Suffering. It’s not exactly one of our favorite topics.

No one wants to suffer and no one wants to be persecuted. God created us with bodies that feel pain and naturally attempt to escape pain. Why would any logically thinking person desire to suffer? He wouldn’t. It is unnatural.

Yet suffering is a common biblical topic (the word suffer or suffering occurs 94 times in the Bible). Persecution is a common biblical topic (the word persecution occurs 56 times in the Bible). The Bible has numerous texts that indicate that the children of God will suffer. Herein lies the paradox. We are created with bodies that distain and avoid pain and conflict. Yet, despite that truth, we actually choose to suffer! This truth presents a mystery; one of the great mysteries of Christianity. For someone to choose to suffer, the person sees inherit value in doing so. He or she sees a cause or purpose greater than self.

It has been noted, especially within the last decade or so, that Christians are on the verge of another great persecution. The anti-Christian sentiment in the world today is growing at an alarming rate. It is vital that we prepare ourselves for difficult days ahead. One of the ways we prepare ourselves is to re-visit the biblical teachings regarding persecution. Obviously this study is not intended to be comprehensive. There are literally dozens of suffering texts in the New Testament. However, it will be beneficial if we consider three.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PERSECUTION?

Matthew 5:10-12

Jesus taught the disciples that they are “blessed” if they are persecuted “for the sake of righteousness.” The word “blessed,” while often understood as “happy,” actually refers to one who is “approved of God.” It describes one who had decided to follow God, regardless of the cost. Such a person receives divine acceptance and approval (and would, of course, be ‘happy’ about that).

The word Jesus uses here is dioko. He uses this word three times (once in each of these three verses). The word has the basic meaning of “to pursue” or “to chase after.” It logically came to refer to persecution because the persecutor was chasing after or pursuing one to torment him. Note some important lessons here:

1. Those who are persecuted are God-approved children of His. Jesus declares that they are “blessed.” God is well aware of what His children are enduring and looks upon their steadfastness with approval.

2. Those who are persecuted are being persecuted “for the sake of righteousness” (v. 10) and “on account of Me” (v. 11). Jesus is making it clear that this persecution would not happen were it not for one’s faith. How easy it would be for them to abandon Christianity and thereby forego the persecution! The world does not torment those who are like them (John15:18-20). I once visited a woman who had been mopping her floor and slipped on a wet spot. She broke her arm in the fall. As I’m visiting with her she made the following statement: “I’m just being persecuted for righteousness sake!” Her misunderstanding (and application) of this text is not all that uncommon. We have seen many who have considered suffering and hardship to fit into Jesus’ teaching here. Yet Jesus is making a clear and important point: The only reason this is happening is because of one’s devotion to Him, and the enemies of Jesus are taking out their hatred on Jesus’ disciples.

3. Those who are persecuted have let their faith be known. Such are not “closet Christians” or, like Joseph, are “secret disciples” (John 19:38). If we are not being persecuted, it may be because people do not even know we’re Christians. We are not standing for anything. I once did a series for a church on “Standing With the Word of God.” One man who attended the series said, “I’ve been living in this community for over 30 years and until now never knew this church stood for anything!” How can this happen? As Jesus is going to say, we are called to be “salt” and “light.” How are we being salt and light if those around us don’t even know what we stand for?

4. Persecution takes several forms. Jesus uses words, like dioko that could refer to physical persecution. But he also says that one might be reviled (word means “to find fault in a way that demeans the other, reproach, revile, mock, heap insults upon as a way of shaming,” BDAG 710), and “say all kinds of evil against you falsely” (which refers to evil and malicious statements that are designed to destroy the character and reputation of another).

Roman 8:18, 35-39

If we have a legitimate hope of being “glorified,” then we must suffer with Christ. The persecution Jesus endured is that which will come to those who follow Him. His choice of living for God created hatred and animosity. It is the same for us today. God is not going to glorify those who have ducked and avoided standing up for one’s faith. How, if one does this, can there be a legitimate claim to have “suffered with Him”? Paul goes on to say that this suffering is “not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed to us.” We have to be wise enough to understand that the suffering now is only temporary, whereas heaven is for eternity. It seems like a simple choice, doesn’t it? Yet despite the logic of the choice, the vast majority of humanity has chosen the easy road and the wide gate (Matthew 7:13-14).

As Paul ends this chapter he describes seven types of difficulties that can confront the Christian and “separate them from the love of Christ: (v. 35). It isn’t a pretty picture, for sure. Persecution is listed as one of the seven. Any student of history knows that there are times when persecution convinced some to abandon Christianity. Indeed, it separated them from truly loving Christ. Paul ends this section with another list (ten items this time) of forces great and small, angelic and demonic that could bring faith-destroying events into one’s life. Yet once again these forces or events cannot pull one away from God. They may be powerful, but they’re not that powerful. The only force powerful enough to keep one from loving God is himself.

Note some important lessons in this text:

1. Persecution shows itself in a variety of ways. We need to understand how Satan works and the areas in which he will try to get us to fail.

2. Persecution has nothing to do with God’s love. Of course, Satan wants us to think it has everything to do with God’s love, but it doesn’t. He wants us to believe that the persecution is an indication that God does not love us at all. For, if He did, He would stop the persecution, right? But such is not how the God of the universe works. Persecution is a way of proving whether our faith is real and genuine (1 Peter 1:6-7).

3. The persecuted will become the conquerors. Paul says clearly that when we emerge from these persecutions we “overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (v. 37).

2 Timothy 3:12

After reminding Timothy of all of the persecutions he endured, he makes the famous claim: “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” The Greek conjunction kai has been translated “indeed” by most translations (NAS, RSV, ESV). The NKJV translates it “yes” and the KJV “yea.” The NIV goes with “in fact.” It is clear that no matter which translation one uses, Paul is making a true and valid point. This point has the following elements:

1. Paul uses the word “all.” A choice to be godly will have negative consequences for every single person. There are no exceptions.

2. The Christian has a “desire” to live godly. This indicates a clear, conscience choice to follow God’s plan for one’s life.

3. Paul notes that the person has chosen “to live godly in Christ Jesus.” Men may suffer for various causes. But no cause is as noble as that which involves being a follower of Jesus. Living godly means to love from a pure heart, to have a sincere faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5).

4. Paul concludes by saying that such a person “will be persecuted.” This is from the same word that Jesus used in Matthew 5:10 (dioko). Here the verb is a future, passive indicative. It is going to happen in the days ahead, and it is assured. As my grandfather used to say: “there ain’t no wiggle-room.” The Christian knows and bravely faces persecution. It is going to happen. If it isn’t happening, then Paul clearly declares that such is not “living godly in Christ Jesus.”

Conclusion

Certainly many other biblical texts could be considered. However, those texts would only confirm what these texts have said. Persecution is the way for the Christian because this world “lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Now is the time for us to have it clear in our minds what we are and what we will do as our persecutors increase.

By Denny Petrillo, Ph.D. 

This article first appeared in the WeeThink family section of Think magazine. For more info, or to subscribe, click here.