“The problem with Christians in America,” said the African pastor, “is that you have an eighty-year perspective on life. In Africa, we have an eternal perspective.”
This pastor was referring to the relative ease of the average American’s lifestyle as opposed to that of someone born and raised in an Africa country.
Since life is generally more challenging in developing nations, Christians there tend to focus more on the age to come instead of trying to pursue earthly success and happiness.
Hard circumstances lift their vision to something higher than this life.
Our circumstances, too, can be difficult.
Right now, with the tension of what’s happening with the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade, pregnancy help centers are being targeted with vandalism and even bomb threats.
Ironically, anger and hatred have flared against people who provide compassionate care to those facing unplanned pregnancies.
It’s not the first time that persecution hasn’t made sense.
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I never thought I’d see the day when protestors stood outside a PHC, or “blood” was painted on their front door, or a bomb might be planted inside.
Yet here we are, on the front lines of a battle for the lives of the unborn.
How can we gain the perspective we need? How can we combat threats and intimidation and resist the urge to retaliate or retreat?
I’m currently in a class called “Non-Pauline Epistles” in my seminary studies.
The subject of persecution is an ongoing theme in the New Testament, and Peter and the author of Hebrews offer some timely words for us today—including those of us in life-affirming ministry.
The Apostle Peter writes,
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.
If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you….
… if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name…let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.” –1 Peter 4:12-14, 16, 19.
Peter offers some very practical thoughts on what to do when hostile people treat us poorly:
We are not to be surprised, because this is not an unusual situation for Christians to be in.
We are to keep in mind that trials of this nature have the effect of testing us (remember, passing tests results in heavenly rewards!).
We are to rejoice at the privilege of suffering for the Lord. Our choice to rejoice now (not just survive and tolerate but rejoice) will lead to even greater joy later on when we see the glory of Christ revealed.
When we are ridiculed, we are blessed; we are not to be ashamed of the name of Christ.
When we suffer for doing God’s will, we simply trust our faithful God and continue doing what He has called us to do.
For additional perspective, back up a few verses to see the reason Christians are slandered: it’s because non-believers are astonished that we don’t join them in the flood of wild living in which they are involved (1 Pet. 4:4)!
In terms of life-affirming ministry, the world thinks we are crazy for valuing the lives of preborn human beings.
Worldly people do not live according to God’s law, and it doesn’t make sense to them. Yet in the middle of their ill treatment of us, God is at work.
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us,
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.” –Hebrews 12:1-3
We need endurance to run the race God has placed us in. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, who has gone before us.
Like him, we need to despise the shame of the world, recognizing it is based on twisted values and therefore is an illegitimate assessment of shame or honor.
We must consider Christ and the hostility He endured so that we don’t get tired and quit.
These words from 1 Peter and Hebrews, written to our brothers and sisters in Christ in ancient times, are timely and relevant today.
May the Lord strengthen, encourage and comfort you as you continue to rescue the least of these for the sake of Jesus.
