Introduction: Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. As we have already seen, Christians around the world are being imprisoned, killed, sold into slavery and persecuted in many other ways. This is nothing new; it started when wicked Cain killed Abel his brother. Our generation has seen the beginnings of persecution against Christians in North America (share illustrations). The Bible says that we should expect persecution (“all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12). The way that we respond to persecution is incredibly important for the growth of the Kingdom. Christians have erroneous opinions about what we are supposed to do when persecution comes, and 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? There are two kinds of persecutions.

I. MILD PERSECUTIONS.
In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus taught that we should react to mild persecutions with humility and generosity, and not put our dignity or comfort ahead of an opportunity to witness. 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. 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. If a Roman soldier legally conscripts you to carry his bag a mile, cheerfully carry it further. If a needy person asks you for a loan (not for all you own), give him some money. Reacting mildly to minor persecutions gives us opportunities to impress the world with our dignity, patience and kindness, enabling us to witness for Christ effectively. Paul echoes Christ in Romans 12:14. He is refering only to mild persecutions, not to the attitude we should have toward those who are truly enemies of God and society. Psalm 18:39-42 describes the attitude of the godly man toward the truly wicked.

II. SEVERE PERSECUTIONS.
Here is where so many Christians make a mistake by thinking they are still in the realm of Matthew 5:38-42. 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 four things we can do:

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.

B. Second, another legitimate response to severe persecution is 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).

C. Third, use your legal rights.

1. In Acts 21:37-40, Paul used his education and Roman citizenship to gain better treatment and a hearing. Later he used his legal right to appeal to Caesar, avoiding trial and death at the hand of the Jews. Christians should use their rights as citizens to avoid persecution, and to help our persecuted brethren around the world. We must have compassion on those who are persecuted (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?

2. Rely on the legal system 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 the power of the legal system to punish the wicked, not to roll over and allow the wicked to harm ourselves, our families and our neighbors.

Sinful governments which deny Christ in their very constitutions, and which have an official policy of persecuting their 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). It is 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. Note: not just permission to revolt, but 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.

D. Fourth, practice Self-Defense, your personal right and duty.
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 your government tries to disarm you, it will be making you 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: What to do in times of persecution? If the persecution is minor, just bear it. Show your patience and kindness. Use it as an opportunity to witness for Christ. If the persecution is major, including physical assault on your life, or your wife or children, or your neighbors, it is your duty before God to resist. 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 are against our God-given human rights. Amen.