Persecution... another biblical perspective

The following is a study done by my pastor on persecution. It is meant to encourage and to challenge the way we view our response as Christians to persecution. In this blog I have mentioned how pastors, evangelists, etc. Allow themselves, their families, or friend to suffer for the sake of sharing the Gospel of Christ. As Christians this type of self sacrifice, whose consequences vary from ostracization to death and all the inroads of suffering in between, is hard to accept or fathom that we could live so sacrificial a life for Christ. But as my pastor has pointed out their are many forms of persecution. Take for example the home invader who has come to rob the innocent while they are at home. For arguments sake, the intruder could have designs of violence that are incumbent with his modus operandi of robbery. As Christians what are we to do in this case. The following are some thoughts by my pastor, a pastor, noted as Captain, of the Salvation Army. This is a study of persecution of this type held up under the scrutiny of biblical scripture in their explanation and support.

“Turn the other cheek”… a Biblical imperative to passivity or an encouragement to honestly seek peaceful solutions? Random thoughts on some scripture…

Matthew 5:39/Luke 6:29 One reference book suggests that Jesus is mostly instructing people to take advantage of the judicial system set in place since the time of Moses rather than entering into violence in response to evil violence. When it would seem perfectly natural to strike back at an evil person, the opportunity for judicial victory is greater if you simply resist and allow the authorities (to whom we are to submit) to do their job. This is backed up by Matthew 5:40 when Jesus speaks of the court verdict for the tunic. Regardless, it is also likely that some of the language in this teaching (and others) is intended as hyperbole. It would sound ridiculous to the listening audience that you should allow someone to slap you twice – they would pay attention to that. It also sounds ridiculous to say that someone has a plank in their eye, or that a camel could pass through the eye of a needle. Some statements are intentionally outrageous to capture our imagination.

Romans 12:18-21 Interesting that this scripture says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” This seems to indicate that there will be times when peace is not possible – and that those times should not be due to our own actions but rather the actions of others. We are then clearly told to not take revenge for that it God’s job. We are instructed rather to feed our enemy and help him – thereby possibly eliminating the need for a breaking of the peace. Revenge is a repayment of evil for evil – and through that we would be giving in to the sinful desires of the flesh. God’s wrath is a justifiable punishment for sin, and will be proclaimed upon the sinful as God decides. I believe this scripture leaves room – though unsaid – to respond to a broken peace with that force which preserves our own safety (and that of those under our care) without meeting out judgment ourselves. This would be a basic descriptor for the police officer’s “reasonable force” credo. I think we could use that force which is necessary to protect ourselves and others from clear evil without descending into evil actions ourselves out of a twisted sense of justice or vengeance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,3,83.1 says, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” I don’t think this is an open invitation to violence, but it does clearly open up that our basic understanding of what is right/wrong/good/bad may be more narrow than the Lord intends. 3.3 says, “A time to kill and a time to heal…” which clearly indicates that violence may be required at some point. This drops into the midst of any conversation of Christians at war for example – and capital punishment. One of my sources gives me this, “It must ask, however, what is God’s plan for our time and for the specific situations that confront us? When should aggression be met by resistance and when should there be some healing compromise? When does an offender need punishment and when does he need treatment? 3.8 says, “A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Without war and hate, how would we recognize – and thus desire – love and peace?

Matthew 5:44 Clearly, we need to love and pray for our enemies – those who persecute us. But what is love exactly?

1Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us the “love chapter” and it is very clear in the direction it gives our actions – but those actions must be driven by something. If we say, “love is patient, love is kind” yet do not have love in our hearts, are we loving each other simply by acting patient and kind? In contrast, is it not possible that the very basic instructions from the “love chapter” can be applied in a way – even during a confrontation – that looks to the world quite unlovely? Consider a personal and physical attack on a family member for no apparent reason. Are we loving our enemy by allowing him to continue to conduct an attack on someone? Are we building him up in any way by standing aside? Could we be showing “love chapter ethics in the following way…
Patience – by reasoning and trying to understand prior to any physical confrontation
Kindness – by not allowing hatred to enter into the event
Not boastful – by not personally enflaming the situation with bravado
Not proud – by not taking any personal joy in how we handled the situation
Not rude – by using words of love and peace rather than torment and threat
Not self-seeking – by not allowing ourselves to want to hurt the attacker – by asking God to take control of our actions
Not easily angered – by not allowing ourselves to sink into the same state of mind as our attacker – not allowing vengeance to take hold
No record of wrongs – when it’s over, it’s over - and we move toward restoration of the aggressor.
No delight in evil – we should be driven to our knees in intercession for the one who attacked us
Rejoice with the truth – we can thank God for protecting us, and praise Him for the love He has for the attacker
Always protects – both our loved ones and the attackerAlways trusts – in God to lead our actions
Always hopes – that the attacker will stop and listen
Always perseveres – by not allowing our own sinful desire to become combative take over the goal of this intervention
Love never fails – we can live with that truth

1 Peter 2:13-17, 1 Tim 2:2 These scriptures, and some others, call us to submit to civil authorities. While clearly the reference here is to peacefully understand that God has allowed our elected officials to hold sway, and as such we should not form a rebellion, I think we err if we assume the directive is to be submissive even to personal attack. Our civilian authorities allow – actually strongly support – physical intervention in order to protect our family and friends. No modern civilized society would frown upon a man intervening while his wife is being attacked. Actually, this is one area in which Christians could really bring people to an understanding of love. Through physical intervention of an attack – following the guidelines of love listed above – the “world” would see a man who allowed himself to physically interact with an assailant only to the degree required to bring a peaceful solution. They would see an example of someone who did not enter into the fight with glee, but rather with heart-wrenching trepidation.

Despite being a volunteer ambassador for Voice of the Martyrs, I was challenged by this study. Working in full time ministry on the streets and alleys of our city at night, with the homeless, addicted, and mentally challenged, I have experienced personal attack and violence while proclaiming the message of Christ. Through these experiences I have reviewed my thoughts and behaviour during and after. What does the bible say I am to do? What would Jesus do? In one instance a man threatened me while I was out with my 20 month old daughter. I did not have to use force to prevent harm to my daughter or myself. But what if I felt it was necessary. Am I permitted as Christian to defend my daughter or myself? In light of my experiences and my involvement with Voice of the Martyrs as a spokesperson about persecution, I thought my pastors thoughts and view of the scriptures create some provocative thoughts regarding persecution view points.

in Christ...

...Michael