How Christians Should React To Persecution And Hate

Last updated on: April 24, 2017 at 1:00 am by Jack Wellman

How Christians Should React To Persecution And Hate 2017-04-05T13:29:46-05:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How should believers react to persecution and hate? Jesus tells us how.

Proactive and Not Reactive

When we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake or for being a Christ-follower, we shouldn’t be surprised at all. You can simply read some of the comments reader leave and see that you and I will be insulted, name-called, and have derogatory insults about our character hurled at us, but that’s actually a good thing. The Apostle Peter wrote, “do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1st Pet 4:12-13, so we should rejoice instead of trading insults and we should be glad and rejoice instead of being sorrowful because, as Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18) since “A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:20), so we must remember “all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me” (John 15:21). If your persecuted then you’re in good company because they persecuted (and killed) the prophets just as they did Jesus. The point to all this is “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1st Pet 4:14). Don’t you want that?

The Blessing

Jesus tells us to respond to persecution, hate, and anger in a way that is contrary to the world. Instead of getting even, we rejoice. Jesus said “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:10), and “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matt 5:11), so when you and I are persecuted, we are blessed. When we are spoken of in an evil way, we are blessed. Never does it tell the Christian to respond in the same way we’re treated since Jesus, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1st Pet 2:23), so instead of reacting in similar fashion, we can “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt 5:12). If someone is our enemy because we trust in Christ, Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44a). If we respond in this way we show that we are “sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt 5:45). Why are we more like God when we pray for our enemies and love them that hate us? It is because Jesus died for us while we were still ungodly, wicked sinners who were enemies of God (Rom 5:6-10). That’s what God does and what we should imitate (John 3:16).

Doing Good To Haters

When Jesus told the disciples to “do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you” (Matt 5:44b), the disciples must have been shocked because at one time when a village rejected Jesus’ and the gospel, the “sons of thunder” wanted to call fire down from heaven and consume them (Luke 9:54), but Jesus rebuked them for that. They still didn’t understand what God’s ways were and really, God would be just if He called down fire upon all of us, but that’s not why Jesus came as He said, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17), so to be more like God, Jesus tells us to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27). Jesus point is, “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same” (Luke 6:32-33). We can do good to those who love us and make no difference in the world because even the world loves their own, but we’re called to love those who are not of God and who hate us and to pray for their salvation so that they might be saved. God doesn’t want any to perish (1st Tim 2:4). Is that our desire too?

Conclusion

It’s time to rejoice when you’re persecuted, hated, name-called, and have all sorts of evil spoken about you because you trust in Christ. Jesus says “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23). I would rather be spoken of badly than be treated like a friend by everyone. Jesus warned us about this when He said, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26), so if you’re hated by the world, you’re loved by God, but if you’re loved by the world, you are an enemy of God.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also host of Spiritual Fitness and Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

Previous Post

April 21, 2017

The Fall Of Mankind: Genesis 3 Bible Study And Commentary

Next Post

April 26, 2017 Can Christians Have A Spell Or Curse Put On Them?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the king who arranged for Hezekiah's scribes to compile additional Proverbs?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jeroboam Hezekiah Ahab Solomon