Why are Christians persecuted? - Persecution - TouchPoints
Jeremiah 20:1-2Now Pashhur . . . heard what Jeremiah was prophesying. So he arrested Jeremiah the prophet and had him whipped.
1 Kings 22:16-26“How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth . . . ?” Then Micaiah told him . . . “Arrest him!” the king of Israel ordered.
Sometimes believers are persecuted simply for speaking the truth. Those who don’t believe in God, or don’t believe God has established absolute truths and communicated them through the Bible, obviously don’t recognize truth. To them, truth sounds rigid and intolerant. Others recognize truth but don’t want to live by it. In either case, those who don’t live by the truths of the Bible will resist and attack those who do.
John 15:21“They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.”
Persecution comes from those who are ignorant of God and his will.
John 15:19The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
Spiritual warfare brings persecution.
Acts 7:54The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation.
Matthew 15:9“Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.”
Galatians 5:11If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended.
The bold message that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus threatens those who believe that their own good works are enough to get to heaven.
Acts 17:7“And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
Because Christians give their ultimate allegiance to God, they have sometimes been accused of treason when their government orders them to do something that violates the commands of God.