Gospel and Culture: The Persecuted Church

Intro: Good Morning Fellowship Espanol, I am glad you are here this morning.

There are specific moments we at Fellowship use a Sunday morning for a Gospel and Culture sermon. We look at issues and topics happening in culture and discover how the Gospel applies or speaks to that certain topic. Today we are looking at the topic of the persecuted church.

The persecution of God’s people is nothing new, we see it from the very beginning in Genesis when Cain killed his brother Abel because Abel’s worship of God was accepted and Cain’s was rejected. We see it now, in the lives of 3 Christin families in Mexico, who were kicked out of their homes last October after refusing to sign a document committing to coordinate the village’s religious festival’s activities. For the last year, they have been harassed and persecuted because of their faith. They have been kicked out of their homes with none of their belongings, and the people in their town have been told not to purchase anything from their store or they will be fined 500 pesos ($25)

In a report from Open Doors,

Over 360 million Christians are living in places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination

5,898 Christians are killed for their faith

5,110 churches and other Christian buildings are attacked

4,765 believers are detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned

Persecution has been going on for a long time, in an article written by Dr Nik Ripken and Kurt Nelson they give a brief history of the persecution of Christians stating “throughout history followers of Christ were first persecuted by the Jewish leaders (32 - 64 AD), then Rome joined in on the persecution (64-313 AD), Following the Roman state-led persecutions, the Catholic Church then became the principle persecutor of various “heretical”sects of Christians for the next fifteen hundred years (385 – 1870) throughout the world. The Papacy waged persecutions against “heretics” and “heathen” across Europe and South America well into the eighteenth century. It was not until 1870 that papal persecutions were officially renounced by the Roman Catholic Church. The twentieth century has seen the most dramatic upsurge in worldwide persecution beginning with the Soviet Communist empire (1917 – 1991), and the Communist regime in China (1949 – present). Significant persecutions of Christians occurred throughout the twentieth century, including those in North Korea (1945– present), Japan (1941 – 1945), and throughout Latin America, where the Communist dictatorship of Cuba continues to persecute Christians to the present day.Persecutors of Christians in the twentieth century have included Hindus in India, Buddhists in Sri Lanka, the Orthodox in Eastern Europe, Catholics in Eastern Europe and Latin America, Muslims in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and a few remaining Communist and totalitarian regimes, among others.

When we say persecution, i think we need to define what we mean, we need to be specific in our understanding. I like the way Dr. Ripken and Kurt Nelson define persecution, by saying

“persecution is, “The negative reactions by governments, ideologies, societies, and families to the presence of Christ, incarnated through a positive witness by believing individuals and communities for the purpose of silencing witness.”

These negative reactions come in many different levels,

Hate - People will hate you for what you believe and try to intimidate you to be silent.

Exclude - People will exclude you for what you believe and say. They will try and contain the Gospel within the church or religious circles of life. They do not want a Biblical and Gospel centered view invading the public square and influencing culture, the arts, law and politics.

Insults - People will insult you for what you believe, say and do. People will harass you for being a Christian. They will insult you, try to boycott you, shut your business down.

Reject - People will reject you for what you believe, say, do and who you are. At this level of persecution we see imprisonments, torture, and the murder of people for living out the Gospel in their communities.

What are we to think about persecution? What does the Bible say to us about persecution? How can we honor Christ when facing persecution?

I believe the Bible has the answers for us. Open your Bibles to 1 Peter.

1 Peter 1:1 (ESV)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Pedro, apóstol de Jesucristo:

A los expatriados elegidos, de la dispersión en el Ponto, Galacia, Capadocia, Asia y Bitinia,

The Apostle Peter wrote to the church that was scattered (Dispersion) throughout Asia Minor because they were being persecuted by Jewish leaders and Rome because they were living out the Gospel in the communities they lived in and the Jewish leaders and Rome wanted to silence their witness, they wanted to shut them down. Notice what Peter calls them “elect exiles”. What does that mean?

Elect means chosen, so who were they chosen by? we read in vs 2

1 Peter 1:2 (ESV)

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

según el previo conocimiento de Dios Padre, por la obra santificadora del Espíritu, para obedecer a Jesucristo y ser rociados con su sangre[b]: Que la gracia y la paz os sean multiplicadas.

Believers are chosen by the triune God, the Father, the Son and the Spirit chose you, called you, saving you, preserving you. But Peter says elect exiles, he doesn’t just say the elect.

