There's been a concept running around the forums lately, and I just wanted to try to introduce an argument to clear it up.
When someone claims or feels that they are being persecuted by everyone, does that mean that they are?
*What is persecution?*
Biblical persecution is when you're being attacked for your beliefs in God. You stand up for God and His ways, and instead of people seeing the wisdom and truth in that, they choose to ridicule you, and eventually, literally or figuratively, "stone" you to "death".
Generally, the persecution in question simply means that you are being denounced or attacked for what you believe.
*If there are many voices "persecuting" you, does it mean you are right?*
No. If you are the lone "wolf" sowing discord in the midst of the church of God, you don't get to be right if everyone is trying to correct you or put you out. So even if there are many people against you, you can be wrong.
*If there are only a few voices "persecuting" you, does it mean you are right?*
No. At times in the bible, God only had one little prophet to stand against entire nations. One small voice, but that one small voice was speaking for God and condemning those nations in their sin.
*Does it matter what kind of voices are "persecuting" you?*
Absolutely, and only there lies the evidence of persecution. You must look at what the voices are trying to do. Are they trying to mock you or correct you? Are they using scripture? But, to simply claim that you're being persecuted because everyone is speaking against you is a little ridiculous, and it's also ridiculous to claim that if there are many voices against you that it is evidence you are right about everything. Neither are safe positions, both are devices to blind you to potential correction and close your mind to possible truth.
We must keep our eyes and ears open, but guarded. I don't think anyone wants to be the person God has to slap in the face to get their attention.
I know two times in my life I was persecuted for Messiah. When I became Messianic my Mother, 5 of my 6 sisters and my grandparents told me I was no longer a Jew and was not allowed to contact them or step foot into their house ever again. To this day my 5 sisters and their children and so on will not have contact with me and my mother finally did when her husband died 3 years ago, after almost 20 years. (My father always did because he was an outcast anyway for cheating on my mother).
The second time is when I told a Christian just because you are not married you can do the G-dly thing and not have an abortion� �I didn�t have one�, I said and she responded by saying you are soooo self-righteous� I said no, but in spite of my sin I can still do what is right before G-d and not murder my child.
Usually, I am persecuted because of my own wrong doing� I hate that fact� but it is true... what breaks my heart is the only thing I can do is pray that G-d will send someone else to be a witness and I pray for forgiveness. There is not a heavier burden than people knowing you know, I really mean know Y-shua, and mess up the witness because of fault/sin.
Mccubed, good examples of persecution. I've had people threaten to call the police on me just for passing out a flyer inviting them to church.
Sometimes persecution is confused with feelings getting hurt...we all get our feelings hurt. There will always be those who disagree, we just don't have to be disagreeable.
