The Persecuted Ones

Greeting

Isaiah 2:3 ESV

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.

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Grabber

We have heard their names, spoken with hushed awe for the persecution they faced: Bonhoeffer, Wurmbrand, Tyndale, and Wycliffe, whose life was so offensive to the Roman Catholic Church that after his death in exile in 1384, he was tried for heresy in 1415 and found guilty. After his convictions, his bones were exhumed in 1428 (44 years after his death), burned to ashes and tossed into the River Swift in an attempt to erase any influence he wielded.

Today, Voice of the Martyrs, started by Richard Wurmbrand in 1967 to assist Christians taking the gospel into hostile areas of the world, estimates that roughly 388 million Christians face persecution and discrimination around the world today. Nigeria is the deadliest nation for Christians who face persecution and slaughter from ISIS and the Islamic State. Jihadist groups in Syria threaten any who follow the teachings of Jesus or convert from Islam—which is strictly illegal. North Korea is notorious for its demand that all worship and adoration be given to the Kim family, and owning a Bible or worshiping God is punishable by death. While China has state-sanctioned churches, the Christianity is anemic and powerless, because it is strictly controlled by the communist state. Underground Christians exist, but live constantly under threat of being revealed, raided, arrested, and persecuted.

These are just a few places where Christ is not welcome, and his followers worship at extreme personal risk. As the world changes, hot spots of persecution against Christians may change or shift locations, but the persecution will never stop.

Jesus said, Matthew 5:10 ““Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus knew his followers would face persecution, and it began all the way back in the first century.

Introduction

As Jesus began his ministry, Matthew took the time to record his core teachings, the concepts and principles Jesus taught throughout the land of Israel. We call it the Sermon on the Mountain and it paints a picture of Kingdom Living—What it looks like to live in the Kingdom of God.

Matthew sets the stage Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” and Matthew 5:1–2 “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:” The call to repent means, “Change your attitude about sin and righteousness.” Instead of living your own truth, live God’s truth of the Kingdom.

We have spent two months looking at these foundational characteristics of Christians which turns world philosophy and thinking on its head. Poor in Spirit? Mournful? Meekness? Hunger for Righteousness? Merciful, Pure in Heart, Peacemakers? This is a hard ask from Jesus, because they set us up for the final beatitude—Persecution.

Let’s look at the Character and Consequence of Persecution. Then next week I want to look at the Joy of Persecution.

Discussion

The Character: Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake

Matthew 5:10 ESV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The word for “persecuted” is διώκω. It can mean to hasten, run, press upon, pursue, harass, or persecute. Paul uses it to describe the Christian bearing down on the goal in Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He also uses it to mean hastening in hospitality Romans 12:13 “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Here, Jesus uses it to mean harass, antagonize, or persecute. Usually in the NT, this persecution is a result of beliefs or values.

Jesus does not say who is doing the persecution. He prepares his disciples for whatever persecution is coming. He knows there will be conflicts with the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders. Mark 3:6 “The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” He had conflict with the Romans, John 19:1 “Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.” He even faced conflict from his own disciples, Mark 8:32 “And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.”

Moral character has always been at odds with the world. Christians give allegiance to God. Christians strive to live morally. Christians seek to save others from their immoral lives. Christians strive for the equality of human beings. Christians are controlled by God. Christians condemn false religions. This puts them in conflict with a lot of people and a lot of governments.

2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

Acts 14:22 “[Going through Galatia, Paul and Barnabas were] Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Christianity is at odds with Authoritarianism. Think regimes where the powerful control the narrative and Christianity threatens that control. If they do allow Christian churches, they control the script—encouraging reliance on the government, and peaceful acceptance of the State’s limited, and edited gospel.

Christianity is at odds with Relativism. Right here in America, Christians are arrested for praying outside abortion clinics. The Government facilitates silencing Christian voices preaching against sin. In the halls of Washington, Christianity is tolerated as long as it stays in its own lane. Christian leaders are warned to check their faith at the door. Only inclusive Christianity is allowed—the kind of Christianity that embraces All Religions, All Philosophies, All Choices. New Testament Christians need not apply!

Christianity is at odds with Secularism. In Canada, preachers can be arrested for preaching Jesus is the only way, or speaking against some protected sinful behavior, or as one preacher recently was arrested for telling people to go to church. Or in some European nations Christians are not allowed to speak against Islam because it could incite a riot.

This is persecution for righteousness’ sake. Living and preaching righteousness will provoke persecution from those who despise righteousness.

The Consequence: The Kingdom of Heaven

The consequence forms an inclusio with verse 3. It naturally sets vv. 3-10 apart from the rest of the sermon and presents it to us as a unit. Jesus will build on the idea of persecution in vv. 11-12, but the consequence for provoking persecution is the Kingdom of Heaven. God will recognize us as citizens of his kingdom.

This is nice, because the nations of the world seems to marginalize and persecute Christians, but that’s okay because our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”). This is the kingdom that will be delivered to the Father 1 Corinthians 15:24 “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.”

Living Christ leads to eternity in God’s kingdom.

Application

Even in a nations that ensure freedom, Christians receive persecution. Worse are places openly, unashamedly, and unapologetically oppose Christianity. The temptation is to be silent and practice our faith inwardly. Hide it from the neighbors. Let the world do its thing while we just do our thing and hope we don’t offend anyone.

Once, when Jesus was teaching the crowd, the people got offended and started walking away. John 6:61 “But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?” When Jesus said it was what comes out that defiles a person, not what went in, many of those listening were offended. His disciples said, Matthew 15:12 “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” Jesus loved people, enough to die for them, but not enough to change or dilute the truth!

Changing the truth doesn’t save; Telling the truth does.

So, What?

Live and speak openly in a way that provokes persecution.