one whose side teaches about persecution by the example of His own persecution—not for positioning or power, but in absolute sacrifice and complete love for others. 

That suggests it doesn’t matter who is being persecuted; what does matter is that we, the persecuted offer support and relief to one another. We the persecuted should be in unity as one persecuted body. In You I now understand and react to the persecution of all—we suffer together and we should stand against those who persecute (even if that means self-correction because we find ourselves being unsuspecting persecutors!). As one body we need to bring the world’s comparative attention to the differences between those being subjected to true suffering and those manipulating circumstances to gain undeserved pity.  

And Lord, with Your help I’m learning to abandon my own selfish attitude—my desire for me persecuting Your desire for me. Is not the first battle to end persecution fought in my own heart? Maybe, just maybe if I can win that victory, and allow You to teach others through me, how quickly Your un-persecuted kingdom might come. 

Amen, come Lord Jesus.

Mark C.