Living in the Kingdom

Coming to a house-church near you: persecution!

I know we all talk about persecution in countries "over there" and we tend to downplay the instances of persecution that we encounter here, but our culture is rapidly becoming more polarized on issues of religion, so stories like the one above may continue to pop up. Don't be surprised, or even outraged- meditate on these words from Savior Jesus: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you...Whoever hates me hates my Father also."

Christianity has flourished in this country since its inception in large part because the men who wrote our founding documents recognized the danger of both state-mandated religion and state-suppression of religion. More frequently, however, we are hearing about instances of "cities," "counties," or "states," which are nothing if not limbs of the government, regulating and manipulating all available laws to suppress the Christian religion. I'm not a fan of people who deny the influence of Christianity on the foundation of America, but I am not so naive as to believe  that we are a "Christian" nation. "Christian" nations don't murder 50 million babies in 40 years. "Christian" nations don't spend $14 billion on pornography every year while holding 89% of pornographic website domains (Americans own and operate 244 million pornographic websites and that number is rising hourly). 

I hope that you will revert back to the words of Jesus as you process the escalating persecution of Jesus-followers. His Kingdom is not founded on human means or laws- it is a different city, ruled by a perfect King, and it's rule is grace. As you talk about religious freedom with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and families, remember how Jesus loved those who persecuted Him, knowing that the glory that became His through His death will also become your glory through yours.