Persecution Joy

 May 15, 2021

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” —Matthew 5:10-12

Seventeen years ago, Linda and I went through the worst experience in our lives. A woman in our congregation was angry with me for (in her own words) “not giving her the recognition she deserved.” Her anger spilled over, gathering steam till we lost a third of our people and half of our income. I was accused of all sorts of improprieties—breaching confidentiality, among other things. One couple in the church brought me up on charges before the bishop, and after speaking with the disgruntled woman, the man who had been my prayer partner told me he could no longer pray with me, and that he was actively working not only to oust me from leadership at Park, but also to have me drummed out of ministry altogether. 

Ten years later, I was able to pass on to my successor a healthy church, which had been my prayer through all the difficulties of those years, but I can’t say I did much rejoicing over that experience. I wonder...in light of this text, and James 4:4 and 1 Peter 4:13-19 if in fact, this wasn’t the occasion of God’s greatest blessings to me. Sometimes his blessings come disguised as trials and difficulties. I know I depended on him more than any time before or since. It wasn’t fun, but it was a time of growth in faith.

I’m seeing a lot of anger and fear on the part of Christians as we are already experiencing some of the effects of our government’s ideology playing out in real life. Instead of fear and anger, perhaps as Jesus said, we should “lift up our heads, for our redemption draws nigh.”

“Lift up your heads, ye gates; 

Be lifted up ye everlasting doors,

That the King of glory may enter in.

Who is this king of glory?

The LORD of hosts, he is the king of glory.”

—from Psalm 24

Few of us rejoice in persecution and difficulties. Perhaps it’s because we have such a truncated understanding of history and of God’s promises. Persecution puts the believer in good company, and helps loosen our attachment to this world and strengthen our hope for the world to come. Most of us have experienced very little persecution, and the shallowness of our faith shows it. The least irritation sends us off on paroxysms of vitriol and frustration when the troubles of this life should instead drive us to our knees in prayer, helping us get close to God. It took me a long time to begin to see my troubles in the light of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, but I’m slowly getting there, for which I am grateful tonight.