04/17/20 KNOW WHAT PERSECUTION IS

04/17/20 KNOW WHAT PERSECUTION IS

Don't confuse disappointment, inconvenience, difficulty, change, hardship with persecution or oppression.

Persecution is the act of victimization. Christians are victimized in many ways (economic, political, social, academic, vocational). Sometimes the persecution results in death.

Christians must know what they believe, why they believe it and they must decide to what extent they will respond to the persecution. We do not have to die for every act of victimization and we do not have to resist every act of victimization. This is where the Christian chooses to be a faithful witness and chooses the Lordship of Christ over his own life.

Some issues are good and important, but they are not worth dying for. Some issues are of such importance that the believer must be willing to suffer and die, it that is the the only path available for the faithful follower.

No matter what the form of victimization, there is never a New Testament option for the Christian to be vindictive, vengeful or violent.