Subject: PERSECUTION TESTIMONY

That is everybody, says the Bible, all men, all women, no matter age, sex, or race. No matter how good that character, the behavior, or the way of life. ALL HAVE SINNED.

That, says the natural man, the human who hates Christianity, is: HATE SPEECH.

When that three letter word SIN is used to describe anyone, it evokes emotion, reaction, resistance, and resentment. But unfortunately, it is true. ALL HAVE SINNED.

So then, says the scripture, that man or woman, that sinner:

MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

It is not optional, it is not simply one way to redemption and to God, it is THE ONLY WAY. Every human being MUST be born again. That, says the anti-Christian, is Hate Speech. There is no way that such a person needs to be WASHED IN THE BLOOD, cleansed by the saving blood of Jesus Christ, no way. HATE SPEECH!

But, sorry sinners, says the Bible, without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin, none. But that story, mythology, says the natural man, that CROSS OF CALVARY is an:

OFFENSE.

Wrong. Even worse, BARBARIC. More Hate Speech and more hate of Christianity and Christians. But Jesus says, dogmatically and exclusively:

TAKE UP THAT CROSS, MY CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.

Do so, HE says, because:

I AM THE WAY.
THE TRUTH.
THE LIFE.

NO MAN COMES TO FATHER BUT THROUGH ME.

Arrogant, says the atheist full of hate. No such thing as exclusivity, dogmatic, and the words of a bigot. More Hate Speech and therefore, PERSECUTION is justified. They are indeed aggressive words, dogmatic, uncompromising, but unfortunately, those words indicate the way, the truth, the life, deeply emotional, and they can arouse strong bitterness and hate.

Those words, and the worship of Jesus Christ, invite PERSECUTION the world over, and the natural man, hating Christians, now begins to attack Christianity two different ways:

Testimony

But, then comes the issue of TESTIMONY. Yours and mine. Once we know the saving grace of Jesus Christ, we are called upon to be unashamed of the Gospel knowing in our own lives that it is the power of God unto Salvation. We are endowed by the Holy Spirit with a sound mind, loving heart, and we know that we have been possessed with the truth, the way of salvation, the truth of God, son Jesus, and that we have life, new life here and new life hereafter.

That now and forevermore is who we are, what we believe, and how we must:

TESTIFY.

We do that every day by WORD OR DEED. Many Christians believe they are not qualified to testify, they do not have the words. But there is the sure promise of scripture and our newfound Lord that:

I WILL GIVE YOU THE WORDS.

If you are called upon to testify, the words will come, Holy Spirit driven. One of the most powerful testimonies I ever heard was from a man who rose to the occasion, responded, shaking, tearful, grammatically incorrect, but simply wanted to let everyone know his great love and passion for his Lord. I will never forget that testimony of which was grammatically incorrect. YOU, believer, can verbalize what you believe with the power and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So, do it. Knowing that men will revile you, and persecute you, resent you, react negatively, resist, ridicule, and reject.

JUST DO IT! Do it knowing that the Bible promises that words in testimony for the glory of Jesus Christ will never return VOID but will always do good for the Gospel.

Nonviolent reaction to Christian testimony is hurtful and hateful. The message of God induces strong reaction, incites, and will often produce anger and hatred in return, but the spirit of power which you now have will protect you. We who believe must learn to be BOLD.

The bolder we are, the stronger we are in testimony, in word or deed, the more powerful our Gospel message. Deeds, good deeds, loving deeds, often produce far greater reaction and results than mere words. By their fruits, they will know you.

Often words can leave negative reactions and one can be accused of being a BIBLE THUMPER or HOLIER THAN THOU or perhaps worst of all A HATE MONGER among others. The good deed has a language all its own. The good deed of love has the most powerful language of all. Be bold in testimony for your Lord, word or deed, and learn to grow bolder as you grow in Christian faith.

Violence

VIOLENCE. When nonviolent methods don’t work, when words or deeds trump the anti-Christian, the only remedy left is violence. Persecution then turns violent. Christians are killed. Paul was beheaded. Charlie Kirk was murdered by an assassin’s bullet. Jesus Christ suffered the most horrible death of all, a brutal, barbaric, incredibly painful crucifixion. All died at the hands of violence for who they were and what they believed. Christians are called upon to be ready for that possibility, required as a matter of faith to:

LAY ALL ON THE ALTER.

Not fight back, not use the violent weapons of this world, but the weapons of the newfound life, the weapons of love and prayer. Christians are called upon to turn the other cheek, to do the hardest thing in this world:

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.

There is nothing more difficult, nothing. But that is the ultimate weapon, the only weapon which prevails in the fight for faith, and if that is your lot, then there is no greater love than that of a man or woman who lays down his or her life for his friend:

FOR HIS LORD.

That is the hardest thing. Even Jesus Christ asked the Father to let this crucifixion to come to pass from Him, but He did what He had to do, as you and I should.

The bolder your faith, the more aggressive the persecution. That persecution could be at the extreme and nonviolent ways, or the ultimate violent act, death itself. Never, my fellow believers, fail to testify by word or deed with the power of the Holy Spirit. Be ready to put your all on the alter for HIM, knowing and believing that eternal promise:

FOR YOU AND ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.

THE STAND