storiesofvalue

From yesterday: It isn’t easy being judged by your own brothers and sisters in Christ.  It isn’t easy being rejected because your message is unpopular.  It isn’t easy for millions of Christians throughout the world whose lives hang in the balance because their faith puts them on the wrong side of a political struggle.  And it isn’t easy suffering one of more of these trials while Satan uses them to gain a foothold in our hearts.  Maintaining our faith isn’t easy and managing our circumstances isn’t easy.

Yet, it is worth it.  Once we understand what Jesus did for us on Calvary it is a joy to know we are filling up His suffering by taking fire in His name.  This doesn’t mean we should go looking for trouble just so we know what it means to suffer.  But when we do, we should not think God has abandoned us, or our faith is in vain.  On the contrary, God can use times of persecution to fan the flames of His mission and purify us for greater service.

Don’t be surprised when you suffer.  Your pursuit of righteousness is an offense to the world, and God’s servants have a long history of persecution.  Ask God to use you in every situation, and to help you remain faithful in your cause and your character.  Should we ask that our way be made easy or hard?  Perhaps we should just ask that our lives be purposeful.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).

It Really Isn’t Easy 

If we are persecuted by other believers who question our Christian commitment or reject our work, we are surprised.  When the world attacks us because of our relationship with and to Jesus, we can become discouraged.  When this kind of trouble comes, we struggle to know what to do and say.  We question whether or not we are truly victims, or merely a part of a big misunderstanding.  It isn’t easy.

But then, Jesus never said it would be easy.  In fact, He said it would be hard.  As Jesus was preparing for His betrayal and arrest He warned His disciples: “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God” (John 16:1-2).  Later on, Saul, who was to become Paul, persecuted Christians with zeal.  Several years after Paul decided to follow Jesus he wrote these ironic words to his protégé Timothy: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).

It isn’t easy being judged by your own brothers and sisters in Christ.  It isn’t easy being rejected because your message is unpopular.  It isn’t easy for millions of Christians throughout the world whose lives hang in the balance because their faith puts them on the wrong side of a political struggle.  And it isn’t easy suffering one of more of these trials while Satan uses them to gain a foothold in our hearts.  Maintaining our faith isn’t easy, and neither is managing our circumstances.  Jesus was right.

Avoid the Persecution Pitfall

When the Lord’s people are persecuted by other believers, the mission of the church suffers, but it is important to recognize some or our suffering can be self-imposed, or wrongly interpreted.  The term “martyr complex” may be a convenient jab we use to tease people when they complain about being mistreated, but it still reflects a valid problem.

A complex involves a psychological tool people use in their lives for a variety of purposes, such as avoiding personal responsibility for one’s actions or denying the truth about one’s circumstances.  Full-blown complexes can create serious issues in our lives, but lesser forms can be used by any of us to create a victim mentality.

After graduating from high school I worked at a bank to earn some income for college.  The manager of the bank was a member of our church, so it wasn’t long before everyone knew I was a Christian.  One employee told me she was glad I was there because it was hard being a Christian in the workplace, but the more time I spent around her the more I realized her problems had little to do with her faith.  She constantly complained about her workload and had a bad habit of blaming other people for her mistakes.  When the other employees held her accountable she accused them of attacking her because she was a Christian.  I stayed as far away from her as possible because I was confident one day God was going to take her out of commission.  With witnesses like her, who needs adversaries?

Certainly, we will face persecution as believers, even if it comes in the form of mild taunting and name calling.  But just because someone disagrees with us or clashes with our personality doesn’t mean they are attacking our faith.  Even if they are, their behavior may have more to do with challenges in their own lives than the convictions in ours.

From yesterday: What is most interesting is, the first and last of these three causes come from within the faith community.  Legalists are believers, as are those who reject prophets who tell them things they don’t want to hear.  One might argue these are not true believers, or they would receive God’s truth with gladness.  While it is true God’s people can believe the wrong things, I feel certain many who persecute their own brothers and sisters in Christ do so because they think they are protecting the kingdom from falsehood.  After all, the Sanhedrin’s used the charge of blaspheme against God’s own Son.  We shouldn’t be surprised when godly people do the same to others. 