He says elect exiles, what is an exile?

I love that word the Greek uses here because the word describes a person who is a sojourner or a traveler without a home, so that wherever this traveler lands it is his temporary dwelling place. Peter says as believers chosen by God, we are just traveling on this earth as a temporary resident, we are not citizens of this earth we are just a temporary resident. Peter calls them elect exiles in verse 1 because the people he is writing to are being persecuted and they are suffering because they are followers of Jesus and they are suffering for living out the Gospel in their communities. Peter wants them to see that this world, is not their home, it is just a temporary dwelling place. Throughout the book of 1 Peter he begins to explain what an elect exile believes, how to live out that belief in a hostile world, and how to live in a world where you are persecuted and suffering. Let’s see what we can learn in the time we have left about the Gospel and the persecuted church form 1 Peter.

I. Elect Exiles Value The Gospel Above All

1 Peter 1:3–5 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Bendito sea el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, quien según su gran misericordia, nos ha hecho nacer de nuevo a una esperanza viva, mediante la resurrección de Jesucristo de entre los muertos, 4 para obtener una herencia incorruptible, inmaculada, y que no se marchitará, reservada en los cielos para vosotros, 5 que sois protegidos[c] por el poder de Dios mediante la fe, para la salvación que está preparada para ser revelada en el último tiempo.

I love that Peter starts with the Gospel, Gospel is our only hope in this life and the next. If you are a disciple of Christ sitting in this room, Peter is talking to you. I know we just read it but listen to what Peter is saying, meditate on it.

Bless God, the Father of OUR Lord Jesus Christ. - Bless him, worship him, praise him, lift him up. WHY?

Because according to his great mercy, not just mercy but his mercy is great, what is mercy? Mercy is God showing us compassion even though we deserve punishment. His mercy is great, why? Because he has caused us to be born again - God is the origination of your salvation. God made a way to save you, God makes a way for you to hear the Gospel, God opens up your mind and heart so that you can understand the Gospel message, God causes the grief that leads us to repentance, God gives you the faith to believe, God causes the dead heart to come alive, God causes the transformation of a persons life. It is all God, he causes us to be born again. Born again to what? This is so good, Born agin to a living hope, we are not given a false hope, a dead hope, a fools hope no we are given a living hope. In the 21st century we talk about hope like a wish, like a child at Christmas hoping for his favorite game or toy. That is not Biblical Hope, biblical hope is hoping with confidence. So when Peter says a living hope he is saying we have a hope that is alive and we are confident that the hope we have will deliver what is promised. Why can we be confident? Because our hope is in Jesus who was resurrected form the dead. We have a living hope because the one we hope in is alive. If the Gospel ended here it would be enough. But the Gospel doesn’t end here. The Gospel is better than the energizer bunny because it keeps giving and giving and giving. We are given an inheritance, this isn’t something we have earned it is something that God freely gives to us. Listen to how Peter describes this inheritance;

imperishable

undefiled

unfading

Wow! What does that mean? It means no one can destroy it, no one can take it from you, it will not decay or rot. Well where is this inheritance? Kept in heaven for you, waiting for you until you get there!!!! Well how do I know if I am going to make it to heaven? Listen up, for those who have been born again, transformed the Gospel listen to what Peter says, here is how you know that you will get to heaven because we are guarded by God’s power through faith. The same Grace, the same Faith, the same Gospel, the same God that saves you will guard you by his power to ensure you make it to heaven.

Josh, what does this have to do with persecution? This has everything to do with persecution. Listen to what Peter says

1 Peter 1:6 (ESV)

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

En lo cual os regocijáis grandemente, aunque ahora, por un poco de tiempo si es necesario, seáis afligidos con diversas pruebas

In this you rejoice, what is the “this”Peter is talking about. The Gospel! We rejoice in the Gospel because Elect Exiles value the Gospel, the value what God has done for them above every thing. When suffering comes, when persecution comes, when betrayal comes, we rejoice in the Gospel because we know that you can take my car, my home, my business, my family, my comforts, you can even take my life but you can never take what the Gospel has given me and if I die, I am going to be with God for forever! Peter wants all the elect exiles to know the life the Gospel provided for us here on earth and in heaven when we die is better than anything this world can offer and it is worth suffering for it is worth dying for.

