The Persecuted Church?

John 15:18-16:4

Introduction: On Tuesday of last week, it was announced that an evangelical pastor, Louie Giglio, was selected to deliver the benediction at the presidential inaugural on January 21^st. He accepted, saying it was a great honor to be invited. Then the left began their research and found a sermon he had given 15 years ago that called homosexuality a sin. The uproar started.  By Thursday, Giglio withdrew his acceptance of Obama’s invitation, it was too distracting. Obama’s team went to work trying to find someone who would better reflect their inclusive vision for America.  The only thing that surprised me about this story was that Giglio, like Rick Warren in 2009, was invited at all.  When we talk about the persecuted church and the question of suffering for our faith, the truth is most American Christians have difficulty relating. We are a country founded on the principle of religious freedom, and historically the center of missionary outreach. For most of us “persecution” is the stuff of history, or something to do with news reports and far away.   What kind of unfairness or mistreatment have we ever experienced because of our faith in Jesus? It may be coming.

     The truth is, that worldwide, persecution against the Church of Jesus Christ, has intensified over the last century.  According to one source I checked, over 45 million Christians were martyred in the 20^th century, more than in the first 19 centuries of the church combined. And that intensification of hatred and violence against Christians has only increased since the dawn of the 21^st century.  We need ministries like Voice of the Martyrs to keep us updated and praying for brothers and sisters in Christ who are being beaten, imprisoned and killed in the Mideast, some countries in Africa, and in parts of Asia. We need to pray for the Persecuted Church!

       Though violence against Christians is thankfully something that is rare in our context, we have no guarantees that it will stay that way throughout our lives. it is certainly true that Christians are experiencing increasing “push-back” if they take a stand for their faith, is it not?

       It is getting to be more and more common to see Christians, especially born-again Christians, mocked or ridiculed or discriminated against in the media.  At times it seems that the one minority that its ok to “pre-judge” as narrow minded, bigoted, and unthinking, it is evangelical Christians. They are pictured as obnoxious and closed minded, prideful, and intolerant. They think they are better than anyone else! Or at least that is the picture the media would present.   What is going on?  Should any of this surprise us? Not according to Jesus. We should expect it.

The Big Idea: As surely as Jesus was rejected by “the world” we should expect opposition when we point to Him as the only hope for sinful humans.

I. PERSECUTION of GOD’S PEOPLE: Opposition to our mission is inevitable (15:18-24).   

As Jesus was hated by the world, so will be those who He has chosen (read 18-20). "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  ¹⁹ "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you…”

       - First of all, Jesus, the Master Teacher, is gently preparing his disciples for what would soon happen. The hatred of the world would reach a climax against Jesus as He is rejected and handed over to be crucified.  That hatred would be manifested against His followers after his departure. If they were going to persevere He would have to prepare them.

      - Jesus makes a point: Their treatment by the world would be in sharp contrast to the love that is normative for church. Verse 17 flows right into verse 18.  For the believer, love is a choice that we make that flows out of God’s love for us. But Jesus is also preparing his disciples for what they are going to receive from the world.  The fact is we shouldn’t be surprised by the hatred of the world. If Jesus was hated, so would those who are identified with Him.

      - By the way, who or what is “the world” in this passage (contrast Jn 3:16!)? “World” here is used in a narrow sense of the inhabitants of this planet who are in rebellion against God and his Kingdom. It’s the rebellion against God and his anointed that we see in Psalm 2:1ff, “Why do the nations rage… against the LORD and against His Anointed…”  If Jesus was despised and rejected, even though He only told the truth and did good, it shouldn’t be surprising that those who are identified with him also are rejected.

     - V.19 makes it clear that we are aliens, we are ALL from away, we are citizens of Heaven and strangers and aliens in the world – we just don’t belong.  Have you ever been in a setting where you just felt that to be the case? You are just not one of them so you are viewed with suspicion, even contempt. I recall when I first got saved I didn’t know any Christians, I wanted to share with everyone I met the “Good News.” It did not always go so well. Sometimes it was surely my fault, you have to have some discernment in how you share and with whom! There is a difference between being persecuted for being obnoxious and being persecuted for righteousness sake! Have you been there?

     -V 19b To make matters worse, we’ve been chosen by Jesus.  John earlier said, “Men love darkeness rather than light because their deeds are evil…”  We are identified with the Light of the World that unregenerate humans would rather avoid! They hate Him. If we remind them of Him, they are not going to warmly embrace us either!

 The rejection of God’s revelation in Christ, including our witness, exposes those who don’t know Him (21-24). "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me…”  The truth is, apart from Christ humans are deaf, blind, and dead to spiritual things.