The persecution of God’s people by God’s people is only an unfortunate exclamation point to the much bigger problem found in our second cause: people who associate with Jesus will suffer.  In my own lifetime I have witnessed two cultural transitions in the treatment of Christians.  As a boy we thanked God we were not persecuted like believers in other countries, but a noticeable shift in the acceptance of the Christian message took place when the church became embroiled in the great moral debates as the second millennium came to a close.  It became fashionable to attack Christian leaders, belittling everything from their evangelistic zeal to their insistence that the idea of “sin” still mattered.  The scandalous behavior of some televangelist of the same era didn’t help matters.  This was followed by a second transition in which it became popular to ridicule Jesus and the things God Word says about Him.  Today Jesus is portrayed in ways that would have been considered blasphemous and slanderous by the majority of people just a generation ago.   Jesus is now defamed for sport.

Some have said if our faith is really that strong, we shouldn’t worry about what people say about Jesus.  While it is true we need to be careful we don’t become “unchristian” in our response to attacks on our faith, we must also recognize we are living in an environment that has become much more hostile to Christians.

This is what makes the internal kind of persecutions so disheartening.  It is bad enough that following Christ now comes with tremendous societal baggage.  But the fact His own people can’t refrain from persecuting one another over petty jealousies and disagreements makes one wonder where the greatest enemy lies.

Yet, if we must suffer, we still might question the teaching of the Beatitude.  Sure, we might be persecuted.  But will we really be blessed through suffering?  Such a proposition begs a closer examination.

The Big Because

Jesus’ final subject of persecution, addressed through His last two Beatitudes, is the only one that offers to answer “cause.”  The other Beatitudes give us a reason for pursuing such things as mercy and righteousness, but we are left to surmise the conditions under which they are important.  For example, we know we will be called to show mercy when we meet those who need to see God’s grace, and we are compelled to live righteous lives because we want our walk with God to be pure and filled with joy.   But it is our job to connect these theological points.

The subject of persecution is different, perhaps because it is harder to understand how one might be blessed when he is under attack for his faith.  This is where the “big because” comes in.  Jesus wants His listeners to know the source of persecution so they are not surprised when they suffer for doing what is right.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

There are at least three causes of persecution referenced here.  Jesus followers will be mistreated, 1) for their emphasis on a personal walk with God apart from legalistic bondage (“righteousness”), 2) for their association with Jesus (“because of me”), and 3) because those who reject truth have a history of shooting the messenger (“persecuted the prophets”).  We find all of these challenges in the history of the church, from its birth to present.

What is most interesting is, the first and last of these three causes come from within the faith community.  Legalists are believers, as are those who reject prophets who tell them things they don’t want to hear.  One might argue these are not true believers, or they would receive God’s truth with gladness.  While we can assume there are those who call themselves Christians but are not, I feel certain many who persecute their own brothers and sisters in Christ do so because they think they are protecting the kingdom from falsehood.  After all, the Sanhedrin’s used the charge of blaspheme against God’s own Son.  We shouldn’t be surprised when godly people do the same to others.

From Yesterday…”I love the words of Howard B. Gross in his Hymn, “Give of Your Best to the Master”: “Jesus has set the example, dauntless was He young and brave.”  The only way life could have been easy for Jesus would have been for Him not to come.  The way He came wasn’t just the best way.  It was the only way.  Do you see a pattern?”

Jesus had every right to teach on the subject of persecution since He was “despised and rejected” and “acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).  Satan persecuted Jesus directly and indirectly through the evil intent of man.  One of Jesus’ habits that infuriated the Jewish leadership was His insistence on healing on the Sabbath.  I am convinced He did this on purpose to emphasis the inseparable bond between worship and mercy.  But it didn’t win Him any points.  After Jesus healed a lame man on the Sabbath we are told, “So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted Him” (John 5:16).  I should point out, not all of the Jews persecuted Jesus, since His disciples were all Jewish, yet those in control hounded Him all the way to Calvary.