II. God Uses the Suffering and Persecution of Elect Exiles to Accomplish His Purposes

1 Peter 1:6–7 (ESV)

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

En lo cual os regocijáis grandemente, aunque ahora, por un poco de tiempo si es necesario, seáis afligidos con diversas pruebas, 7 para que la prueba de vuestra fe, más preciosa que el oro que perece, aunque probado por fuego, sea hallada que resulta en alabanza, gloria y honor en la revelación de Jesucristo;

I am not sure if you noticed the phrase, it is a very important phrase, especially when we think about suffering and persecution. What phrase am I talking about? “If necessary”, which is an interesting phrase because it describes the suffering, persecutions, the trials as necessary. Why? So that, here is the purpose, so that the tested genuineness of your faith is tested by fire and my be found to result in the praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

On October 22nd, 1994 Nomi and I got married. We made a commitment, a covenant to love each other until death do us part. When things are going well, there is no stress, the commitment is easy to keep. But when you start having kids, and someone loses a job, and your only car breaks down, and the economy crashes and you have to sell your home and move in with your parents. It is in these moments when you find out if you are truly committed to love each other in the good times and the bad times, in sickness and health. It is the same thing with your relationship to Christ, it is the moments of persecution and suffering, when you discover if your faith is genuine and the commitment you made to Christ is real.

God takes the suffering and persecution, and uses it to accomplish his purposes in your life, to grow you and solidify your character, to mature you in your faith. Not only does he uses persecution and suffering to accomplish his purposes in your life but to accomplish his purposes in the world. We see this in Acts 8, when the persecution of the Church of Jerusalem caused the people to scatter and leave Jerusalem, this resulted in the Gospel spreading to Judea, Samaria and to the rest of the world. God takes what is meant for evil and turns it around for good and to accomplish his purpose in your life and in this world.

III. Elect Exiles Are To Be A Witness in a Dark World.

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Pero vosotros sois linaje escogido, real sacerdocio, nación santa, pueblo adquirido para posesión de Dios, a fin de que anunciéis las virtudes de aquel que os llamó de las tinieblas a su luz admirable;

What is our purpose in this world? Why does God save us? Peter tells us “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” When God saves our residency changes, we are no residents of this earth, we no longer are people of this earth. we are God’s people and our citizenship is in heaven. But we have been given a mission, God commanded us to do some thing. To proclaim his excellencies. Proclamation requires us to live out the Gospel in this world, but it is more than that, proclamation requires us to use words to share the Gospel with people. Elect exiles are to be witnesses in a dark world.

IV. Elect Exiles Are to Live Holy and Honorable in a Hostile World.

1 Peter 2:11–12 (ESV)

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

11 Amados, os ruego como a extranjeros y peregrinos, que os abstengáis de las pasiones carnales que combaten contra el alma. 12 Mantened entre los gentiles una[h] conducta irreprochable, a fin de que en aquello que os calumnian como malhechores, ellos, por razón de vuestras buenas obras, al considerarlas, glorifiquen a Dios en el día de la visitación.

Peter reminds us again, we are exiles travelling through, we are not residents of this earth. Peter exhorts us to do two things;

abstain from the passions of your flesh - you know the sins you struggle with. You know what your heart is tempted by. Peter says stay away from them keep them distant from you.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles (unbelievers) honorable.

Peter first tells you to stay away from the sin that wages war on your soul. Staying away from sin is important, it is vital to your spiritual health and relationship with Christ, the church, the world. But Peter says stay away from sin and live honorable. Staying away from sin and do good in this world. Live Holy and Live honorable, why? Peter tells us “that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

In the rest of chapter 2 and 3 Peter tells us what it means to live holy and honorable. he teaches us how to live holy and honorable with a hostile government, what it means to live holy and honorable at work, what it means to live holy and honorable in marriage, what it means to live holy and honorable with others. I encourage you to go home and read 1 Peter this week, only 5 chapters. you can do a chapter a day and think about what Peter is encouraging you to do.

V. Elect Exiles Are to Continue Loving One Another

1 Peter 4:7–11 (ESV)

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7 Mas el fin de todas las cosas se acerca[; sed pues prudentes y de espíritu sobrio para la oración[. 8 Sobre todo, sed fervientes en vuestro amor los unos por los otros, pues el amor cubre multitud de pecados.9 Sed hospitalarios los unos para con los otros, sin murmuraciones.10 Según cada uno ha recibido un don especial, úselo sirviéndoos los unos a los otros como buenos administradores de la multiforme gracia de Dios.11 El que habla, que hable conforme a las palabras de Dios; el que sirve, que lo haga por la fortaleza que Dios da, para que en todo Dios sea glorificado mediante Jesucristo, a quien pertenecen la gloria y el dominio por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.

