Persecution: A Foregone Conclusion It’s Coming, & It Has Always Been Here
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘(9) When <Jesus> opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained… (11) Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.’ (Revelation 6:9, 11); ‘(12) In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (13) while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.’ (2 Timothy 3:12-13)
It is a foregone conclusion that Christians will be persecuted. Christians, since the crucifixion of Jesus in 29 AD, have been (from a worldly perspective) at best criticized and at worst killed, with everything imaginable being laid upon them in between. It has happened up through today, across all continents, among all people. Even Christians have persecuted other Christians, as was (perhaps still is) the case in Ireland in the 20th century between the Catholics (desiring union with the Irish Republic) and the Protestants (desiring continued attachment with the British crown) in Northern Ireland.
We have not seen great persecution of the Church here in the US and North America, until recently, when the COVID pandemic turned government against churches, prohibiting worship services and meetings during the height of the hysteria. However, this was more of a culmination as there have been attempts to curb speech from the church; the 1954 Johnson Amendment (named after its sponsor, then Senator and future President Lyndon B. Johnson) prohibited ‘political speech’ from ‘non-profit organizations’, including churches.
Endorsements or condemnations of specific political candidates and (to a point) political platforms is a big ‘no-no’, though a church (or a pastor at the pulpit) can provide ‘pros and cons’ of key points made by each candidate to compare and contrast (candidate Bubba supports abortion, candidate Bean is against abortion, for example.) Though vague in what constitutes prohibited speech, it has been used by the IRS to reverse ‘non-profit’ status a church has in the past (though this was weakened by President Trump in his term.)
We are seeing a shift against Christianity today that makes the Johnson Amendment seem trivial (though it was not). In Canada, the oppression of churches continue as pastors have been arrested for preaching Biblical principles, and is being codified by law considered in the Canadian parliament to expand having all Biblical speech and activities examined as possible ‘hate speech’, removing safeguards exempting Biblical, Godly doctrines from such examination by a secular lens. In the US, a quadruple increase in hostile acts against Christians houses of worship since 2021 through 2023, including vandalism and arson have occurred, most likely due to the Dobbs decision to vacate the Roe v. Wade abortion decision. There have been rumbling of increased ‘hate speech’ thresholds, which could include similar restrictions on sharing or providing Biblical viewpoints.
Throughout the world, reports of Christians martyred for sharing the Gospel have also been on the rise, along with attacks on Christian institutions, especially in France, Germany and Britain where the growth of Islam through unchecked immigration has occurred. Make no mistake, the time is coming upon those of us who are Believers when we will be harassed, assaulted, and possibly executed for exercising our Faith in Christ and speaking the Truth. In Revelation 6, the Apostle John speaks of seeing the multitudes of martyred Believers before the altar, maintaining their worship of Jesus and waiting for others to join their ranks until Jesus makes His triumphant return. As Timothy intimated in 2 Timothy 3, as evil grows so will the persecution.
It is important that we be welcoming and continue to share Christ, while we also protect the church and those around us so we can worship without fear. We may and likely will be persecuted, perhaps harassed or even arrested for exercising our Faith and executing the Great Commission. We must not walk in fear, but walk in Faith, and above self is serving Jesus and performing His work. My prayer is for our Canadian brothers and sisters and for us Americans to remain steadfast and remain bold to speak and share the Gospel of Christ, without fear or concern. One may have everything earthly stripped away from them, like Paul – their wealth, their freedom; but they cannot take away their Faith. Stand against evil, never give in to oppression, and be steadfast in the Lord’s presence!