Although Jesus always seemed to be in trouble with someone, He didn’t enjoy suffering for suffering’s sake.  He was, however, willing to do anything for our salvation, and if that meant enduring persecution, He was ready.

When we suffer for our faith, we are following Jesus’ example, and filling up what He has left behind for those who wish to come after Him (Colossians 1:24).  Jesus asked us to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23).  I think this cross includes the normal struggles and temptations we face in the normal course of our lives.  But it also suggests some of us might be called upon to make an extraordinary sacrifice.  We know the full extent of these possibilities because of the road Jesus traveled.

Jesus Set the Example 

In our day of participatory leadership and consensus building, we preach that no one is indispensable.  But when it comes to God’s plan of salvation, Jesus was the only One in a position to fulfill it.  Only the perfect Son could pay the price for our sin and free us from Satan’s prison.  And it wasn’t easy.

Jesus’ job wasn’t easy logistically.  When we read the narrative of Jesus’ birth we can’t help but feel sorry for Mary and Joseph.  This poor couple endured the twists and turns of a role they didn’t ask for and an adversary in Satan who tried everything possible to stop them.  When Jesus grew to be a man and His ministry began, He had to design His ministry around foot paths, fishing boats and word of mouth communication.

Jesus’ job wasn’t easy physically.  A carpenter’s son had his work cut out for him (no pun intended).  There was furniture to build and customers to please.  Jesus grew up strong, and some artists do Him an injustice when they fail to show His muscular forearms and calloused hands.  This upbringing prepared Jesus for the rigors of ministry, and it subjected Him to the bumps, cuts and bruises associated with physical labor.

Jesus’ job wasn’t easy relationally.  His family worried about Him.  His disciples misunderstood Him.  His elders hated Him.  The crowds hounded Him.  And somewhere in this mix, He still found a way to heal the sick, raise the dead, restore the fallen, love the forgotten and give hope to the hopeless.  Don’t believe for a moment it was easy for Jesus to manage all of the people in His life while maintaining His own emotional well-being.

And finally, Jesus’ job wasn’t easy spiritually.  His arrival on earth was a direct challenge to the foothold Satan held in people’s lives.  The fight was on the moment Mary was told she was pregnant, and it didn’t end until Jesus burst forth from the tomb to proclaim victory over sin and death.

I love the words of Howard B. Gross in his Hymn, “Give of Your Best to the Master”: “Jesus has set the example, dauntless was He young and brave.”  The only way life could have been easy for Jesus would have been for Him not to come.  The way He came wasn’t just the best way.  It was the only way.  Do you see a pattern?

Is “Easy” a Good Thing?

Several months ago I washed the siding on our family home: by hand.  Every two or three years the siding on the north exterior starts to turn green with fungus.  Normally, the cure is relatively simple.  A pressure washer and some cleanser from the hardware store will restore the luster in a couple of hours.  Why, then, did I wash our house by hand?

The siding is trimmed with painted wood which peels and cracks with time.  The trim is almost due for a point job and I knew a pressure washer would only make matters worse.  So I washed it by hand.  It took all day, but I deferred hundreds of dollars in unnecessary repairs.

I was on a ladder around mid-afternoon when a stranger stopped his car, rolled down his window and started to taunt me.  “Hey!” he said.  “Are you going to wash that whole house by hand?”  I yelled back, “Are you going to park there with that dumb look on your face?”  Not really!  I wanted to be rude, but I kindly explained the situation.  He shook his head in disbelief and drove away.  Everyone wants to be a critic.

I must admit I understood his reaction.  Why would anyone do something as labor intensive as washing a house by hand when he could do the same job in a fraction of the time with a pressure washer?

