What if We Are?

 70% of the world’s population lives in areas with severe religious restrictions. --Pew Research Center  Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors. --U.S. Department of State  More than 7000 Christians martyred in 2015, up from 4000 the year before. (Does not include North Korea, Syria, and Iraq.) --Open Doors USA

 In some places, bakers and wedding photographers must either service gay weddings or find a different line of work.  Some government employees (clerks, judges), etc., must either administer the legal process for gay weddings or find a different line of work.  There is a well-recognized bias against hiring conservative Christian faculty members at secular universities.

 A couple that ran a wedding chapel business closed down the business rather than violate their beliefs by hosting gay weddings.  More companies are being required to provide employee health insurance that covers abortion, though some exceptions are being made for churches and Christian family-owned businesses.  In the 1960s, the Supreme Court ruled that public prayer led by school officials did not belong in public school (including the Lord’s Prayer).

 Pastor’s housing allowances (a tax break) are going away.  It is possible churches will lose their tax-exempt status.  Christian colleges that receive federal dollars may be prohibited from talking about faith in classes outside the religion department.  Affirming the belief that God’s design for marriage is for one man and one woman is being increasingly labeled as hate speech. Some people have been disciplined or lost their jobs for stating this belief.

 Where do we get the idea that the government of our nation (a secular democracy) should reflect the values of Jesus Christ? Why should it surprise us that some government jobs would include duties that are inconsistent with following Jesus?  For the first three centuries of Christianity, almost all Christians agreed that being a Christian was inconsistent with military service. No one expected the Roman Empire to change their laws to reflect the values of the Prince of Peace.

 Is it really so obvious that Christian bakers should not provide cakes for gay weddings? Obviously, a Pharisee baker would have refused. But if Jesus had been a baker, and he had gay friends getting “married,” what would Jesus have done?  Is there some reason that the government owes it to Christians (and other religions) to give them tax breaks?  If school officials were to lead in prayer, how should it be determined what religion should be promoted by the prayer? Christianity? (If so, which variety?) Islam? Baha’i? Mormonism? New Age? Buddhism? Satanism? There are over 4000 religions in the world, and almost every school has students of multiple religions (plus atheists and agnostics). The Supreme Court ruled that government- sponsored prayer/worship violated the First Amendment (that the government shall not establish/promote religion).

 Very rarely (in spite of what the two “Persecuted” movies say)  Christians are losing some of their privileged positions and status.  Christians are having to learn to live in an increasingly secular society where the government, media, and friends don’t share Christian values.  More people mock Christianity (often, in response to “Ugly Christianity.”)  Pastors are less respected.

When we sign up to follow Jesus, persecution is part of what we sign up for.

1.Don’t expect to receive special privileges from society because you are a Christian. 2.Expect persecution; it’s part of the “contract” of following Jesus. 3.Don’t whine about being persecuted; “rejoice and be exceeding glad.” 4.Don’t rent space in your head to voices (TV & radio personalities, movies, websites, etc.) that whine about Christians being persecuted (either imagined or real). 5.When people disrespect your faith (curse you), respond by blessing them.

1. Do you ever experience persecution for your faith? 2. How do you want to respond the next time that happens?