A Painful Promise by Stephen Davey

A Painful Promise
But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. John 15:21-22 The topic of persecution is not politically correct, especially in many American churches today, but it is essential for us to discuss. Persecution, no matter what form it takes, is a guarantee for us as believers.  In Matthew 6:25-33, Jesus promises to supply all of our needs. Do we hold Him to that promise?  In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promises to never leave us nor forsake us. Do we cling to that promise as well?  In John 14:2-3, Jesus promises that we will have an eternal home with Him in heaven. Have we rested our entire lives on that promise?  If so, then why are we so shocked by persecution? Jesus promises that too.  Contrary to popular opinion, persecution in America is not a result of liberal citizens forsaking the Constitution; it is a result of sinners forsaking Christ. The more people despise and reject His message, the more they will despise and reject ours (John 15:18).  By the way, when interpreting this passage it is critical for us to understand what Jesus is and isn’t saying. He isn’t saying that men weren’t sinners until He came. We know from other passages that all men are born sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8).  What he is specifically talking about here is the sin of rejecting Him. This is the most tragic of all sins: to be in the presence of God and still reject Him; and to be witnesses of His miracles and teachings and still turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. The world hasn’t changed much, has it?   Even now, millions of believers living in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, are being tortured, imprisoned, and killed for following Christ. To even be identified with Christ in some Islamic or communistic countries is a death warrant. For us living in America, persecution is not yet so severe. But it is still very real.  Over the past 30 years of pastoring, I have come across numerous types of persecution suffered by our own church members. Here are just a few of them, which you may be experiencing even now:  ostracism and prejudice in the workplace  ridicule for being old-fashioned and dimwitted loss of authority in an academic or political field  denial of a promotion slander and libel; especially being called a bigot for having a moral standard mockery for purity and fidelity lawsuits The list goes on.  In John 15:25, Jesus says: “But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’” Jesus’ trial and death was the most unjust trial in all of history. It didn’t make sense. It wasn’t rational. And neither is the persecution you’re facing today.  But in light of Christ’s promise, don’t run from your friends, family, or unbelieving neighbors who ignore and revile you. By enduring the shame you are not only proving the authenticity of your faith, but you are also fellowshipping with Christ in His own sufferings.