On a similar, though more serious note, this is why it is hard for some to understand why Christians intentionally put themselves in harm’s way when it would be easier to walk away.  When a Christian in a violent corner of the world is ordered to recant his faith at gunpoint, would it be so horrible if he acquiesced and later repented?  In a free society where opinions are expected, wouldn’t it be easier to ignore those whose unbelief puts their eternal souls in peril?  Why do Christians insist on doing things the hard way?

Jesus’ last two beatitudes help put this behavior in perspective.  “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).  At the risk of making a believer’s insistence on suffering even more difficult to understand, we must take time to understand why Jesus taught us the hard way might be the best way, if not the only way.

The Longing 

The peace of Christ in us helps us win the peace with and among others.  It is His very Holy Spirit working in us to share the message of the torn curtain.  Under the Old Covenant, the Holy of Holies was a place where only the High Priest could enter.  It was separated from the rest of the temple by a curtain.  But the High Priest of heaven, Jesus, offered His own life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, the curtain was torn in two, and men and women were once again able to come shamelessly into the presence of God.  There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and God is pleased to find His creation living together in harmony (Psalm 133:1, Romans 8:1).

As this peace grows in us, and we model its ethical expression in our daily lives, we must also hope for all to become as we are: walking ambassadors for the Prince of Peace.  It isn’t that we are the perfect models of peace, but rather that we know where it can be found, and want others to experience joy in every relationship, Creator and creature.

Sometimes, I think, it is hard for us, as humans, to define this longing.  We know it exists, but are unsure of its cause.  Why do we have trouble with relationships, or find they elude us altogether?  Why are we unable to trust, or afraid the people we love are going to leave us?  Obviously, experience teaches us all human relationships come with potential challenges.

Do you know what it is like to live with these uncertainties?  Has it been so long since you found the Lord’s peace you have forgotten?  It is not good to live in the past, but it is important to recognize our former struggle in the habits of others.  There is a crisis of longing in our world that can only be answered by Jesus.  We are the peacemakers, making peace with God and others, and drawing others to the same kind of reality.  Do you know someone right now who longs for the peace that comes from knowing God?  Pray for God to use you to show them His perfect peace, found in His perfect Son Jesus.  If the “sons of God” don’t do, who will?

We are not talking about peace at the expense of truth.  Where there is no truth, peace will certainly unravel due to distrust and disrespect.  This explains why parents who manage their children by giving them everything they want and refusing to hold them accountable for their actions sometimes find themselves hopelessly at war.  Indeed, there is hope, but the pain required to reverse the thought processes in their home will be significant.  We can uphold the truth and still find ourselves embattled, but choosing to circumvent principle is one way to guarantee a negative outcome.

Truth builds trust between people.  Combined with love and respect, it has a freeing effect on those who have struggled with conflict all of their lives, but could never figure out why.  It exposes issues between loved ones who have danced around the proverbial “elephant in the room” for years, but have never been able to see it clearly.  And it provides hope because truth is a light that help deliver those who are lost from their blindness.

When the older son in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal pouted on the back forty, his father tried to reason with him.  The son was furious because he had served faithfully for many years, and his father had never thrown him a party.  In addition, his younger brother who was had become the subject of so much joy, had squandered his life in sin.  The older son was basing his anger on these tenets he believed to be true.  Indeed, he had the facts straight, but his truth was incomplete.  He was ignoring the guarantee that he would inherit everything his father owned because of his faithfulness.  And while his brother had wasted many things, he was home safe, which was an answer to his father’s prayer.  We aren’t told whether or not the older son changed his attitude, but he was certainly confronted with a purer and more accurate picture of his circumstances.

Peacemakers establish a foundation for peace with love and truth.  If they have been honest with God about their own sin their hearts are in the right place to seek reconciliation with and between others.  If they know God’s peace, purchased in love, they care enough to win personal peace with others as a necessary step in showing them the face of God.