Seekthetruth has a good point. Christians aren't persecuted enough!?

Question

Jesus clearly says that we are blessed when we are persecuted. He also tells us to bless our persecutors.

So why don't we persecute the Christians? Then they will be blessed, and then they will bless us, and then we'll all go to heaven.

Ignatius, a second century Christian writers, wrote all his friends telling them how excited he was that he was going to be fed to the lions. These were real Christians, they were hardcore. I think a little persecution would really separate the wheat from the chaff, if you get my drift.

But I'm not advocating anyone HATE them, you should persecute them because you LOVE them and this would HELP them. So technically I'm not violating any TOS. I really think this could be the one thing that brings the theists and the atheists together. If you're a Christian and you aren't for this, then you clearly haven't given yourself to Jesus and you're just serving Satan.

You can't deny that this is the logical conclusion to draw from reading the Bible.

Answer 1

social persecution is stil persecution!

Answer 2

I suspect that, as you suggested, many Christians would fall away from their faith if they faced persecution. Many Christians in the Western Hemisphere (myself included) are spiritually fat and lazy and undisciplined; our faith hasn't been forged in the fire of persecution like that of Christians from the first two centuries after Christ.

However, persecution is alive and well in many parts of the world. It is widely accepted fact that the 20th century saw more Christian martyrs than the previous 19 centuries COMBINED.

The interesting thing is that, in many of those places around the world where Christians have been oppressed, the communities of believers, while smaller (because the wheat does indeed separate from the chaff), are arguably more effective, more selfless, more caring, more compassionate - more CHRIST-LIKE - because their faith has been tested and they have been found to be worthy.

And isn't it just like Christians - like Saint Ignatius to whom you referred earlier - to bless their persecutors? One of the great aspects of Christianity is the irony, the counter-intuitiveness, of its central tenets: that the meek shall inherit the earth, that the last shall be first, that to be a leader one must be a servant to all, that through his death Christ assured life to all who believe. No matter how many martyrs the Romans made, the conversions continued until Christianity became the official religion of the empire.

So if massive persecution began, I would expect the number of Christians to decline dramatically due to death and desertion. But the remnant that remain - and this harkens back to the remnant that returned from the Babylonian Captivity in the Old Testament - will be tested, dedicated, and more unified than ever before. And in the greatest irony, those few that remain will win over the hearts and minds of their oppressors and help bring about God's reign here on earth.

Question: By what guiding philosophy do you operate that would permit you to do harm to others as outlined in your question? I am curious as to how you can philosophically justify persecuting people based on what YOU believe is best for them.

Answer 3

I don't know about the part of the people that aren't up for this serving satan, and the persecutor's going to heaven just for being blessed but.... you kinda make a valid point... If us Christians are persecuted we should grow in are faith and learn more. What ever happens in your walk with God should bring you closer to him and make you stronger in your own faith.
Christian's that are and will be persecuted for their belief's will be blessed a hundred fold in heaven for that persecution here on earth.
God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
(Matthew 5:11-12)
there are many other verses as well.

Answer 4

You need therapy.

Cant I? Ive read it, and although it says we are blessed, and should bless them who persecute, nowhere does it say it is a good thing, should be done, nor that it will get our persecuters into Heaven, so no, it is not a logical conclusion. But I appreciate the effort.

Answer 5

My faith in God is a challenge yes, I also learn from the many hardships I experience in my life. Compassion is one of them for someone like you that has no understanding what a TRUE Christain really is, persecution from non believers is one of many things we go through, either physical as u see it, written or other means to shut down someone that truly loves Jesus. I pray you will in time learn to understand what a Christain is all about.

Answer 6

Amen, brother. No religion whose followers make up eighty percent of the country's population and cast the deciding votes in its elections has any business whining about persecution.

Answer 7

WHAT!? did you take a coarse in Satanic Theology 101? Why would anyone want to persecute someone they love?

Answer 8

A logical conclusion after reading the bible would be that it is full of contradictions and a very hazy central thesis.

Answer 9

for one is bible precise or just a good story of ages. and dude this tough love thing is b.s doing that would start a religous war

Answer 10

To that I say AMEN!



stpolycarp77, couldn't you ask the same from God?