06. Persecuted For Christ Series

Persecuted for Christ

Mark 26, 2023

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Matthew 5:5-6

This is a chapter that most people want to skip. Today many churches are prone to avoid discussing the truth that faith in Jesus will not always bring sunny days and a care-free life. Quite the contrary. Faith in Jesus will put you at enmity with the world. Or, as James puts it conversely, “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). The truth that Jesus is conveying in the concluding beatitude is that becoming a citizen in the Kingdom of God will cause the world, the world’s systems, and those outside of Christ’s Kingdom to have such a distain for you, even to the point of persecuting you.

During World War II, as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General George C. Marshall is said to have been recruiting an officer for a “secret and dangerous mission.” What truly stands out is his specific request: “I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player.” He didn’t promise a ticker-tape parade or medals—just a solemn challenge and an opportunity to serve at the highest risk, with no applause awaiting at the finish line.

While there’s no record of exactly when or where he said it (Marshall himself attended VMI, not West Point), there is a plaque at West Point’s Michie Stadium that memorializes it. Cadets touch that plaque before games, reminding them of courage, commitment, and silent sacrifice. That’s the call of the Christian.

Most of the time, particularly in America, churches present persecution as something far away in a distant authoritarian land where believers need to hold hidden worship services in fear the authorities barging into the room. The sad reality is those places do exist and believers should be aware of it. Did you know, according to the group “Open Doors,” who closely monitor Christian persecution world-wide, that Christianity is the most persecuted religious group world-wide? The BBC reported that “the persecution of Christians in parts of the world is at near "genocide" levels, according to a report ordered by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt” (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48146305).

According to Open Doors, in 2024, there were 4,476 Christians were murdered for their faith, and 380 million Christians around the world suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination (https://www.opendoors.org/en-US). While the US is far from a dangerous place for Christians to live, we should not think we are immune from persecution and even more our faith is in opposition to cultural trends.

I think it is worth saying here something that all believers should take to heart. That is I believer it is more dangerous to water down our faith in Jesus Christ in order to avoid persecution than the persecution itself. The truth is, the closer you walk with Jesus Christ, the more you will stand out from the world—and not always in a way that feels comfortable. At some point in your Christian life, you will discover this profound reality: living for Christ in a fallen world invites hostility. Jesus said it plainly:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10–12).

We have climbed the ladder of the Beatitudes—poverty of spirit, mourning over sin, meekness, hunger and thirst for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking. Each rung has drawn us higher into the life of the Spirit. But now we see the cost: the world will not applaud Christlikeness. In fact, it will despise it. And yet Jesus calls us blessed. This final Beatitude does something remarkable: it pulls back the curtain on the inevitable clash between God’s kingdom and the kingdom of this world.

So. how can persecution be a blessing? Why does living for Christ provoke such hostility? And how can we endure it with joy? Let’s take this step by step.

1. The Inevitable Collision of Kingdoms

First, notice that Jesus does not say “if” you are persecuted but assumes that you will be. Paul shares this reminder also in his letter to Timothy: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Persecution comes because righteousness and unrighteousness cannot coexist in peace. Darkness always resents the light that exposes it. When Christ’s righteousness shines through you—through your integrity, your refusal to compromise, your refusal to laugh at sin, or your boldness to speak truth—it makes people uncomfortable.

Think about it. Jesus Christ was the most loving, compassionate, and perfect man to ever walk the earth. Yet the world crucified Him. Should we expect a standing ovation when we follow in His footsteps? When you live for Christ: