Pray for persecution: part 2

...And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1

Pray for persecution (part 2)

In part one of this ‘two-part article’ I talked about a small fraction of the persecution facing Christians in other countries, what some preachers (such as Charles Spurgeon and John Wesley) said about persecution, and I concluded with a challenge to you to try to be so bold with your faith that you are persecuted for your faith (click here to read the first part of this article). So, before we get started, how did you do? Have you been at all persecuted these past couple days?

Acts 8 gives us an interesting look at what happens when the church is persecuted. The first part of the chapter explains that Saul carried out a period of horrific persecution against the church (see verse 1). Verses 4-8 says,

Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was much rejoicing in that city.

What happened when persecution struck the church? People went out preaching the word! Consider what Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians,

To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless, and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

Paul was without almost everything our lost world claims we ‘need’. He couldn’t eat whenever or whatever he wanted, he didn’t have fancy clothes, he didn’t have a home, and was slandered and beaten by his fellow man. Given those circumstances, don’t you think Paul would have told everybody he possibly could, “Don’t do what I have done! Don’t follow my path!”? Paul actually does the exact opposite. In verse 16 he says, “Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.” Despite Paul’s pain and suffering, he still told people to imitate him in his ministry for Christ! Why? Because Paul was storing up treasures in heaven, not on earth. He knew the price of standing up for Christ was high, but he also knew his Lord was worth it.

Have you ever met or heard a Christian who lives in a persecuted country speak to a church? They are filled with such passion for God you can’t help but be challenged. Interestingly enough, they never seem down about their circumstances. They never seem upset. And, most significantly, they never seem to have a weak faith! Perhaps it is because they know that what 1 Peter 3:14 says is true: “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled.” If you ever do get the chance to meet somebody who lives in a heavily persecuted country, ask them for prayer requests. You know what is amazing? I have never heard one say, “Pray that the persecution stops.” Instead they ask for prayer that they would remain bold, and that souls would get saved.

America, we need to wake up. God has blessed us with a freedom that few people have: freedom of speech. But what do we do with it? Christians are preaching the gospel in third-world countries (and getting killed for it) while we constantly sit back and keep the gospel truth to ourselves. Sometimes I wonder if it will take heavy persecution of the American Church in order to kick most Christians into gear. I sincerely pray that that is not true. Don’t wait until it is illegal to hand out gospel tracts and have conversations with people to stand up for Jesus Christ. Get out there and share the gospel now, while you still have time.