Blessed are those who are persecuted

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

Recently I was in my chiropractor’s office using the word “miserable” over and over again to describe how I felt, when he had asked me how I was. He noted to me that I had said the word “miserable” at least X amount of times and that I needed to be more positive – if I was ever going to be well I was going to have to speak it into existence. I replied, I completely agree; I’ve even taught we're a product of our own words and I have a book called Hung by the Tongue that states the same thing.


And then he noted a well known preacher, stating that even though he was criticized for preaching a feel-good religion, he’s right when he preaches that God wants us to be healthy, physically, and rich financially. Hmm I thought. So I went home and googled some of his well-known quotes. Here is one of the twelve that came up.


“God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us.”


Having been studying the beatitudes during the months of March and April, I just had to ask myself, “What’s wrong with this picture?” Does God really desire for me to be healthy and rich when according to the beatitudes this is what the blessed look like?


Blessed are the poor in spirit (spiritually empty; beggars) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, (over sin) for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek (submissive, gentle) for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (hungry) for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful (compassionate) for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart (morally upright, undivided) for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers (for God and with God) for they will be called sons of God.

And finally,

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness (harrassed, injured, tortured) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


All of these, if put into practice, will result in us being persecuted because of righteousness – the top rung of the ladder where the blessed are headed -– where every Christian should be headed. Persecution was not something that just happened to the first century Christian nor only happens today to the missionary abroad. The result of fleshing out the beatitudes, will be persecution; it’s a promise – the opposite of what many preachers preach today – certainly what the well-known preacher who’s mentioned above preaches.


How can we think that a comfort-seeking Christian can follow the cross-bearing Christ? Look at the following scripture.


“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 What a difference there is in “not lacking anything” from this perspective to “not lacking anything” in the physical and financial perspective suggested above. The two are nowhere near the same.


“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12.


“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,” Philippians 1:29 And then in this same passage Paul goes on to say,


“since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have,” indicating that struggles never go away for the Christian; they only get worse. (According to tradition Peter was crucified upside-down and Paul was beheaded by Nero.) When Paul wrote these words he was in prison, writing the book that's now become known as the book of joy -- joy, i.e. happy, blessed.


And then finally the last verse I want to call attention to:


“For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:19-21 Let me reiterate what Peter says here -- this man who was persecuted for being a follower of Christ and was ultimately crucified upside-down: “But if you suffer for doing good (persecuted because of righteousness) and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called…….”



Was Peter healthy and rich according to the minister's standards above? No. But he was according to Jesus'. He was healthy in that he hungered and thirst for righteousness and he was rich in that he inherited the kingdom of heaven. Praise God for persecution; it's the "highest" calling for a Christian.