We have all heard the stories. Perhaps you have gone to see the speaker or read about them online; people suffering for the faith of Jesus Christ. It is actually the normal status for many, many Christians worldwide to risk the loss of property, jobs, freedom or even their very lives.
Even a cursory glance at church history, perhaps through DC Talk’s Jesus Freaks or Foxe’s Book of Martyrs helps one to appreciate the freedoms American Christians have so long enjoyed here in this continent to be able to freely worship and live according to our own conscience.
We don’t live with a sword hanging over our heads. We have not experienced rioting thugs coming to pull us out of our homes, or government seizure of our churches. I think we can all agree that this is persecution.
But what about a cake baker who refuses to make a cake for a gay couple for Christian conscience’s sake? What about the clerk who refuses to make out a marriage license for a gay couple? What about a politician who is hounded for calling Islam a violent religion of violence, while his own religion is a religion of peace? What about the young man who is refused a hire because he is very open about his Christian faith during the interview? What about a campaign to shutter or remove accreditation from a Christian college because they do not support gay rights, or a woman’s “right to choose?” Are these forms of persecution?
According some, including Ed Stetzer, not so.
Now don’t get me wrong here about what I am going to write. I have never met the man. He is widely respected, and it seems to me to be justifiably right to do so. He will probably never read this article. I am sure he is an amazing Christian leader, but that does not mean he is always right. I have read some things by him, and as a person who has been in ministry for 15 years, I tend to agree with him on most things. Here is one time I think he is wrong.
Here is what he wrote in this article:
“There have been several recent instances where religious liberty has been eroded in America. Christian clubs have been "derecognized" by colleges and universities. Politically and legally, we are in the midst of contentious debates over the extent of our religious freedom in terms of health care and marriage. I do not believe these should be considered persecution. When we refer to this as such, we lessen the real examples in places like the Middle East. But simply because our current issues do not rise to the level of persecution that does not mean we will never experience it in the United States.”
What does this mean? What is meant by current issues? What contentious debates is he talking about, and its relationship to religious freedom that the refers to?
Clearly he recognizes that there is a problem here in America. He clearly recognizes that this problem is broadly cultural and institutional. His remarks are given in the context of a statement concerning the “Myth” that Christians won’t be persecuted in the United States: “Christians in the US don’t have to worry about being persecuted.” It seems that Mr. Stetzer answers the issue by saying it is a myth that we are going to be persecuted. Yet Mr. Stetzer answers the question about Christians as a people by talking about “Christian” institutions.
Isn’t he ignoring the evidence that actual government entities are not engaged in some “debate,” but are actively pursuing Christians who act in the market place according to their Christian conscience?
I think he certainly overlooks them, and in his mind, because no one is getting burned at the stake, or publicly flogged with whips, that is not persecution.
There are two greek words that address this issue: Dioko and thlipsis. Dioko, according to the Greek lexicon Luow & Nida, can be translated, “To persecute; Harass.” It can mean “To cause to suffer,… or to threaten.” It can mean “to chase…with hostile intent.” Thlipsis means “To cause trouble, often with direct suffering.” What do these things look like in the Bible? In Hebrews 10:32-34 it can look like confiscation of property and insult. Isn’t that what these Bakers in Oregon are being threatened with? Exorbitant fines and public humiliation? That looks like what Hebrew 10 is talking about.
Why does Mr. Stetzer say there is an ongoing debate in our culture? This debate has already been settled in the minds of those who are in power in our culture: the hostile secularist left. They have determined to use their powers, through businesses (look at the Boy Scouts and the loss of corporate sponsorships) colleges (which Mr. Stetzer admits are driving out Christian organizations), as well as individuals like florists, bakers, photographers, clerks and many other every day people who have a Christian conscience. As soon as these individuals are identified, powerful coalitions of groups gather together to systematically punish, close, fine, and publicly humiliate them. It looks like a pretty systematic plan to harass, oppress and make miserable to religious minority group in our country.
Perhaps fair to say “This is persecution lite.” I get that. We DON’T want to diminish what overseas Christians and historical Christians have suffered. We aren’t suffering yet “to the point of shedding blood,” as the writer of Hebrews says. We absolutely do NOT have it as bad as world Christians in Africa, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia. But these sorts of harassments always precede the more onerous, dark and heavy forms of persecution. Don’t kid yourself. It is a myth that we here in America will not suffer persecution. Its already starting.
We must not diminish any form of suffering for Christ. But it is not to diminish the sufferings of Chinese Christians who are tortured in jail or even dying for their faith, if we say that Christians being fined into bankruptcy is also a form of persecution. To deny that IS to diminish what these men and women of faith are suffering in western culture. To have your livelihood taken away from you really is to suffer for the name of Jesus.
Pray for those suffering bodily harm and torture for Christians overseas. Pray for those suffering confiscation, jail and fines here in America for the sake of Christian conscience. Pray for all of us here in America, as these things are preparing us for what is to come.
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