Unfortunately, some of our brother and sisters in Christ, suffer alone when they are persecuted and they are by themselves. When persecution and suffering come, God’s people are to continue being the church, we are to continue to love one another. Peter tells us how;

be hospitable without complaining

use your gifts and talents to serve one another

Why are we to do this? so God may be glorified

VI. Elect Exiles Should Not Be Surprised When Persecution and Suffering Comes

1 Peter 4:12–16 (ESV)

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Amados, no os sorprendáis del fuego de prueba que en medio de vosotros ha venido para probaros, como si alguna cosa extraña os estuviera aconteciendo; 13 antes bien, en la medida en que compartís los padecimientos de Cristo, regocijaos, para que también en la revelación de su gloria os regocijéis con gran alegría. 14 Si sois vituperados por[k] el nombre de Cristo, dichosos sois, pues el Espíritu de gloria y de Dios reposa sobre vosotros. Ciertamente, por ellos Él es blasfemado, pero por vosotros es glorificado. 15 Que de ninguna manera sufra alguno de vosotros como homicida, o ladrón, o malhechor, o por entrometido.16 Pero si alguno sufre como cristiano, que no se avergüence, sino que como tal glorifique a Dios.

Peter says do not be surprised when suffering and persecution comes, Why shouldn’t we be surprised?

If they persecuted and killed Jesus, why wouldn’t they do the same to you. That is why we shouldn’t be surprised. if this world killed our savior for doing good, what do you think they will do to his followers for doing good?

Which why Peter encourages to do two things when we are suffering and persecuted.

Rejoice because you share in his sufferings.

Consider yourself blessed when you are insulted

When you are persecuted and suffering Peter says don’t suffer for doing wrong, if you suffering because you did wrong, or you are a jerk, or you sinned in some way. Then you deserve what is coming to you, but if suffer form being a follower of Jesus, glorify Jesus

VII. Elect Exiles Should Be Concerned For Their Fellow Believer Around the World

1 Peter 5:6–9 (ESV)

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.

6 Humillaos, pues, bajo la poderosa mano de Dios, para que Él os exalte a su debido tiempo, 7 echando toda vuestra ansiedad sobre Él, porque Él tiene cuidado de vosotros. 8 Sed de espíritu sobrio, estad alerta. Vuestro adversario, el diablo, anda al acecho como león rugiente, buscando a quien devorar. 9 Pero resistidle[f] firmes en la fe, sabiendo que las mismas experiencias de sufrimiento se van cumpliendo en vuestros hermanos[g]en todo el mundo.

Persecution is spiritual warfare, the devil is roaming this world seeking to devour and silence the Gospel. Which is why we are to resist him. But listen to what Peter says “knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

There are people in the world suffering for the Gospel and we should be concerned, we should pray for them and encourage them. We have a unique opportunity today after the service to write letters of encouragement to a pastor and his church in Nigeria. This is one tangible way we can let them know how encouraged we are by their faithfulness and perseverance in the midst of severe persecution. 

 If you go to the Missions Wall there will be tables set up for parents and children to write letters of encouragement. There will be writing guidelines as well as information about the pastor and the church to guide you, and prayerfully, these letters will be an encouragement to them as they continue - by the grace of God - to persevere in the midst of severe persecution.

 If you scan the QR code on the instructions at the table, you can learn more about Pastor Andrew and his church in Nigeria.

VIII. Elect Exiles Trust God Through Suffering

The previous verse we read said to humble ourselves and cast our cares on him because he cares for us. This is how we trust God, we go to him and share our struggles, hurts, sufferings with him because he cares for us. Listen to what Peter says

1 Peter 5:10–11 (ESV)

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.

10 Y después de que hayáis sufrido un poco de tiempo, el Dios de toda gracia, que os llamó a su gloria eterna en Cristo, Él mismo os perfeccionará, afirmará, fortalecerá y establecerá. 11 A Él sea el dominio por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.

1. https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/evicted-for-jesus-in-mexico/

2. https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/