The world will always persecute you

A servant is not greater than his master and as people deal with the master they will deal no less to the servant. Jesus Christ said that the world never knew Him. Since the world never knew Him, then it will never know us. It will hate us as it hated Him. Remember the world killed Him even when He spent His life healing, preaching, praying and restoring. These are the works of a man of love yet He was tortured and put to death. The time is coming where the same might happened to us. As a matter of fact our brothers in Christ in various places around the world are being persecuted as we speak. It's not uncommon in China and some Islamic countries. Before the defeat of the Taliban in 2003, anyone who was caught a Christian in was executed by the bullet. And they didn't care if it was a young child or an old man, they(the world) killed those people who followed Christ all the same. This goes on in China as well. Many of our brothers in Christ are forced to work in these sweat shops and their bibles go only to government sanctioned churches. What we take for granted, they don't even have in their hands. Even here in America, Christians are under attack by the secularist growth in government, the militant atheist movement, and even extreme homosexual groups. Even Janet Reno started to target serious Christian groups since the 90s. This will get worse as time goes on.

But you have to understand my friends and brethren this has gone on for centuries in one form or the other. Even after the Roman Empire adopted Christianity, it still nonetheless murdered Christians because they didn't want to follow the various semi-pagan traditions. As a result over 50 million Christians were killed. Even as the great Renaissance progressed, those Christians who refused to follow vain traditions or give indulgences to the church were arrested and persecuted. Because they kept the Lord's Word in their heart, because they knew to give to the poor, because they wanted to comfort the widow instead of the chief priest, they were ostracized. But be not surprised for Jesus forewarned us saying that men will deliver you up to the councils.

Don't worry with what the world accuses you of being. For false accusations will also be brought against you. Most likely you who trust in the Lord and follow Him will be called a “fundamentalist”. They will compare you to the crazy Jihadist terrorists all because you don't believe in things like abortion or homosexual marriage. Be pleased when they do say things like this because they said the same things about your King in Heaven. Think back when John the Baptist was living in the wilderness. When they saw him dressed in camel skin and not any fancy clothes, they thought he was some crazy berserker. He even asked them what do you expect someone calling for repentance in the wilderness to wear?---fine linen? No matter how much beauty Jesus Christ Himself brought into this ugly world, people and officials still called Him a heretic, a blasphemer, a rebel, and a threat to the empire. They gave these labels to a Man who healed both Jews and Pagans and gave the starving food!

The world will find as many excuses as possible to disregard you as well. When Jesus had dinner with sinners and apostles, His opponents started to call Him a drunkard and a fellow decadent. His opponents never bothered to see the reason why He sat with sinners, it was was because they were the ones who most need to repent and be healed. But that's the thing, the world's accusations and excuses are ridiculous. John the Baptist sat with no body and had was starving but people saw an excuse to discredit him as well, by saying he was some wacko with a demon. Likewise this is done today too. Think back to when the last time you heard a Christian tell the hard truth and he was then rebuked as being too judgmental. Think back to when such a thing happened to you. This is because the world and even some Christians like to stuff their ears. A few years after I came to Christ, I was called a persecutor of people because I didn't believe in lifestyles that the Lord said were wrong. Even my own father called me a fundamentalist at one point.

We have to understand, your home is not in the world. Your home is in God's kingdom and that is your ultimate destination. Therefore we should not bother trying to blend in with the world or foundation ourselves in it. Jesus said the world did not comprehend or accept Him and it will not do the same to you. So in that case let us not start sounding like the world, acting like the world, looking like the world, or living like the world. Don't become something you are not simply because the TV says that you should look like it. When Jesus Christ was on earth, He never concerned Himself with running for senate or becoming a general in Rome's legions. He didn't seek that kind of prestige and pride for Himself. Rather Jesus Christ sought how He could honor and bring glory to His Father in Heaven.

Don't worry about being starved or getting cast into a hole for rejecting the world either. For God said He will sustain His people. In ancient times when God brought the Hebrews out from Egypt and separated them from the world, He fed them. When they were starving, manna and quail was given to them day and night. If God's going to feed the smallest bird, then He will definitely feed us.

Sojourn on with God all our life and worry not about what men will say about you, nor what the world will try to do to you. God will be with you at all times. So when the world tries to attack you, know that they attacked the Lord Himself long before you.