Blessed are...

Persecution and Righteousness

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10

Just as some commentators have tried to remove religion from the seventh Beatitude, shortening it to “Blessed are the peacemakers,” so the eighth Beatitude has suffered a similar fate. “Blessed are those who are persecuted,” we are told, as though the simple fact of suffering persecution guarantees blessedness. Clearly, this is not the case. There are people around the world for whom the curse of persecution is no reason to celebrate. By removing the remainder of the text, especially by ignoring verses eleven and twelve, secular commentators attempt to elevate the state of persecution per se. No matter what we believe, apparently, if we are being persecuted we are worthy of being counted blessed.

Of course it’s nonsense. There is a world of difference between the commonsense conviction that those who suffer unjustifiable opposition deserve our sympathy, and the theological proposition that true Christianity invites opposition. We are counted blessed, not when we endure any kind of persecution, for whatever reason, but when our suffering is the result of our commitment to Christ.

Jesus says that the opposition we face should be because of our righteousness, our decision to live according to God’s moral law. When right living comes up against the laissez faire, easy-going opinions that pass as standards in our world, no wonder conflict ensues. Christians are blessed when we face persecution for standing up for what is right. There are many other kinds of persecution, including some that we bring upon ourselves; but there is no other kind of persecution that could ever be described as blessed.



Almighty God,
You are righteous and holy, and I am not.
By grace You have called me to Yourself.
Through faith my heart responds.
Now, You count me righteous,
simply because of the self-offering of Your Son.
Like Him, may I endure suffering with joy.
For His name’s sake.
Amen.