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Image result for persecution of christiansThe Jesus Manifesto continues. It may seem strange that Jesus should pass from peacemaking to persecution, from the work of reconciliation to the experience of hostility. However hard I may try to make peace with some people, they refuse to live at peace with me. Not all attempts at reconciliation succeed. Indeed, some take the initiative to oppose me, and in particular to ‘revile’ or slander me. Some want to injure me or kill me.

This is not because of my foibles or idiosyncrasies, but ‘for righteousness’ sake’ and ‘on Jesus account’, that is, because others find distasteful the righteousness for which I hunger and thirst, and because they have rejected the Messiah I seek to follow. Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems, the Jesus system and the worldly system.

“Happy (aka Blessed) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” | Matthew 5:10 (NASB)

Persecution by the world and secular powers is a likely consequence of faith. Scripture identifies a number of potential sources of such persistent harassment but it is definitely clear I will be persecuted because I follow Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB) —  Indeed, all who desire to live godly in the Messiah Jesus will be persecuted.

Matthew 13:21 (NASB) — “Yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.”

Mark 10:29–30 (NASB) —Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the good news sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”

1 Thessalonians 3:4 (NASB) — For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.