Why did Jesus tell His followers they would face persecution?

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aspen

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Was it just to inform them?

Was He trying to let them know that they had a free pass to break any social norm as long as they were preaching the gospel?

Was He giving them permission to protest their persecution?

IMO, Christians often use Jesus's statement regarding persecution as an excuse for behaving badly - as reason for all social rejection in their lives - and as a reason to overreact to loss of majority privilege.

Remember, the people who were really persecuted for their faith were tortured and fed to lions - not boycotted for their beliefs. And more impotantly, they did not complain about it.
 

Angelina

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Nice... :)

I think that Jesus told his disciples this to prepare them for the days ahead. The world hated Jesus and persecuted him and they did and will do the same for all his followers. The heavenly system at that pinnacle point in time, collided with the world system causing war in the spiritual realm. The outcome manifested itself on earth as the saints of God bought the good news to all who will believe and receive Christ by faith and not by works of the law. This war in heaven and on earth has not changed since the inauguration of Christs work as the son of man and the son of God. Followers today are facing the same persecution in third world and developing countries.

We western world believers have not tasted that type of persecution yet but we will face it some time....may the Lord our God strengthen our reserve and enable us to fulfill the ministry of reconciliation during that time as he did with the apostles and modern day martyred saints of God.

Shalom!
 
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mjrhealth

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Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Most have no idea of what persecution is, and few realise that soon it will be mens religious that will be persecuting Christ just as it did during the time of Christ.

In all His Love
 
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FHII

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aspen2 said:
Was it just to inform them?

Was He trying to let them know that they had a free pass to break any social norm as long as they were preaching the gospel?

Was He giving them permission to protest their persecution?

IMO, Christians often use Jesus's statement regarding persecution as an excuse for behaving badly - as reason for all social rejection in their lives - and as a reason to overreact to loss of majority privilege.

Remember, the people who were really persecuted for their faith were tortured and fed to lions - not boycotted for their beliefs. And more impotantly, they did not complain about it.
I agree with the latter part, but I don't understand the former point you are trying to make.

Yes, they were tortured and killed for their beliefs. I don't know if they complained or not.... Certainly Jesus didn't complain and I believe many others followed the teaching that it is an honor to literally die for his namesake. I imagine (in fact, I don't need to imagine.... I know) the killing of Christians still goes on today in some parts of the world. That's a little different than not being able to pray in school (which you can...) or not putting up a nativity scene (which I don't advocate anyway, but that's another topic). I'm not saying we shouldn't protest.... But yea.... It's not the same as literally having your head cut off.

As for your first part. I'm not sure where you are getting that some believe or that Jesus actually was giving them a free pass to break social norm or to protest persecution. What's the basis for your asking?

Preaching the gospel -- whether it's against the gov't law or not -- certainly is not against God's law and in my opinion, perfectly acceptable as a Christian. It certainly didn't stop the Apostles. As for not protesting.... I'll go back and read Acts again but I believe Paul did protest it to some degree. He leaned on his Roman citizenship in order to get a fairer trial (again.... Don't remember exactly what transpired)....

Furthermore, if anyone really does believe that it's ok to break social norms.... Remember Paul's various teachings that state get along with men to the best of your ability and obey magistrates if at all possible. To me it seems to be saying not to cause an uproar that's unnecessary, but don't deny the name of Jesus Christ either. SPEAKING OF Paul (and the other Apostles), he was called to preach the Gospel and that meant he ruffled a lot of feathers. So when he was on Mars Hill and pointed to the statue of "the unknown God" he could've done it kinder and gentler.... But appearently it wasn't the way God wanted it to happen.

I haven't posted much lately because I have some issues with the way topics are being discussed. So I'm not trying to ruffle feathers or anything.... Just trying to understand your point of view.
 

horsecamp

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because one cant serve two masters either one serves SATAN or the gospel of free and full forgiveness found only in Jesus.

Because being a luke warm christian is A danger to faith in Jesus.

the bible has two messages we need to tell Gods laws that shows our sins . and Gods gospel that shows us Jesus our only savior from sin
 

aspen

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FHII said:
I agree with the latter part, but I don't understand the former point you are trying to make.

Yes, they were tortured and killed for their beliefs. I don't know if they complained or not.... Certainly Jesus didn't complain and I believe many others followed the teaching that it is an honor to literally die for his namesake. I imagine (in fact, I don't need to imagine.... I know) the killing of Christians still goes on today in some parts of the world. That's a little different than not being able to pray in school (which you can...) or not putting up a nativity scene (which I don't advocate anyway, but that's another topic). I'm not saying we shouldn't protest.... But yea.... It's not the same as literally having your head cut off.

