Introduction: Here Jesus warns His disciples that the world will hate them, and persecute them, because the world hates God. Christians have been taught a lot of nonsense about turning the other cheek when persecuted, and this has been disastrous for the spread of the Kingdom of God and the success of the Gospel. We need to go to the Bible to see what to do. What does God’s Word say about persecution and how to handle it? It is crucial to recognize that the Bible speaks of two very different kinds of persecutions. It is also important to realize that on a scale of 1-10, Americans suffer persecution at about the "1" level.

I. MILD PERSONAL PERSECUTIONS AND INCONVENIENCES.

In Matthew 5:38-48 Jesus taught that Christians should react to mild persecutions with humility and generosity, and not put personal pride or comfort ahead of an opportunity to witness.

1. A slap on the right cheek indicates a back-handed slap of insult, common in Jesus’ culture. We are not to take mere insults seriously.

2. If someone wants to bring a minor law suit against you (your shirt, not your house), just give him what he wants, and let it go.

3. If a Roman soldier legally conscripts you to carry his bag a mile, cheerfully carry it further.

4. If a needy person asks you for a loan (not for all you own), give him some money.

Reacting mildly and cheerfully to minor persecutions gives us opportunities to impress the world with our dignity, patience and kindness, enabling us to witness for Christ effectively.

II. SEVERE PERSECUTIONS.

Generally speaking, American Christians in 2001 are not persecuted much at all. Our nation was founded on Christian principals, many of which are still in play. The church has spread, and is a real power in our land. We have a lot to be grateful for! However, our brethren around the world are often persecuted to their deaths. What should we think about that, and what should we be doing?

Here is where so many Christians make a mistake by thinking they are still in the realm of Matthew 5:38-42. We must not expect our persecuted brethren around the world to turn the other cheek. Matthew 5 does NOT give directions about how to handle severe persecutions, but many other Bible passages do.

What is a biblical response to severe persecution? There are five actions God either allows us or commands us to take:

A. First, prayer. The Israelites in bondage in Egypt cried out to God, and He sent Moses to deliver them. When Daniel was cast into the den of lions, he prayed for God’s help. When Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego were cast into the fiery furnace, they depended on the Lord. Acts 12:1-4 records a church prayer meeting for persecuted Peter, and God’s answer to the church’s prayers. Our persecuted brethren are praying. Are we supporting them with our prayers?

B. Second, flight. Acts 8:1-4 records such a flight. The majority of the Christians simply ran, and preached wherever they landed. But the Apostles stayed and endured. Some were killed. Sometimes Paul ran away from danger. Sometimes Jesus avoided persecution by fleeing (Luke 4:28-30). We should assist our persecuted brethren in flight away from persecution. We should petition our government to allow them sanctuary in America.

C. Third, Christians may use their legal rights to defend themselves and other Christians. In Acts 21:37-40, Paul used his education and Roman citizenship to gain better treatment (Acts 22:25-29) and a hearing. Later he used his legal right to appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:10-12), avoiding trial and death at the hand of the Jews. Christians should use their rights as citizens to avoid persecution, and to help their persecuted brethren around the world.

We must have compassion (I John 3:16-17). There are avenues for us to send food and medicine. We have political opportunities through the American state department, due to the "International Religious Freedom Act," passed unanimously by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton on October 27, 1998. It is American law that the US government must monitor religious persecution around the world, and take action against governments that practice religious persecution. What are we doing to stir up our Congress and State Department and to take advantage of that law? What would Paul have done if Rome had such a law?

Christians are commanded by God to rely on the government to avenge crimes done against you (Romans 12:17-19 leads directly to Romans 13:3-4. There were no chapter divisions in Paul’s original letter). If Christians are being persecuted in criminal ways, they are to use whatever legal system exists to punish the wicked, not to roll over and allow the wicked to harm themselves, their families and their neighbors. God absolutely requires us to construct just societies (Westminster Larger Cat. # 135), at home and abroad.

D. Fourth, the goal of our missionary work must go beyond evangelizing, conversion and church planting. We must teach the new Christians the entire Bible, and put them on the path of impacting their nation for Christ. This is what Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:20. This is why the godless governments of the world strive to exclude missionaries.

Governments who are anti-Christ, and who persecute their own citizens, are not legitimate governments operating with God’s approval (Romans 13:3-5). God says that He holds such governments in contempt (Psalm 2:1-4). King David took great delight in beating down the wicked (Psalm 18:32-48). It is not merely the right, but the duty of people who live under such governments to disobey, revolt and set up new governments. For example, the German people under Hitler had a duty to revolt. The Christian’s duty to God in keeping commandments 5-10 is to insure a just society, thus loving his neighbor as himself. If I do not work to create a just government, then I am disobeying God’s commandments. Such wicked governments must not be allowed to exist. We ought to be doing our part to bring them to an end.

E. Fifth, if deadly persecution ever comes to America, you must be prepared to defend yourself, your family and your community. If you allow the wicked to kill you, or to take away your property and freedom, how can you obey God’s commandment to you to take care of your family, and to love your neighbor? It is your duty to defend yourself. Remember, Matthew 5:38, where Jesus says, "Don’t resist an evil person," has to do with putting up with minor insults and inconveniences, not accepting theft or physical assault. When Nehemiah and the Jews were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, they were armed (Nehemiah 4:11-18). During Jesus’ last week on earth, He told His disciples that things would be different from that time forward (Luke 22:35-38). Jesus told the disciples to be armed for self-defense. If you allow the government to take away your guns, you will be disobedient to Jesus’ command to buy a sword. Self defense is a God-given human right, and is enshrined in the Law of God (for example, Exodus 22:2). Another example of God’s people taking up arms to defend their lives and families is Esther 8:11-17, and the result was joy in the kingdom, and many conversions.

Conclusion: Jesus told the disciples that the world hated God, and would hate them, and would persecute them. Persecution is not a problem for Christians in America in 2001. But what about our brothers in the Lord who are being killed around the world? What are we to do? When we see our brethren around the world being persecuted for their faith, it is our Christian duty to come to their rescue, and to use all the power that God has given us to put a stop to those wicked individuals, groups, governments and religions that oppress and murder their own citizens. Amen.