Blessed are...

Persecution and Compromise

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

In certain parts of the world, persecution is a current reality for the Christian community. Church buildings are routinely destroyed, businesses are ruined, families are torn apart. Persecution, even martyrdom, is far from unusual. The right of assembly may be refused, so Christians must gather secretly or face imprisonment. The ‘indoctrination’ of the young may be prohibited, so teaching your own children the stories of Jesus may lead to fines being imposed. Some Christian parents have even had their children taken away, to be raised in another religion, or none. Around the world, Christians are routinely tortured or beaten. Why not here?

It would be nice to think that Christians in the West fare better than others because we have had such an influence upon society that everyone shares our values. To a degree this is true. Historically, Christian principles have been very influential in shaping Western culture. Unfortunately, though, the reason for our relative freedom from oppression may have a different cause. Perhaps we do not face persecution because Western Christians are pretty much like everyone else. We do not wear our convictions for all to see. We keep quiet about what we believe. We fear giving offense. More importantly, we have swallowed, hook-line-and-sinker, many of the secular assumptions that inform Western culture. We have become indistinguishable from the godless.

Is it any wonder that we do not draw the ire of the world when we refuse to take any moral stands that question society. When the Church stands for nothing it will fall for anything. Should there not be a price to pay for following Jesus Christ?



Lord Jesus,
Forgive my all-too-easy compromises,
the treaties that I have signed upon the road to Babylon.
Forgive my half-hearted commitment to Your cause.
Send Your fire upon Your Church, until we burn, for all to see,
with the intensity of Your holiness, and Your love.
For Your name’s sake.
Amen.