It is strong evidence of a person’s regeneration by the Spirit that you will not only trust in Jesus and live a Christ-like life, but that your response to the world’s despising of that life will be increased devotion to the Lord and love for your neighbors.

“Jesus, Mighty King of Zion”

Fearless of the world’s despising,
We the ancient path pursue;
Buried with our Lord, and rising
To a life divinely new.

The little-known hymn “Jesus, Mighty King of Zion”¹ was written by John Fellows to commemorate a baptism. What kind of life is a Christian being baptized into? While this question might seem elementary, how we answer will impact the mission of the church, including how we approach sexual ethics.

The third verse of the hymn, which is quoted above, describes the Christian as having been buried with our Lord and risen to a life divinely new.² One of the signs that a person has been raised with Christ is fearlessness of the world’s despising. This powerful lyric captures the confident disposition of a Jesus-follower, while also recognizing the reality of the world’s hostility towards God and his people.

Christians throughout the centuries have been persecuted and martyred, but many have displayed the peace of Christ during trials and even at the moment of their executions. While we have been providentially spared from violent opposition, American and Canadian Christians are likely to encounter what Pope Francis has called “polite persecution.” This happens when people proclaim that biblical theology or ethics are a hindrance to societal progress or personal fulfillment. Given the ever-widening gulf between the way of Christ and western civil religion, examples abound where biblical theology and ethics are regarded with disdain or ridiculed.

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