This past Sunday, I preached on Luke 21:5-38 - a passage focused on two future events: the coming destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the future return of Christ. Jesus has a lot to say, but a few verses in the passage caught my eye. He said in verses 12-17, “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake.” Before the coming events, the disciples could expect persecution for their commitment to Christ. Their suffering was not something that might happen, but would happen.

A few years later, Paul makes the following statement to Timothy: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). Like Jesus instructed the apostles, Paul instructs Timothy to expect persecution for following Christ. It is not a question of “if,” but “when.” In the previous two verses, Paul pointed to Timothy’s imitation of him in both doctrine and lifestyle - a lifestyle that would result in persecution. Persecution and hardship would come through his commitment to the Lord because it is something that comes to everyone who desires to live a godly life.

This is quite a prospect. Jesus not only expected future persecution for the twelve apostles, but for all who would become his disciples. He prepared them in Matthew 5:11-12, preaching, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” They would not be blessed if they experienced persecution, but when they did so. Maltreatment was coming. So, Jesus gives them a little reasoning why this is the case: “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, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me” (John 15:19-21). 

Both Jesus and Paul expected some level of persecution for all who are disciples and seek out a godly life. What are we to make of that expectation if we have never experienced persecution? Does that mean that we are not godly? It is a valid question worth asking yourself. It was a question posed to me by a college student one day, as she questioned whether or not she was really godly. How would you answer?

It’s not a simple answer, requiring first a further inquiry into a few details. Let’s look at a few of those details. First, there is an underlying assumption by Jesus and the writers of the New Testament that disciples would be in the world, but not of the world. This is why Jesus prayed in John 17:15, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” The Lord envisioned that his disciples would be in the world that they were called to reach, not isolated from it. Being in the world would bring the circumstances that would eventually lead to persecution. 

Another key feature to consider is what is meant by the word “persecution.” The word invokes images of physical violence, beatings, and killings. We think of passages like 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, where Paul lists his badge of sufferings for Christ. Jesus did promise physical harm in Luke 21, and many today are facing that type of hardship. Spend some time browsing Voice of the Martyr’s website (https://www.persecution.com/) or pick up a copy of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, and you will be confronted with story after story of violent persecution. 

Persecution is not limited only to the sphere of violence. 1 Peter explores the subject of persecution more than any other New Testament book, yet the type of persecution the readers were experiencing focused on social mistreatment not violent oppression. They were facing shame and social isolation because they followed Christ. Peter writes, “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 Pet 4:12-16). Peter describes this persecution as fiery, but limits it to insult and shame. Not all persecution is violent.

The last factor worth considering is what Paul meant by the word “godly.” Godly comes from a Greek word that means “devout, pious, reverent” (BDAG, 326). A person who pursues godliness, pursues living a life that is devoted to God. How does one measure that? I think two ideas are at play: our character and our message. 

Growing in godliness is a growth in character. This is why Peter encourages us to add on to our faith in 2 Peter 1:5-7. As we grow, we grow in character, reflecting Christ more and more in our lives. In turn, we increasingly become distinct from the world in our activities, lifestyle choices, and thought patterns. The more distinct we become, the more we can anticipate shame and scorn. 

Growing in godliness also accompanies a growth in our message. To be godly is to be committed to the purity and proclamation of the gospel. As we proclaim that message to the unbelieving world, we should expect opposition, persecution. No one, unless being moved by the Spirit of God, wants to hear the need to repent and believe in Christ. This does not mean that we will be physically assaulted; we may. I knew of a man who was hit in the head with a brick as he preached in the public square. Our persecution may not be that extreme, but it will be persecution none the less. Shame, ridicule, abuse, and social isolation are all valid forms of persecution.

If you have not experienced any form of persecution (not just violent), you might ask yourself the following three questions:

1) Have I isolated myself from the lost? Have I put myself in a social situation in which I fail to rub shoulders consistently with those who don’t know Christ? Remember, the writers of the New Testament envisioned the disciples of Christ being in the world but not of the world.

2) Am I not living distinctly from the world? Do those within the world know that I am a Christian and get that reinforced as they look at my life? If my values, entertainment, and goals in life differ in no way from those around me, there is no platform for the gospel to shine.

3) Am I sharing the gospel? Do I fail to call others to repent and believe the gospel? By far, I believe that our failure to do so is one of the main reasons that we do not experience persecution.

I do not wish persecution on any one! But I also know what the New Testament teaches. So, I close you with 1 Peter 4:14: “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed.”

Your servant in the Lord,