As we contemplate the persecuted church this week, it is easy to feel overcome by hurt, anger, and even a desire for revenge. The body of Christ is suffering. Before I write any more or before you read any further, please let that sink in for both of us. Men, women, and children are hurting. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are harassed, beaten, tortured, and murdered for following Christ. They are suffering. But they are not the only ones.
Their persecutors are suffering too.
Of course, this is not usually something most of us want to think about. Or, worse still, perhaps this is something some of us hope for. Rather than seeing with compassion those who persecute the church, we see them as enemies. And it is easy to understand why.
We are quick to forget that our persecutors – like Saul – do not yet know the love of Christ. Because of this, they are suffering apart from Christ. And unless we pray for, care for, and minister to them, they will continue in that suffering for eternity.
As painfully impossible as it may seem, we must forgive them — because Christ forgave us.
I cannot possibly begin to fathom what it must be like to bear the weight of all sins past, present, and future, while praying forgiveness over those killing me (Luke 23:34). Nor can I imagine what it must be like for the wife or mother of one of the 21 men martyred on a beach in Libya if she were to face the person who killed her husband for his faith and forgive him.
Let’s be real for a minute. The most persecution I have ever faced for my faith was some negligible comments of derision here or there from some otherwise friendly folks. By comparison to what so many others experience, (read some of their stories here and here) my own experiences of so-called persecution do not amount to much of anything. So I refuse to pretend I understand the magnitude of pain that plagues many of my fellow Christians. And so I hope and pray my words do not disrespect the very real suffering they have experienced and are experiencing.
What I can do is wipe the tears from my eyes as I pray for those suffering, and remember Christ’s response in the face of the ultimate persecution. After being brutally beaten and nailed to a cross, Christ prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
These words, or at least their Aramaic equivalents, mixed with blood, sweat, and tears, fell from Christ’s lips as he was crucified for the very people clamoring for His execution.
Why? Because “God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). If God loved us so much while we were still sinners that He sent His son to die for us, then we must recognize the same is true for those who persecute the church.
They are loved.
It is natural to grieve or want vengeance. It is natural to want restitution. But at the end of the day, these are not things we can righteously obtain (Deuteronomy 32:35). No matter how much we are hurt, or how angry we are, we have a responsibility to adopt the mindset of compassion and not of vengeance (Romans 12:17-21, 1 Peter 3:9). We must love our enemies and recognize that they are not ready for heaven. We must recognize also that their minds and their hearts are hurt and broken by the absence of Christ within them. Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…”
For those who persecute the church, I pray these words for you. To my brothers and sisters in Christ, I hope you will pray with me.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before you humbly, heartbroken for those persecuting the Church universal. It is so easy to forget they cause such pain because they have not experienced the love of Christ and are still under the deception of Satan. So I pray that the body of Christ would adopt a mindset of compassion and not of vengeance. And Lord, I echo the words of Christ as He prayed, “Forgive them, Father. For they know not what they do.” Father, I pray each individual who is actively persecuting the church would have a divine encounter. Not one of vengeance or wrath, but of mercy and forgiveness. Your Word reminds us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. If Your love was sufficient for us in the midst of our darkness, I believe it is just as sufficient for theirs. In the name of Christ, I ask that You break the chains that bind them to their own darkness that they may come into the eternal light of love, by the grace of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ — and that on the other side of eternity, we might meet them as fellow brothers and sisters, never again as enemies.
In the holy and precious name of Jesus I pray, amen.
