The Future of Religious Freedom in the United States 4: What to Expect When Persecution Comes
In the first 3 posts in this series, I made the following points:
- Religious freedom in the United States is under attack.
- Christians are the primary target of this hostile culture.
- Persecution of Christians is likely.
- Some churches will surrender to the culture (some already have) and will even take part in the attack.
What Happens When Persecution Begins?
Those who are true Christians (i.e., profess and believe the historical Creeds, and know the Bible as the inerrant and infallible Word of God) will stand firm in their faith. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they will live and confess their faith in the face of persecution.
Those who are not true Christians will fall away from the true church and succumb to cultural influences. They are the seeds that fell on rocky ground in the Parable of the Sower:
“As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away,” (Matthew 13:20–21 ESV).
Others are the “tares,” or “weeds,” in the Parable of the Weeds:
“The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one…” (Matthew 13:38, ESV).
We find both in the church today. The former’s faith is not deep and will quickly melt in the face of difficulty. The latter never truly believed but belonged to the church for family, cultural, or social reasons. They have no reason to defend a faith they never believed.
What Happens to the True Church When Persecution Comes?
We do well to consider the example of the ancient church. Persecution was real, and many lost their lives. But the church did not wither and die. Even the power of Rome couldn’t destroy the church. Instead, the blood of the martyrs nourished the church (we can translate the Greek word for martyr as witness). The church continued to flourish and grow.
Also, the faith of true believers will become stronger:
Beloved, 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. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (1 Peter 4:12–16 ESV)
Even under the worst conditions, the church will continue.
This does not mean times of persecution will leave Christians untouched and unscarred. Just as many died for their faith under Roman rule and are dying for their faith today under Isis and the Taliban, believers will suffer and die. But, even in death, they will be a witness to the world of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The church may go underground as in China and North Korea. But it will continue to a light to the nations and offer the saving knowledge of the gospel to those who continue to search for an answer to their pain and confusion.
Next: Letters to the Churches of Revelation Chapters 2 & 3: A Warning to the Church Today
