John 15:19-20 (NKJV) If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
Many of us are happy to be saved but are unaware of the cost of being a Christian, but Jesus has warned us that we would experience persecution if He Himself was persecuted. Broadly speaking there are two kinds of persecution: firstly for being a Christian and secondly for the theological stand that we hold. However, we’ll be immovable if we have the strong convictions that life on earth is temporal and we are destined for heaven, and though there’ll be suffering for being a Christian and living and standing up for righteousness, darkness cannot overcome the light.
These convictions are particularly important now with the world’s values being so different from Christian values. For example, how are you responding to persecution for LGBTQ stand, to pressure over illicit business entertainment or excessive drinking with clients? Living out the truth of the Word means you will be different from the world. Darkness hates the light because it reveals what’s bad, so if you are standing up for the truth, you will likely be mocked or persecuted by your business partners, colleagues, and bosses. However, we must not compromise or cave in, otherwise we will stumble and the seed regarding how to be the salt and light of this world will be stolen.
The Apostle Peter denied his association with Jesus three times when pressure came with persecution after Jesus had been arrested. Similarly, we’ll also be tempted to let go of the Word we’ve heard and disassociate ourselves from God. Nonetheless, God is merciful and gracious and subsequently restored Peter because He knew that Peter had denied Him under duress.
The second kind of persecution is on the Word. If we just look for a formula to get us out of a current situation, and are more interested to hear the Word or promises than building a strong foundation with the Word or in the Lordship of Christ Himself, we will give up or stumble easily.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 (NKJV) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure
It takes patience and courage to stand in faith regarding the Word we’ve heard. Our faith can only grow exceedingly if we allow the Word of God to take root in our lives through meditating on it and practising what’s been taught, but you can rest assured that this kind of faith will survive the onslaught of persecutions and tribulations.
Sermon Series: The Seed San be Stolen but It Is Difficult to Uproot the Tree! (Part 2)
不妥协
约翰福音 15:19-20你们若属世界，世界必爱属自己的；只因你们不属世界，乃是我从世界中拣选了你们，所以世界就恨你们。你们要记念我从前对你们所说的话：“仆人不能大于主人。’他们若逼迫了我，也要逼迫你们；若遵守了我的话，也要遵守你们的话。
我们很多人开心领受了救恩，但却没有意识到作为一个基督徒需要付上的代价。耶稣警示我们将经历逼迫如同祂自己也经历逼迫。广义来讲逼迫有两种形式: 第一种是因作为基督徒而来的逼迫，第二种是因我们持有的神学立场而受的逼迫。然而假如我们坚信我们在地上的生命是短暂的，我们的盼望是天上的永恒生命，我们将不被摇动。即便作为基督徒我们会受苦，我们会坚持公义并活出公义，黑暗将无法战胜光明。
这种确信是如此重要，因为当今世界的价值观与基督信仰的价值观差异如此之大。比如你如何回应因反对同性双性恋而受的逼迫, 如何应对不正当的业务应酬或过量饮酒的压力？ 活出真理意味着你将与世界不同。黑暗恨恶光明因为光明揭示了败坏，所以如果你站立在真理之上，你可能被嘲弄或者遭遇你业务伙伴、同事或老板的逼迫。然而我们必须不妥协不投降，否则我们将失足，我们成为这个世界的光与盐的种子将会被偷走。
耶稣被捕后，使徒彼得在压力与逼迫下三次不认主。同样我们也会受试探乃至想放下我们听到的真理并且与主疏离。尽管如此，上帝满有怜悯和恩典，之后修复了彼得，因祂知道彼得是在胁迫之下而不认主。
第二种逼迫关乎圣言。如果我们只求找到一个公式让我们摆脱目前的状况，并且更愿意单单听圣言或应许超过以圣言或让基督亲自作主来建立稳固的根基，我们将要么半途而废，要么轻易就跌倒。
帖撒罗尼迦后书 1:3-4弟兄们，我们该为你们常常感谢神，这本是合宜的。因你们的信心格外增长，并且你们众人彼此相爱的心也都充足。甚至我们在神的各教会里为你们夸口，都因你们在所受的一切逼迫患难中，仍旧存忍耐和信心。
凭信心坚定站立在真理之上需要忍耐和勇气。只有当我们通过默想并践行我们被教导的神的话语，让神的话语在我们的生命中扎根，我们的信心才会成长，但是你可以笃定的是这样的信心将在逼迫和患难之中屹立不倒。
讲章系列：种子会被偷走，但很难把树连根拔起 (第二部分)