Expect Opposition
Those who call Jesus Lord have always been subject to persecution, bias, and bigotry from those who are yet in their sin and estranged from the love and fellowship of God. They must do so, and do so out of fear of judgment and shame for their sin. They will have a sense of conviction of sin though we say nothing judgmental. Merely because we do not join in that which is displeasing to God is enough to trigger negative emotions.
We will have opposition, mild and severe, within our own households even. Jesus said this is coming.
Prior to my conversion to Christ in 1963 I have to confess I did oppose, persecute, and make fun of Christians. I did not know why I did so except that there was this certain something that riled me up about them. There was nothing anyone of them ever did to me, to incite such untoward reactions; in fact, we were more than mere acquaintances. But as soon as they attempted to tell me about Jesus, I rejected them and in a hurry.
My old friends
Taking a leave from the Air Force, I drove home for the first time after my becoming a Christian. I walked in the back door of the old house on Whitegate Avenue in Sunland, California to find six of my old buddies waiting for me. Turns out that my mother had set this little party up.
One of them handed me a beer right away and as he did so he whispered in my ear that they had paid for a hot Hollywood prostitute for me.
Settling into the family room where we had spent so much time when we were high schoolers, one of them said, “Well, Kent we hear you got religion.”
I can still see myself sitting in the middle of the big couch, a friend on either side of me. Slowly I started to formulate an answer. As I hit the keys of the keyboard right now I am experiencing some of the shock that came over me back then.
My first word was, “Yes.” Then I took about 5 minutes and gave to them what was probably my first attempt to be a witness for Christ. They listened in silence. I could hear my mother puttering around in the kitchen; I knew she heard what I said.
Then without a word, three of the six friends stood up and left the house. It was literally the last time I ever saw them. The three that stayed, Bill, Dick, and Larry became my lifelong friends, and to this day, but only Dick became a follower of Jesus.
My mother never did become a Christian though she was a faithful member of the local Methodist church. As far as know she rarely, if ever, attended services, but she nevertheless sent in some money every month.
Unprepared
It took me a long while to get over the rejection. No one ever told me such a thing could happen, especially from old friends. But there it was.
Before long we realize that simply believing in Jesus as Savior and Lord would get us into so much trouble. I was unprepared, and this is why I am including this chapter right now. It is healthy to have an idea of what may be coming when others find out we are actual born-again Christians.
Let’s take a look at Scripture on this subject.
Jesus was and is opposed and hated
Jesus was opposed throughout His ministry. Finally, He was betrayed, arrested, beaten, scourged, and finally executed. If this happened to Jesus can we expect to be treated much differently?
In some countries of the world to be a Christian is to be despised, persecuted, and much more. In the USA where there is yet a rule of law and a good percentage of the population that identifies as Christian, we only see a growing bias against those of us who are biblically oriented Christians. To stand for biblical principles and ethics will eventually, unless there is a great and powerful moving of the Holy Spirit, bring more antagonism from non-Christians. We must realize this possibility. And what do we do in reaction to this?
Persecution will come
The three words above serve as a description in the English Standard Version of the Bible for Matthew 10:16-25. Jesus said He was sending us out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Thanks a lot, we might say. At least it is full-disclosure; we know from the beginning what we are getting into and this helps us prepare for and adjust to opposition that will come our way.
Jesus even says, “you will be hated by all for my name’s sake” (Matthew 10:22). Toward the conclusion of the passage, verse 25b, He says, “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”
In speaking of the events that are to occur toward the end of human history, the runup to the second advent of Jesus, He says, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9).
In Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount, we find these words:
Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for you, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for so their fathers did to the prophets.
(Luke 6:22-23)
The Apostle John, who knew what he was talking about because he experienced it, wrote, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you” (1 John 3:13).
Not to know these things, these unhappy realities, would be devasting to us. For all these years now, to one degree or another, I have experienced anti-Christian bias and prejudice. Those who treat us as such do not, for the most part, even understand what they are doing. They are blind to their own hard hearts.
Christians build strength
Christians, however, are not unaware of opposition and so are able to meet the test. It is like going to the gym and doing weight training—we get strong. Not only that but we know what may happen already and thus are not shocked or knocked off our game when trouble comes our way because of our testimony of Jesus.
Neither do we become paranoid, expecting the worst either. Frankly, I do experience prejudice toward me as most everyone knows I am a Christian pastor. And in this I rejoice. At the same time, because others know where I stand, it is not unusual for people to seek me out to know more about the Gospel or come to me for counsel. It is really a very interesting two-edged sword.
At this point in my Christian life I have settled into the whole life style; it is not boring being a Christian.
The Christian reaction
Peter writes: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). “Blessing” or not, and I am not looking for a blessing and if I got a blessing I doubt I would even recognize it, we to not repay evil for evil.
Thus, we maintain a healthy conscience. We are not fearful, we are fully ready, and we actually expect opposition.
The Apostle Paul was a persecutor of Christians to the point of imprisoning them and killing them. Paul knew persecution from both sides. His word on these points can be a great encouragement to us. Here now is Romans 12:9-21:
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.