- The World rejects Christ followers because they reject Jesus – they reject Jesus because they don’t know God.  God has revealed himself to the world in Christ, and there is no excuse for unbelief.

- N.B. Jesus “spoke” to them, He spoke the truth. The Light shined in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not. N.b. v.24, the works revealed his identity, the signs were evidence and yet they chose to reject the evidence. They are guilty of the sin of unbelief; guilty of rejecting the One who reveals the Father and who came to provide the way to Heaven. Jesus, God incarnate, walked among humans, spoke the truth, acted only in love, and was rejected!  When we preach the offensive message of the Cross, when we dare say that Jesus is the only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, we shouldn't be surprised by opposition. Hatred shouldn't shock us. As surely as Jesus was rejected by “the world” we should expect opposition when we point to Him as our only hope.

II. PROOF AND PROPHECY: Even the rejection of Jesus and His followers is a fulfillment of prophecy and so vindicates the Truth (15:25). "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'”

                This is a citation from Ps 69:4 a psalm of the Righteous Sufferer. Jesus is reminding his disciples, and us, that everything that happened this week of the Passion, or for that matter the widespread rejection of Jesus that was manifest throughout his earthly ministry, had all been predicted in the Scriptures.  God sent His Son not only to visit the world and to reveal himself, but to give His life as a ransom for many. He came to die.  Here, He was telling them before hand, even though they didn’t understand, so that when it happened it would actually be a further vindication of his identity. By warning that they too would be rejected he was preparing them, telling them not to be surprised as the story unfolded.  

                This is part of the “apologetic” of the early church. If Jesus was the Messiah, how could it be that He was rejected by His own people? And why, after the resurrection, did most of the nation, indeed most of humanity, continue to reject Him?  The answer would be almost shocking if you were hearing it for the first time: The rejection of Jesus was part of God’s plan. It led to the cross, and resulted in our redemption through his blood. The rejection of Jesus by most of humanity was no surprise, it had in fact had been predicted and so vindicates his claims. And  know this: As surely as Jesus was rejected by “the world” we should expect opposition when we point to Him as our only hope.

III. POWER TO PERSEVERE: Spirit empowered witness is at the heart of our mission, enabling faithfulness in the face of opposition (15:26-27).

These verses might seem out of place on the surface until we think about what Jesus is saying: The Holy Spirit, the “Parakletos” from the Father, He will enable Christians to persevere under trial, and to be faithful witnesses in the face of hatred and rejection. He’ll teach us more about the Spirit as we get further into chapter 16 – In Acts 1:8 He gave a great summary: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me…”

                Jesus encouraged his disciples not to be surprised by persecution and not to be discouraged by rejection. He mentions the Spirit here to remind them that our mission is a “co”-mission, i.e. we don’t engage the enemy alone or in our own strength. God is on our side. The Holy Spirit testifies, amazingly, through US.  The presence of the Spirit in the Church is a truth that sets this age apart from all others in the unfolding Drama of Redemption.  Now, today, we are the Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in us.  And it is up to Him to open the hearts of rebellious, sinful, humans.  As we live in the world and carry out the mission He has entrusted to us, we can be assured that as surely as Jesus was rejected by “the world” we should expect opposition when we point to Him as our only hope.

IV. PREJUDICE and PERSECUTION: The time will come when it will be politically correct & socially acceptable to persecute Christians (16:1-4).

                We know that with respect to the Islamic world that Christians are considered infidels and so the persecution of Christians is considered a good thing. But what about living in a country with religious freedom like the USA?  Is there a sense in which it has become socially “acceptable” to discriminate against evangelical Christians?

                Why is it OK to have a WICCA club or TM meeting, but Christians are discouraged from gathering for prayer or Bible Study in the public schools? Why is it unacceptable to generalize about any minority, be it racial, religious, sexual orientation or whatever, but Christians in the media can routinely be presented as ignorant, intolerant, unthinking, narrow minded bigots? We are not of the world.

What is God saying to me in this passage?  As surely as Jesus was rejected by “the world” we should expect opposition when we point to Him as our only hope.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? Are you encountering “push back” as you seek to walk with the Lord?  Don’t be intimidated. If God is for us, who can stand against us? Don’t be obnoxious – but don’t be intimidated. God is with you. He calls us to be His witnesses, in Boothbay, in Lincoln County, to the ends of the earth. You are God’s missionary, placed exactly where you are by the Sovereign King of the Universe. Are there five people in your sphere of influence: family members, neighbors, co-workers, who don’t yet know the Lord? Can you commit to pray for these people, asking the Lord to open their hearts and to lead them to repentance and faith? Will you look for opportunities to share with them the truth that God is real, and that He has made a difference in your life? Will you look for an opportunity to invite them to church, to your small group, or into you home? Let’s see what the Lord will do!  Amen.