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.