How do you feel when you are persecuted for your faith?

Question

I have noticed over the years as I grow closer to Jesus there is ALWAYS someone who has something negative to say about me and there have been people in my own family in past that have treated me like dirt. It is accepted if you want to be negative like certain people are in the world, it is accepted if you are cynical and sarcastic. People who get picked on and abused and presecuted dont neccesarily warrant it or ask for it. At my last job
I was treated very poorly and if I wanted to I could have had a law suit against certain people for the awful slander they said about me on purpose.

My question how do you handle the persecution either in the circumstances you go through and through people?

I know the Bible says great is your reward when you have been persecuted but I think that pertains to heaven, and I respect that but I need to know how to deal with this at the present time I am in.

Answer 1

When people persecute me for my faith I feel shot down and I feel like the world has just crashed down on my head. But I know that that is the work of the Devil to make me feel powerless, and even though devil laughs at me everytime I am persecuted, God is blessing me for my Faith. My preacher always says that if the Devil is tempting you and giving you a bad time than you must be doing something right. And my Pastor is right, and I would rather have people persecute me for doing something good for God than have them leave me alone for me not following God. I would rather have the devil give me a bad time for doing the right things than for the devil to leave me alone for not doing what I need to do for God. I don't want an easy life of not following God and go to Hell, I want the Devil to give me a bad time that way I know I am doing the Will Of GOD!!!

Answer 2

Well, I think that Christians who feel persecuted may have to step back sometimes. In your case, it does sound like serious persecution, and if it really is because you're Christian (as opposed to, say, you're annoying or arrogant. Considering how polite you are here, I doubt it's either of those), you may have to directly confront your persecutors. You see, Christians get a really bad rap in some places, because so much of the persecution is done BY Christians. People of other religions, particularly Pagans who are branded as Satanists and Muslims who are branded terrorists and devil-Worshippers, often begin to feel cornered and hurt by the actions of some Christians, and in response lash out at all of Christianity.

What you need to do is tell and show that you are not like the more bigoted Christians and that you do not support bigotry or persecution in any way.

... On the other hand, some Christians are just whiners. e.e Like the ones who go on about how they're being persecuted because they are not allowed to denounce others' religions or pass laws based on Christian morals. e.e

But I don't think that's you, just from the way you feel. If you are the pushy type of Christian, maybe you should take a step back and look at your own behavior-- could it be construed as insulting to someone who doesn't believe in your God and doesn't want to?

Answer 3

It is difficult when you feel persecuted by anyone. Some people are very loud with opinions, even after if is known that there is a difference of opinion.
Believe it or not, some people feel persecuted by Christianity- this is a religion that does have some blood on it's hands (Catholic history, some methods used by people who proseletize, try to keep them from getting married, etc). You don't want them persecuting you, nor do they want to be persecuted by you (or the religion you represent, even if you do not share in the actions that make them feel persecuted).

So, the upshot is, as in most office situations, smile, take the higher ground, say "That is your opinion", and keep your beliefs to be shared with people who care and respect them.

Answer 4

Well I hate being labeled a terrorist and hate how Americans and Europeans like discriminating against my brothers and sisters simply because we practice Islam and are Muslims. And I hate how western women think all Muslim women are slaves and oppressed and seem to think that Muslim women need to be liberated. I hate how the Jews attack us and how people blame us for the 9/11 attacks when we had nothing to do with that and I hate how everyone says "all Muslims should be thrown in GIMO". By the way that is a big fear for most Muslims. I just wish people would quit being afraid of us and take the time to see that we are people too and to study Islam before they say hateful things about us. But I know that all this persecution is a sign from ALLAH and I am happy to know that I am still Muslim and try to do everything I can to show people the truth about Islam and know that insha ALLAH I'll go to Jinnah when I die.

Answer 5

I am a saudi muslim woman who lives in the middle east and wears a hijab.
Guess what that means????

I'm the poster child for every opponent of the hijab.
I'm the poster child for every supporter of liberating muslim women.
When I travel abroad people never care not to stare.
People always remind me of how badly I am treated; they always make sure to tell me how my countrymen and fellow male believers consider me lower than an animal.
In the west laws are being produced to forcibly make me remove my hijab, while here in the east it's being shoved down my throat.
I've actually seen people stare at me in wonder and then seen PITY in their eyes.

I see fellow muslims kill each other.
I've seen the super powers of the world turn away to the murder of innocent children, while scolding us (muslims).
I've seen dumb-asses who blow themselves up somehow thinking that's actually going to make a difference.
I see evil people (muslims and non alike) use GOD and HIS message to do their evil works, all the while letting the true believers get the blame.
My country doesn't give me the right to vote, drive, or pretty much do anything without my guardian's permission.

I can't remember the last time I didn't know any of this. GOD, I wish i didn't know any of this.
How do I deal with it?
Take each day at a time. Remember God. And just try not to go nuts.

Answer 6

We Atheists are persecuted all the time .
In fact there are some States that we can`t hold a political a office ,because of our beliefs.
Some of the Worst persecutors are YOU PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS.
You feel we are evil, misguided or have the need to be " Saved "
You teach your fellow believers that we are lost souls that are going to burn in hell.
You guys JUDGE others more than the Supreme Court .
So Get used to the persecution because the world is a changing.

Answer 7

If you are a Christian, you will suffer because of it. The more open you are about being a Christian, the more you will be hurt.

How do I handle the persecution? I remind myself that they are totally blind. They ridicule me because they do not know the truth. They have a depraved mind and have bought into the lie.
Romans 1:28 (NIV)
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

I can't get too upset though, I didn't believe in Christ. I bought the lie and I spewed at Christians.

Pray that God will open their eyes. They need Jesus and God is the only one that can reveal the truth to them.

Answer 8

I am Wiccan so I am more than use to persecution of faith. We hide our faith for fear of losing our jobs (separation of church and state has nothing to do with private jobs). Usually when someone learns what we believe it is a very trying time if they are unwilling to just find out what we are about and not fall victim to the blind slander of the past by other faiths.

Answer 9

I have no faith. Yet, still I am persecuted for it and told I will burn in Hell for eternity.

Seeing as Hell and eternity do not exist, I find the threats laughable. When I "came out" at work as the resident Atheist, I was told things such as "Man, Id hate to be you on Judgement day!" and "I wont try to change your views, but man I feel sorry for you!" My response was very simple: "No need to feel sorry for me. I feel sorry enough for the both of us that your mind has been polluted by a mind virus." I find that wit and logic are awesome weapons against those that attempt to preach to me.

Answer 10

My first reaction most of the time is flesh, get angry, upset, offended.

Then thier is honor to suffer for Jesus Christ, ridicul, talked about, not for but for the LORD.

Look at the Apostles after being persucuted: Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

James 1:12; Revelation 2:10 speak of the Crown of Life, for those who suffer or are martyr for Jesus

Why: because the world is not our home:
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.