Bless
Them That Persecute You
Response
To Persecution
In a Brief Survey
of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans
Based on sermons
preached in PCC Worship Services, July 2003 to Sep 2005
Part 65a of 83
“Bless
them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” (Romans 12:14).
For eleven chapters in this great epistle, the apostle Paul did
not give so much as a few applicatory instructions for his readers (see Rom
6:11-13 and 11:18-22). But so soon as He finished explaining the gospel of
Christ and making sure that no one misreads him as suggesting we can be
accepted of God by our works, so soon does he issue a barrage of biblical
imperatives.
The text we are considering, as a case in point, is part of a list
of about 15 directives on how the church may grow together in unity of love.
If you read this verse in context, you may
realise that this instruction is repeated from a different angle in the first
part of verse 17, and then enlarged from verse 19 to the end of the chapter
after Paul has completed listing the 15 or so directives.
“17 Recompense to no man evil for evil.… 19 Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in
so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:17-21).
This repetition indicates that it is a matter
of grave concern for the apostle; and a matter that the Holy Spirit wants us to
pay especial attention on.
With this in mind, let us consider the instruction under three
heads. First, we must understand what it means to be persecuted. Secondly, we
must consider what the Holy Spirit would have us do when we are persecuted; and
thirdly, why we should do as instructed?
1. Nature of Persecution
The
word rendered ‘persecute’ (διώκω, diōkō) speaks of following after
someone, or pursuing after someone in a hostile manner.
Picture in your mind an angry dog chasing a rabbit. This is a
literal picture of what it is to persecute or to be persecuted. The dog is
persecuting the rabbit; the rabbit is being persecuted by the dog.
The apostle Paul is, of course, not concerned about dogs and
rabbits. He is concerned about Christians being persecuted for their faith.
Such
persecution, you must realise, does not always involve physical pursuit. To
persecute is to cause to suffer or to vex and harass. This can take the form of
physical torment such as torture and imprisonment; or it can take the form of
verbal abuse such as slander, ridicule, misjudgement and scolding.
Those who are persecuted face tremendous pressures. They are often
forced to flee from their persecutors.
Indeed, the Gospel spread very rapidly in the first century partly
because the early Christians were persecuted and forced to flee their homes.
We read this in Acts 8—
“And at that time there was a great persecution against the church
which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the
regions of Judaea and Samaria,… Therefore they that were scattered abroad went
every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:1, 4).
Therefore, what was at first sight bad for the church at
Jerusalem, turned out for the good and advancement of the Kingdom of Christ.
But
that was not the only time when Christians faced persecution. Christians have
experienced persecution in every age.
Many
times, the persecutions were so severe that lives were threatened. We think of
the times when Saul persecuted David, or when Ahab sought to exterminate those
who would not bow down to Baal, or when the wicked officers of Nebuchadnezzar
betrayed Daniel’s three friends, or when the jealous servants of Darius tried
to kill Daniel, or when Saul of Tarsus tortured the Christians, or when Nero
put the blame on Christians for the fire of Rome and killed and tortured many
of them for fun.
“The
blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church,” says the Church Father,
Tertullian.
But let us remember that persecution does not
always involve a threat to life.
Persecution can take many forms. It can happen at the work place,
at school, at home, or even in the church.
Many
of us would have experienced it.
Some
of us have been persecuted at the work place. For example, we hear of how some
bosses, knowing the meekness of Christians, would subtly put the blame for
their failures in certain projects on the Christians. Deep in their hearts,
they know it is not fair to blame the Christians. But they know that most
Christians will not fight back—especially when they had refused to work on the
Sabbath, or refused to entertain guests at pubs.
Some
of us have been persecuted in school. If you are just an ordinary professing
Christian, you will not be persecuted because you will be just like everyone
else. You will like the games that everyone else likes; you will talk in the
way that everyone else talks; you will laugh as everyone laughs. No one will
have any problem with you.
But
if you are a biblical Christian, you will face isolation and persecution. Your
classmates will talk behind your back, and some of the naughtier ones may even
play pranks on you—just to see how you would react.
And
yes, some of us have been persecuted at home. I know of one young man who was
chased out of his home with a broomstick when he asked his father for
permission to seek baptism.
What
about in church? Yes, sadly, some of us have also been persecuted in church.
Some of us would have experienced it in our former churches. We were persecuted
because we were convinced that the church was holding to some heresy or false
practices.
Perhaps
if we were more charitable and more diplomatic in our speech, we might not have
been persecuted. But we spoke about our concerns, and we were regarded as
troublemakers, foxes that spoil the vine and little devils. We were persecuted;
we were forced to flee!
Have
you ever faced persecution, dear reader?
If
you are just an ordinary professing Christian willing to drift with the tide,
you will not face persecution. But if you are a faithful disciple of Christ, I
know you would have faced persecution and you may still be facing persecution!
At least, you may feel that you are being persecuted.
How
do I know that? Because the Lord suggests that this would be the case. This is
what the Lord said to his disciples—
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute
you…” (Jn 15:20)
Are
you a faithful disciple of Christ? Remember what the Lord said: “If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”
The
world loves darkness and hates the light. The world hates the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Light of the World. Therefore, the world hates anything that reflects the
light. If you are a faithful disciple of Christ, your life will revolve around
the Sun of Righteousness; you will reflect the light of Christ; and the world
will hate you. Anyone who thinks He is not shining as brightly as you are will
despise you.
Well,
they may not say they hate you or despise you. But they will show it by their
actions and their interactions with you. They will show that they are
uncomfortable in your presence. They will not enjoy talking to you because they
find themselves very guarded when they talk to you.
They
know that you are more righteous then them, but they will refuse to acknowledge
it. Instead they will try to make you feel that you are strange or you deserve
to be isolated and persecuted.
But
dear brother or sister in Christ, take courage when you are persecuted. The
Lord Jesus understands your pains, and He says:
“10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my
sake. 12 Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you” (Mt 5:10-12).
Therefore,
do not be discouraged by persecution. Thank God rather, for the privilege of
sharing in the sufferings of Christ!
…to
be Continued Next Issue
—JJ Lim