Preparing for Persecution

I moved to Canada from the United States on December 19, 2019. Many reasons prompted this move, the main one being proximity to family. Though I had been to Canada a few times before, I did not know much about it. I only knew it was a free Christian country like the US. But recent events had me question my initial assumption.

I now live in a country where the government deems churches non-essential, jails pastors for holding regular worship services, and has no outrage or condemnation when church buildings get torched down. In my new home, Christianity is getting increasingly outlawed. Immorality is praised, truth is suppressed, Christian beliefs are called myths, and lawmakers unanimously pass an evil bill like Bill C-4 that makes it illegal to offer counsel or speak against sexual immorality (among other things).

Furthermore, over the last two years, Canada’s federal and provincial governments have amassed unrestricted powers under the guise of fighting a pandemic and they used it to take away the freedoms and rights of citizens. The Prime minister of Canada even invoked war measures that gave him additional powers to deal with peaceful protesters.

I have been greatly troubled by Canada’s highly secular environment and gradual descent toward totalitarianism. It has caused me to consider the real possibility of living under government-sanctioned persecution in the not-too-distant future. Something I never thought would happen to me.

And as I have been meditating on persecution, reading about Christian martyrs, and thinking of ways to prepare, I made a brief list of things to remember should this kind of Christian suffering comes.

1. Do not think it strange

Believers must not be surprised by persecution but fully expect it to happen. When Peter wrote to Christians under intense persecution, he said, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12). Christians living in the West tend to assume they are immune to this sort of persecution. After all, we have our rights and freedoms!

But Scripture exempts no group of believers from any type of suffering. Philippians 1:29 says, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.” So when this kind of suffering comes upon us, we must not think it strange and look for a way out. Instead, we must embrace it and recognize it is the cost of following the suffering savior.

If God did not spare His own beloved Son from persecution, who are we to escape it? “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me [Jesus], they would also persecute you.” John 15:20.

2. Do not be ashamed

Suffering for the sake of Christ is a tremendous gift from God (Phil 1:29). For If we partake in Christ’s sufferings, we will also partake in His coming glory. Peter further says, “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:13-14).

Church history’s most faithful and devoted Christians all bore heavy crosses. And it is an honor to join their ranks. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12). When fiery trials come upon us, we must not be ashamed of the gospel, throw ourselves a pity party, or shake our fists at God. We must rejoice that we are worthy to suffer dishonor for the name and glorify it (Acts 5:41, 1 Peter 4:16).

3. Fix your gaze on heaven

Christian, we are not home yet. The pain and misery we endure in this fallen world are only temporary. We have a better country that awaits us. And our “light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

This world is passing away, and we have no lasting city here. We must look beyond our temporal sorrowful existence and seek the city to come (Heb 13:15). The city whose designer and builder is the living God (Heb 11:10). He has prepared a holy city where “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away.” (Rev 21:4)

If this world was all there is, if our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we believers are to be pitied the most because our suffering would be in vain. But Jesus lives! He is our living hope for resurrection and eternal life. Hence, we must not seek to avoid suffering for Christ to have a pleasant life here but lay it down so we can have eternal life (John 12:25).

4. Focus on your mission

Our mission is to preach the gospel of Christ, and nothing must distract us from it. We must not get so wrapped up in fighting and protesting for our rights and freedoms that we neglect our sacred duty. The world is a sinking ship, and our job is not to fix it but help the passengers escape. We are not called to save a dying world but to preach the gospel to dying souls so they may be saved.

Though they lived under Roman tyranny and intense persecution, neither Jesus nor the disciples sought to overthrow the Roman government. They were not activists or revolutionaries; they only preached the gospel. And we must do likewise.

Let the world worry about its issues. We are citizens of heaven, ambassadors of Christ, and we must be about our King’s business. And like Peter said, we must “be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15). What will it profit to “save” a world that is doomed but lose eternal souls?

5. Trust that grace will come in our hour of need

It is said that God doesn’t call the equipped but equips the called. This also applies to our calling to suffer for Him. Over the last few months, I have often wondered if I have the courage and conviction to obey God rather than men when the stakes are high. If I don’t right now, I am confident God will supply me with the faith and grace I need when the time requires it.

When God sent Moses to tell Pharoah to let his people go, Moses refused because he doubted his ability. So God said, “I will help you speak, and I will teach you what to say” (Exodus 4:19). When Jesus sent the disciples to evangelize, He said, “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say”(Luke 12:11-12).

Neither Moses nor the disciples knew in advance what they would say; God promised that He would teach them what they needed to know in that very hour. Likewise, I believe God will also provide us with everything we need to remain faithful when the time is right.

6 Remember that the Church is victorious

Though this world may continue its downward spiral into darkness, the Church will still stand. Jesus Christ has already overcome this world, and everyone who has been born of God shall also overcome the world (1 John 5:4). Human authorities will never threaten or harm the bride of Christ. They can snatch our liberties, but they cannot take the freedom we have in Christ. They can enact laws to control us, but they can never own us, for we are already slaves of Christ. Even if they seize everything we have, they cannot take away our salvation, our crown. And even if they afflict us, they will only ever harm our bodies, not our precious souls.

Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:28-31)

The Lord will always have His Church, militant and triumphant, and if the gates of hell will not prevail against it, what can men do? “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” (1 Peter 3:13-14).

“If you would have Christ’s blood to redeem you, you must give up to Christ your self,—your body, your soul, your spirit, your substance, your talents, your time, your all. You must from this day be Christ’s servant come, what may. If persecution should arise, you should be willing to part with all that you possess—with your liberty, with your life itself, for Christ—or you cannot be his disciple.”

Charles Spurgeon

Perhaps life will get back to normal in Canada. Maybe we will recover our freedoms and halt our descent into totalitarianism. Maybe not. Either way, the world will always hate and persecute us, and it is best to be prudent and prepare (Proverbs 22:3). These little reminders greatly encouraged me and eased my fears. I hope they will encourage you too.

Onward, Christian soldier!

  Grace and peace to you!