As for your first part. I'm not sure where you are getting that some believe or that Jesus actually was giving them a free pass to break social norm or to protest persecution. What's the basis for your asking?

Preaching the gospel -- whether it's against the gov't law or not -- certainly is not against God's law and in my opinion, perfectly acceptable as a Christian. It certainly didn't stop the Apostles. As for not protesting.... I'll go back and read Acts again but I believe Paul did protest it to some degree. He leaned on his Roman citizenship in order to get a fairer trial (again.... Don't remember exactly what transpired)....

Furthermore, if anyone really does believe that it's ok to break social norms.... Remember Paul's various teachings that state get along with men to the best of your ability and obey magistrates if at all possible. To me it seems to be saying not to cause an uproar that's unnecessary, but don't deny the name of Jesus Christ either. SPEAKING OF Paul (and the other Apostles), he was called to preach the Gospel and that meant he ruffled a lot of feathers. So when he was on Mars Hill and pointed to the statue of "the unknown God" he could've done it kinder and gentler.... But appearently it wasn't the way God wanted it to happen.

I haven't posted much lately because I have some issues with the way topics are being discussed. So I'm not trying to ruffle feathers or anything.... Just trying to understand your point of view.
I included the questions because I think many Christians interpret Jesus's words in a way that would affirm the questions. Personally, I disagree with all of them. My point is that many Christians use Jesus's warning about persecution to justify bad behavior when it has nothing to do with their beliefs.

Also, I think Jesus was warning us so that we would not be surprised by opposition, not so that we try to fight for our rights.
 

Prentis

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I agree with you. :)

We shouldn't defend our rights, rather we should turn the other cheek. Being persecuted for Godliness' sake can only happen if we are leading Godly lives! ;)

Offending for the sake of offending is pointless... But if we preach the gospel in all meekness and humility and are persecuted for the righteousness and holiness we walk in, then we suffer with Him.
 
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FHII

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aspen2 said:
I included the questions because I think many Christians interpret Jesus's words in a way that would affirm the questions. Personally, I disagree with all of them. My point is that many Christians use Jesus's warning about persecution to justify bad behavior when it has nothing to do with their beliefs.
Maybe if you gave me an example it'd help me see your point of view.
 

horsecamp

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aspen2 said:
Was it just to inform them?

Was He trying to let them know that they had a free pass to break any social norm as long as they were preaching the gospel?

Was He giving them permission to protest their persecution?

IMO, Christians often use Jesus's statement regarding persecution as an excuse for behaving badly - as reason for all social rejection in their lives - and as a reason to overreact to loss of majority privilege.

Remember, the people who were really persecuted for their faith were tortured and fed to lions - not boycotted for their beliefs. And more impotantly, they did not complain about it.

I think they did a little complaing especialy right before the lion choped down on their ham bones

some people right here in the united states are really persecuted for their christian faith as well ..
persecusion comes in many forms not just in the form of a lion chomping down on a persons vital parts.
and its easy for me also to make light .. of some one elses persecusion as long as im not being
the one persecuted that way.. Perhaps you and me might not have handled a situasion the way a brother or sister in the lord
did .. but we also have no right to second guess for them what they should have done .. THEY STUCK UP FOR
what they believed Jesus wanted them to and they are to be commended for that .. and they deserve our respect for it..
instead
lets stop respecting luke warmness in the Lord after all thats a more real danger to a persons faith ..

being zealous for Jesus is what we all should strive for.


And lets face it some time sinfull natures and zealousness for the Lord collide. And christian do some fairly wild things we just cant understand ..
but they were NOT LUKE WARM which is so popular today
 

Theophane

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Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
The Westboro Baptist Church has abused this scripture horribly. When the devil quotes Scripture, this is the level of mastery he displays. <_< And if that wasn't bad enough, the Phelps Clan enjoys the full protection of the US Constitution and everyone who holds it dear. Again, mastery!
 
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aspen

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Yes. I also think it is interesting that many of the people who fail to see how clever and subtle the devil is, are often the same people who believe that every negative emotion they experience is an attack from Satan and are constantly warning of demons behind every bush.

If we just realized how much more clever the devil is AND that he is not omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient - we would be much better equipped to resist temptation and submit to our sanctification.
 

afaithfulone4u

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Persecuted for his "Name's" sake. What is his name?

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
KJV
Matt 10:22
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
KJV

It is not the name Jesus that bother's devils, it is his name, THE WORD of God, that drives them MAD!