By Travis Collins
The Beatitudes series — Matthew 5:3–12
To this point in the Sermon on the Mount, what Jesus said was counter cultural and counter intuitive: “Blessed are the meek,” for example, and “Blessed are those who mourn.” But in verse 10, He drops a beatitudinal bombshell: “Blessed are those who are persecuted.”
Jesus built up to this verse like a musical crescendo. Earlier verses make us feel like, “If I follow Jesus, I will be out of step with the world.” This final beatitude makes us feel like, “If I follow Jesus, I might get my head chopped off.”
In the first three centuries of the church, Christians were persecuted, murdered, set on fire and were, at best, treated as second-class citizens.
The result? The Church grew all over Europe.
In many lands where the Church is being persecuted today, the Church is growing.
A 28-year-old Christian woman from the Middle East spoke at Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Gadsden, on Aug. 7, 2016. The way she answered the question, “How can Christians in America pray for Christians in the Middle East?” is shocking. Here’s what she said, as reported by Yellowhammer News:
“Do not pray for the persecution to stop because the Church is growing when the Muslims see how we love them anyway. Instead, pray that God would give us the strength and courage to endure it so that He will be glorified.”
When asked how the persecution was impacting the Christian Church in the Middle East, the young woman opened her Arabic Bible and read Exodus 1:12: “But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad.”
Forms of persecution
I believe it is disrespectful to our Christian brothers and sisters in places like North Korea, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan to complain that Christians in the U.S. are being persecuted. We are not, at least not in the same way they are. It is true we no longer have privileged status. That is not all bad.
Our persecution probably will come in the form of what Jesus said in verse 11: “They will insult you and say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” Likewise, 1 Peter 4:14 reads, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed.” Our persecution will probably mean people belittling, disparaging and vilifying us.
Not ashamed
Let’s make sure we aren’t too intimidated, too timid, too embarrassed, too uncomfortable or too mortified to openly let people outside our Christian circles know that our faith is in Jesus. Let’s make sure we aren’t ashamed of Jesus and His story, for that is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
If you are paying a price, be strong. You are part of a rich heritage. You are taking your place alongside people of faith through the centuries who have believed following Jesus is more important than life itself.
You also are identifying with Jesus. And there will be a reward.
You will experience the Kingdom of God (Kingdom of heaven) — the reign of the King in and through you. Life at its best in a fallen world. Life that makes a difference.
That’s not all. Jesus says you have a reward waiting in a real and wonderful place called heaven. That, I believe, is the message of the book of Revelation: You shall not live here always.
The book of Revelation wasn’t intended primarily as a book into which 21st century Christians could read their ideas and come up with specifics about when and how time was going to come to an end. Revelation was intended primarily as a message of hope for persecuted Christians.
It was an assurance to people in prison and to those who had husbands and daddies in prison. The book of Revelation was written to families whose loved ones had died for their faith, to people who worshipped at their own risk and to those who faced the possibility of being locked up, thrown to the lions or burned at the stake. The message was that one day Christ will return, the persecuted Christ-followers will be vindicated and all the world will know that God is in control.
How was that message hopeful for a second-century Christian tied to a stake watching the executioner light the torch to start the fire that would burn him to his death? The hope was this: That faithful Christian could know in his heart that God ultimately conquers evil. The martyr would die painfully but with dignity, hope and confidence in his heart. And he would know the words of John in Revelation 21:3–4: “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Reward in heaven
We are not going to live here always. Don’t forget that when you are insulted because of your faith.
When they say your intellect is inferior and your opinions are obsolete, remember: You shall not live here always.
When they say your attitudes are antiquated and your morals are mindless, remember: You shall not live here always.
When they say your styles aren’t stylish and your habits aren’t hip, remember: You shall not live here always.
When you get left out, singled out, blessed out and cussed out, remember: You shall not live here always.
“Stand up for Jesus,” the hymn says, “the strife will not be long.”
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me,” Jesus said. “Because great is your reward in heaven.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — Travis Collins is pastor of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, and serves as director of mission advancement for Fresh Expressions US. Collins, a native of Anniston, holds a doctorate in Christian missions. Travis and his wife, Keri, have three children and a growing number of grandchildren.
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