The Mindset of the Persecuted Church

Lately two sisters on Persecution Watch have been talking about martyrdom. Particularly as it relates to the persecuted. Granted this is a subject that one would think that would be morbid. Yet there are those precious saints who seemed to embrace it and do it with joy.

This caused me to wonder. What is it about the persecuted church. What is it about suffering that causes one to have a deeper, more abiding faith in Christ. I had a brother who commented to me that one hour spent in the presence of someone who has gone through suffering will expose the shallowness of our faith. Perhaps that is why the American church is so shallow in its commitnent to Christ.

I noticed when I open up a thread on the more controversial issues that thread will run for a time. But when I open up threads on the persecuted they are short lived. This was the case in the thread of The Unique Anointing if the Persecuted.

Why does this forum fear the issue of persecution? Why are we afraid to talk about it? Though Greg will post articles about the persecuted church. I think many in this forum think the persecuted church is a myth in the mind of men like Tim LeHaye.

The Sermon Index conference back in 2012 took much criticism because some felt the topic of persecution was not appropiate for the American church. Indeed some in this forum objected to it because they felt it was too morbid to focus on persecution.

Saints the persecuted church is a reality and it will not go away. No where has God promised immunity to the American church regarding persecution.

If would be wise to ask how God does use persecution and ppsuffering in the life if a believer? Why do the persecuted say pray we will not escape the trials but stand firm in them? Even welcome them? Truly persecuted have a different mindset then we do.

Blaine Scogin

Brother let me address your last question first. When I speak of a special anointing on the persecuted I am drawing from 1 Peter 4:14. Peter writes to his bearers that if they are reviled for the name of Christ they are blessed because the sprit of glory and of God rest on them. Maybe anointing is not the best word to use but I cannot think of a more suitable word at the moment.

There is s difference in the literature of the persecuted and the literature of theologians. One can read Calvin or Owen and have their mind expanded. Perhaps even puffed up. But read Bunyon or Wormbrandt or even the New Testament and your heart is taken into Jesus Himself. You are humbled in heart to be in the presence of Jesus Himself as lived out in the lives of the persecuted. Perhaps it is that fellowship of His sufferings that speaks through their lives as lived out by Jesus Himself. As those who have lived out crucified lives as unto Christ. Even unto being martyred for Him. These are the ones that God says the spirit of glory and God rest on them. Even being felt in their writings to this day. God's presence seems to come off those pages of their books.

Some have said they have been instructed by the Pufitains. I would rather say, I pray in humility, I have been instructed by the persecuted.

Blaine

Saints the persecuted church is a reality and it will not go away. No where has God promised immunity to the American church regarding persecution.

If would be wise to ask how God does use persecution and ppsuffering in the life if a believer? Why do the persecuted say pray we will not escape the trials but stand firm in them? Even welcome them? Truly persecuted have a different mindset then we do.

Thank you dear brother for continuing to share the reality of the "majority" of the body of Christ in our day and perhaps all days of the Church as it was in the days of the Apostles. Only brief seasons of "peace" for the Church has been the reality of its existence in the world. Oh may we realize our kingdom is not the kingdom of this earth.

There is a powerful 10 minute sharing of the martrydom and suffering of the Hutterites here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xt0t2i_anabaptist-history-day-13-the-birth-of-the-hutterites-part-1_lifestyle

Start the video at this later point: 1:05:00

Brother before this thread slips into oblivion I wanted to reflect with you on your other comments. Indeed we need to be faithful to Him in the small things of this life. For if we are not dying to this world and the things in this world. How are se going to be prepared to die in martyrdom should we be called to that. Even offered that glorious opportunity to lay down our lives for Jesus.

I had often thought of this physical life to be a preparation for our lives in eternity. That the temporal choices we make this side of eternity have eternal consequences.

I think only the Holy Spirit will enable us to truly live crucified lives which may very well prepare us to lay our physical lives down for Him.

The challenge for the believer is not so much being able to die for Cgrist in that one moment. The challenge for the believer is living out the crucified life for Christ in a place like America. The brother who heads up Gospel for Asia says it us easier for him to be a Christian in a place like India than in America.

Perhaps our test to be in America are even greater to die to the American dream (whatever that is) and live out Christ.

Just my thoughts to interact with you on. God bless you bro. Appreciated your post.

Blaine

Greg, thank you for posting this video. I will certainly watch it.

Blaine

Luke 6:22
Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracise you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and "leap for joy" , for behold your reward is great in heaven. For in the sane way their fathers used to treat the prophets.

Acts 5:41
So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, "rejoicing" that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

Truly some of the strangest verses found in the New Testament. At least to the natural mind. Perhaps one can gleam the blessings of suffering for Christ will bring blessings and reward. Yet to "leap for joy" and to "rejoice that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name" are indeed strange to the natural mind.

In today's American church the blessed life is in the temporal blessings that one can recieve in this life. Those blessings that can make our life easy and comfortable.

To the persecuted church in times past and present the blessed life is something akin to suffering for Christ. The early Christians indeed considered it an honor to suffer fir Christ. Indeed to be martyred for Him. I have heard accounts of believers going out into the arena before blood crazed mobs demanding sacrifice of these precious saints. But these mobs instead of hearing wails of grief would hear hymns of praise to God. Giving thanks to Gid they had been considered worthy to suffer for Christ. Even to be martyred for Him.

I have heard of accounts of those precious believers kissing and embracing the stake they would be burned on. They would do this with joy.

Even today I read profiles of believers who suffer for Christ in with joy in their hearts.

So how can this be? How can believers leap for joy at the prospect of suffering for Christ? I can only conclude through a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. I can only conclude that in the midst of suffering the Holy Spirit will pour out abiundant joy to the heart that is open to recieve it.

God grant we learn and experience tbis precious truth in the midst of our own sufferings.

Blaine Scogin
9/28/13

Brother thank you for sharing your testimony about following Jesus in prison. It provides much insight into following Christ, even in hostile situations.

Much blessing be on you in Jesus.

Blaine