7 Principles for Handling Persecution

Most of us American Christians have no idea what persecution is. For most of us, we have never faced it at any level, but if we have it is seen in the form of mocking or laughing at us by a friend or co-worker when we tell them we trust Jesus or we pray. But when is the last time someone who actually hated us brought persecution? How many of us have had our homes burned down, been beaten up, jailed, or have been killed because we are Christian?

Jesus was clear that Christians will be persecuted. He says this in John 15:18-20, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

Persecution is a Biblical promise. 2 Timothy 3:12 gives the promise, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Yet here in America it is popular to say we are blessed to not have this promise fulfilled in its truest from. Personally I am thankful I have avoided it. But in truth the easy life of the American Christian has weakened us as individuals and it has weakened the church.

Persecution is coming to America. The handwriting is on the wall. The Muslim people are filling up our cities. Mosques are being built all over. There will be a new climate of hate in America for Christians. So what do we do? The popular sentiment of many American Christians is that we will stand against it with our guns and fight. But I do not find that idea in the Bible. What I do find is that persecution opens up a whole new set of opportunities to share the Gospel. But it is a hard way that requires a deeper faith and a complete dependence on the Holy Spirit.

In the book of Acts we find a great teaching on what to do when they come to persecute us. Acts chapter 4 is a description of the first acts of persecution against the Church. I suggest you take time to read Acts 4:1-32. In his commentary on Acts John MacArthur lists seven principles on handling persecution and I believe we would all do well to study these and prepare ourselves.

As you read Acts chapter 4, I suggest you look for these seven principles as demonstrated by Peter and John. They are as follows:

1. Be submissive – Peter and John did not offer any resistance to the leaders who confronted them in Jerusalem, jailed them, and demanded to know who gave them the authority to heal the beggar as seen in chapter 3 and to be proclaiming Jesus resurrected.

2. Be Filled With the Holy Spirit – This is the key to everything we do in our Christian walk. In our flesh we will fail but with the power of God we can do anything God wills us to.

3. Be Aggressive In Seizing Opportunities – To be submissive is not to be a coward. Jesus performed the greatest act of submissiveness in history by allowing Himself to be crucified. Through the power of the Holy Spirit Peter was able to be brave enough to stand in front of these men and share the Gospel with them. Peter spoke the truth saying this in Acts 4:12
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." Had Peter and John fought back they would not have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with these men.

4. Be Obedient To God At All Costs – Jesus taught we are to follow all authority because it is put in place by God. But when authority refuses to acknowledge God is the source of their power and goes against God’s Word, well then we must obey God. Acts 4:19-20 is one demonstration of this truth. “But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." We must be obedient to God even at risk of our own lives and freedom.

5. Be Committed to Fellowship – Notice what Peter and John did immediately after being released. Acts 4:23, “When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.” We need each other. We need comfort and encouragement from our brothers and sisters in Christ and they need it from us. This is how persecution strengthens the church.

6. Be Thankful – Peter and John did not return from this ordeal afraid and depressed; they came back exhilarated. This fired up the whole church. Acts 4:24 says, “And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA , AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.” They praised God for what just happened to them.

7. Desire Greater Boldness – Rather than allowing themselves to be scared they asked for boldness in spite of the threats they were living under. Acts 4:29-30, "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."

See what happened when these men and this church did these seven things in the midst of persecution.

Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

 The answer to persecution is not to react with either fear or resistance; it is to seize the day and use it to spread the Gospel to our enemies. This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:43-48, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

We cannot do these things in our own power. But we can do them. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Persecution? Let’s prepare to embrace it. It’s coming.