Our Response

How do we respond to persecution?

Are we supposed to fight back and treat people the way they treat us? Should we argue with people and try to prove we are right? Can we just call them names right back? No. These things aren’t the way of Jesus.

Think about Jesus’ life . . . how did he respond to those who opposed Him? He continued to preach and teach the good news until he was unjustly arrested and killed! Sure, sometimes Jesus did say things that sounded a little harsh. But that was usually to the Jewish leaders, who claimed they were the ones closest to God when in reality their hearts were far from Him.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said God’s way is to love people who are your enemies and to pray for the people who persecute you. That’s easy, right? When it comes to persecution, it seems like Jesus’ way is different than what comes most naturally to us.

When we are faced with persecution, we can choose between two paths. One path is to retaliate and fight back with the same weapons we’ve been attacked with. That path does not lead to the life God has for us because it means we are relying on our own devices rather than trusting in Him.

The second path is to stand firm and trust in God no matter what. Mistreated or hated for our faith, we continue to love people. This second path is God’s way. Jesus taught and modeled it. And the rest of the New Testament points to this path as the way forward for followers of Jesus who face persecution.

How will you respond when you face opposition and persecution? Will you choose Jesus’ way?