Suffering for Christ
God’s peace be with you, and may this peace exist because of the abundant grace of God which is present in your life.
Today we speak of suffering! Specifically, suffering for Christ’s sake. Paul speaks to us of suffering which comes our way simply because we belong to Jesus. This is a challenging part of the Christian faith which many throughout the centuries have come to understand. However, the church of American Christianity has yet to grasp the truth of this passage.
In the 1st century world, the Christian faith was viewed as a fringe religion with radical beliefs, and it was therefore rejected by most and at times persecuted. In parts of the world today Christians find themselves in the extreme minority when compared to other religions. This is certainly true in Muslim countries, but it is also true in Hindu countries and all of China. Only in Western culture has Christianity experienced freedom and with this the absence of persecution. But beware, this can quickly change.
The Communist revolution in Russia had as one of its first objectives to rid the nation of its Christian faith. All forms of Christianity were declared to be illegal, and Joseph Stalin blew up the Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow. It was only with the onset of WW2 that the Russian Orthodox Christians were allowed to have freedom to worship. All other Christians were still persecuted. Understand, prior to the rise of communism, Russia was a vastly Christian nation.
What does our future hold when we see our nation being swayed by the Leftist beliefs and Christians being mocked in every setting. There may very well come a day when Christianity in America is declared to be illegal and those who worship Christ are persecuted. Are we ready for such a day?
The Apostle Paul speaks of this reality for those who stand with him as proclaimers of Jesus to the world. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. Philippians 1:29-30
Not only were Paul’s readers called to faith, but they were called to witness! This witness was often in the context of suffering for the Gospel. Paul says they were “granted” this for Christ’s sake. The word literally means “to be handed over without reasonable cause.” In other words, you have done nothing wrong, and yet you are suffering!
There are a host of Bible passages which affirm that God’s children will suffer for no other reason than they belong to Him. Here are a few.
Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. Acts 5:41
Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:13
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My word, they will follow yours also. John 15:18-20
For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. John 3:20
You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Matthew 5:11
You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. James 4:4
Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:13
What are we to make of all these passages which affirm that Christians suffer at the hands of the ungodly in this world? How do we reconcile this truth which we see present around the world with our own reality that we do not suffer?
I would put forth two truths to you today! First, we have been uniquely blessed by God to live in a nation which has smiled upon Christianity. While this is quickly changing, we are still able to proclaim Jesus in the “public square.” Secondly, there is the possibility that the reason we are not suffering is that we are not truly witnessing of Jesus through all that we are and all that we do! Is it possible that we have become so much like the world that the world is comfortable with our version of Christianity?
Is this not true when sin is condoned and there is no call to repentance! Is this not true when the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith are being changed and outright rejected because they are considered old fashioned or too divisive! Is it not also true when the majority of Christian leaders have more in common with the politicians of the day than they do Jesus!
Maybe the reason there is no persecution of the Church in America is because there is no longer a Christian Church in America. I am not saying there are not Christians and bodies of believers who are faithful to Jesus. I am saying that the vast majority of visible Christianity in America is no where near what Jesus called us to be!
It is possible that it is truly time for Judgment to begin with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). The word which needs to be proclaimed in the church before it is proclaimed in the world is the word Repent! Repent and turn back to God! Turn back to the God who has never turned from us!
May we have the faith to be like Jesus, even if it means we will suffer like Him!
Amen!
Pastor Russ
Today we speak of suffering! Specifically, suffering for Christ’s sake. Paul speaks to us of suffering which comes our way simply because we belong to Jesus. This is a challenging part of the Christian faith which many throughout the centuries have come to understand. However, the church of American Christianity has yet to grasp the truth of this passage.
In the 1st century world, the Christian faith was viewed as a fringe religion with radical beliefs, and it was therefore rejected by most and at times persecuted. In parts of the world today Christians find themselves in the extreme minority when compared to other religions. This is certainly true in Muslim countries, but it is also true in Hindu countries and all of China. Only in Western culture has Christianity experienced freedom and with this the absence of persecution. But beware, this can quickly change.
The Communist revolution in Russia had as one of its first objectives to rid the nation of its Christian faith. All forms of Christianity were declared to be illegal, and Joseph Stalin blew up the Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow. It was only with the onset of WW2 that the Russian Orthodox Christians were allowed to have freedom to worship. All other Christians were still persecuted. Understand, prior to the rise of communism, Russia was a vastly Christian nation.
What does our future hold when we see our nation being swayed by the Leftist beliefs and Christians being mocked in every setting. There may very well come a day when Christianity in America is declared to be illegal and those who worship Christ are persecuted. Are we ready for such a day?
The Apostle Paul speaks of this reality for those who stand with him as proclaimers of Jesus to the world. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. Philippians 1:29-30
Not only were Paul’s readers called to faith, but they were called to witness! This witness was often in the context of suffering for the Gospel. Paul says they were “granted” this for Christ’s sake. The word literally means “to be handed over without reasonable cause.” In other words, you have done nothing wrong, and yet you are suffering!
There are a host of Bible passages which affirm that God’s children will suffer for no other reason than they belong to Him. Here are a few.
Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. Acts 5:41
Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:13
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My word, they will follow yours also. John 15:18-20
For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. John 3:20
You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Matthew 5:11
You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. James 4:4
Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:13
What are we to make of all these passages which affirm that Christians suffer at the hands of the ungodly in this world? How do we reconcile this truth which we see present around the world with our own reality that we do not suffer?
I would put forth two truths to you today! First, we have been uniquely blessed by God to live in a nation which has smiled upon Christianity. While this is quickly changing, we are still able to proclaim Jesus in the “public square.” Secondly, there is the possibility that the reason we are not suffering is that we are not truly witnessing of Jesus through all that we are and all that we do! Is it possible that we have become so much like the world that the world is comfortable with our version of Christianity?
Is this not true when sin is condoned and there is no call to repentance! Is this not true when the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith are being changed and outright rejected because they are considered old fashioned or too divisive! Is it not also true when the majority of Christian leaders have more in common with the politicians of the day than they do Jesus!
Maybe the reason there is no persecution of the Church in America is because there is no longer a Christian Church in America. I am not saying there are not Christians and bodies of believers who are faithful to Jesus. I am saying that the vast majority of visible Christianity in America is no where near what Jesus called us to be!
It is possible that it is truly time for Judgment to begin with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). The word which needs to be proclaimed in the church before it is proclaimed in the world is the word Repent! Repent and turn back to God! Turn back to the God who has never turned from us!
May we have the faith to be like Jesus, even if it means we will suffer like Him!
Amen!
Pastor Russ
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1 Comment
I want to thank you for these messages! The content gives me something to think on, and this week, shout amen about! The comfortable American church... more worried concerned about the thermostat and length of the service than what happens outside the four walls. Forgive me, Father! Thanks again, sir.