|
The Christian Character: Persecution (8) Micah 6: 1-8; Matthew 5: 1 – 12) Why would you want to follow Jesus? Why would you, when he says you will be persecuted? And to crown it all he counts persecution as something valuable. You are blessed, he says, when you are persecuted. And to rub salt in the wound you will be persecuted for doing the right things. Jesus is not talking about being picked on, or treated unfairly by others, or experiencing a personality clash, or being bullied, he is talking about persecution. He is talking about being persistently harassed because of something we stand for, for being what we are. It is the same as persecuting someone for their race. Jesus is quite specific – it is because of “righteousness”. “Righteousness” is God’s work - God’s way. Righteousness is not about a particular morality or set of rules. The prophets speak of God’s righteousness demanding us to be just, kind and humble before God [Micah 6:8; Amos 5:23]. Righteousness is God’s salvation for us [Romans 1:17]. Righteousness is about a right relationship with God and people. I suppose it makes sense then. If we are doing God’s work then people might persecute us. It’s been a long time since persecuted for our faith. For centuries the western world – the European powers – saw themselves as Christian. The community as a whole shared the values of the church. But today that is not so. Just take the recent debate in parliament about abortion. Some women were arguing, “This is my body”. How could they say that? Well it is very clear. For a generation or two we have been instilling – I won’t say indoctrinating – in our children that they have rights. They are OK. They are individuals. They can do what you like within reason. They can expect instant gratification. They have to look after themselves so they need to be financially independent when they retire. It is not to say that this is all wrong, it is that all of that together with no balancing values leaves people to say, that a woman’s body is hers. She can decide. From this point of view a more liberal abortion law is very reasonable. What right has anyone, under these values, to tell any woman whether she can abort or not? But the Christian faith puts other values together that says: You are not OK, you need controls, you belong to community, you are responsible for others, and inter-dependence not independence is important. So from Christian values abortion will be more limited in law. These are two very different ways of seeing the world. If your argument begins with the values of individualism and our rights then abortion is right; but if your argument begins with the values of community and responsibility then abortion is wrong. The first Christians were persecuted because their values and beliefs clashed with their society. Firstly, their work interfered with their Christian faith. A stonemason’s firm might get the contract to build a temple to a pagan God. Or a tailor might be expected to make the clothes of a pagan priest. What should they do? About 100 years later a man came to Tertullian and presented the same problem. The man said, “I must live”. Tertullian responded; “Must you?” When it came to loyalty to Jesus or making a compromise many Christians made the choice for Jesus. Secondly Christianity interfered with their social life. Most public feasts were dedicated to a god. And the common meal was mostly begun with a cup of wine poured out to the gods in thankfulness. Could a Christian participate in meals that acknowledged and worshipped other gods? Paul has to deal with this question [Rom 14; 1 Cor 10]. There was hardly anything done in their society that did not involve worshipping other gods. How does one remain loyal to Christ, without worshipping other gods? Thirdly, the greatest reason for persecution was politics. It had to do with Caesar, and it began with Caesar Augustus. After his death he was said to be divine. Later emperors were also so recognised as gods. Indeed some claimed this deity while they were living. So there were times when people were called to go to local shrines and worship Caesar. Not to do so was an act of treason. Many Christians refused because Jesus was Lord of all and consequently were severely punished by death. Christians were persecuted because they were walking to a different drumbeat. The beatitudes tell us that Persecution is a natural consequence of wanting God to be first in your life, not things; acknowledging your dependence upon God, not yourself; and, making peace rather than loving peace. Christian values are not simply the same as our western society’s values where compromise and tolerance are high on the agenda. In short our society says be Christian but don’t take it too seriously. I am strongly suggesting we need to be clear about whose we are. And we need to know where and what to compromise and where to exercise tolerance. Our silence about God is a sign of compromise. There are times when we need to name whom we follow. We can tolerate the blasphemous insults hurled at the church and God, only to a small degree. Our disapproval may be best shown through a quiet word that spells out the offence, not a passionate sermon. Yet there are times when a word spoken in anger may be appropriate. I recall a school bushwalking group I was leading near Lake Tali Carn. It was a hot thirsty afternoon. The students were tired. And I kept on hearing expletives invoking God’s name. I stopped the group for a rest and drink. And I heard a few more. I angrily stood on a large stone and looked at the group and gave them a sort three-sentence sermon, on how people always call on God in trouble but otherwise ignore God. I stepped down and felt bad. Had I stepped over the mark in a secular school. I said something like that to one of the teachers, a Greek man. He didn’t think so. Nothing was ever said. The students quietened down after that. The point was made. Years later I met a mother who told me that her son still remembers me doing that and how he agrees with me. I thought that was interesting. I believe one of the things the church must do is to declare whom they follow and what they stand for openly and clearly. C.E.B.Cranfield, a NT scholar wrote: It would be surprising if Christians were not persecuted for their very existence is an affront to human self-centredness, a reminder of the absolute claims that God makes upon people’s lives and that so many want to ignore and forget. Politics will always be the arena of potential conflict and persecution. In South Africa it was the case. I worked voluntarily for the Christian Institute whose aim was to build bridges between black and white in the church and wider community. The two leaders of the organization were consistently harassed to the extent of one receiving insinuating phone calls about their daughter being in danger and having bullets sprayed into their house. The police could never find the culprits! The leader was finally put under house arrest, his own church had excommunicated him, and the other went into exile. Economics is a major arena for us today. We have seen how greed and fear have undermined our economic situation putting in danger many programmes. Christian economics holds three important values: 1) we must care for those who are vulnerable and impotent to look after themselves economic; 2) that no one should ever go with out the basic needs of food and shelter; and, 3) that great wealth accumulated by a few must always be an the expense of others, because there is only so much to go around. This is why the words of Micah are so vital. That is why many Christians, including our denomination, are gathering under the banner of the Micah challenge calling for a global attack on poverty. Why is it blessed to be persecuted? It is because it makes it easier for those who follow us. Some of the great barriers to community, justice and social well-being such as slavery, racism, sexism, have been shattered because men and women in Christ’s name have stood up and paid the price – they have suffered. A cursory glance at the lives of those who spoke against slavery, racism and sexism will show you that they were persistently harassed and persecuted. Many of the great social advances in our society have come at great cost. Thank God for those brave men and women who stood up and paid the price. Secondly, it is the way of our Lord Jesus. To suffer persecution is to know that one is being faithful and we are walking in the steps of Christ. In 2 Timothy 2 we find these words: 11 If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself. Here is glory to be one with Jesus in our suffering. Yes, my friend, Christianity is a strange religion. It is profoundly practical in its daily practice. Christianity calls us to live a life of selflessness so that others may have a sense of self-hood. Christianity as a religion invites us into a relationship that makes us partners in the company of the blessed who strive in Christ’s name to make this world more blessed. Christianity is a movement, not a religion to help you with life. It is a movement better the world – to bles the world. It is a movement to bring the world to its true calling. This is our calling. ******* Peter C Whitaker, BUC: 19/10/2008
|
|
CLICK TO EMAIL ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO : pgwhitaker@netspace.net.au |