Persecuted

Have you ever been singled out and ridiculed for what you believe?

“I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. - John 16:1-15

Jesus warned that people will justify their acts of violence as worship to God.

Was he talking about the world we live in today?

It is easier to focus on the actions of gang members who brutally kill in order to establish a reign of fear, than it is to talk about religious persecution.

As Christians, we want to be welcoming to everyone, even those who hate us.  It is what Jesus taught, isn't it?

But some people believe that God wants them to kill anyone who doesn't follow their strict laws.

Does God do that?  Does God send out His minions to kill?

Jesus tells us they are doing this on their own and just saying it is God's work.  I agree with that.  So, I look for the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to come and prove the world wrong.

Is that happening?  Are people learning the truth about sin, righteousness and judgment from the Holy Spirit?

Maybe we are expecting a major shift, like a strong wind that turns a mighty ship around, when we should be thinking about smaller things.

Maybe battling persecution is not a headlong fight, but a series of insights and understandings that change the way people think.

Maybe we need to put more of our belief out there in a way that people pay attention, not as if we are holier than they are, but in a way that shows our struggle to believe is real.

If people realize it is a daily battle against doubt and fear that we are facing, they just might see that this is the way to go.

More to come...