The world’s hate for Christ is the source of their persecuting fervor and that hate can be hidden behind a smile as you are graciously ushered toward the door at the end of the evening.  However, once the door closes behind you, the smile of your once congenial host falls to the floor and it is announced to the house that those people will never cross this threshold again.  And yet, this is no different from a dictator who stops “roaring and issues forth sweet talk” at least for the moment.  Hatred for Christ is common to the hostess and dictator.

Paul once commented to Timothy, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”[1] This text tends to make the typical American Christian uncomfortable.  They immediately compare their experience to that of the underground church in China or something similar.  Yet, the text has a universal application no matter where we live.  For example, mention the name of Jesus in certain circles, even in America, and you will experience persecution.  Some might wonder if a family member’s passing annoyance or a co-worker’s irritation rise to the level of those who would hunt down or pursue Christians so that we are put to flight for our faith.  That is not often the case.  Perhaps the most that happens is dinner invitations dry up and opportunities for promotions are no longer presented.  And so, we are tempted to think that our light afflictions do not rise to the level of actual persecution.

But rather than comparing our American experience to that of the house church in China we ought to find our understanding of persecution in God’s Word. For example, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you…if they persecute me, they will also persecute you.”[2] The world’s hate for Christ is the source of their persecuting fervor and that hate can be hidden behind a smile as you are graciously ushered toward the door at the end of the evening.  However, once the door closes behind you, the smile of your once congenial host falls to the floor and it is announced to the house that those people will never cross this threshold again.  And yet, this is no different from a dictator who stops “roaring and issues forth sweet talk” at least for the moment.[3]  Hatred for Christ is common to the hostess and dictator.

But perhaps a point that is worth making is that hatred for Christ can be and is often cloaked with a smile and feigned good intentions.  And sometimes it is masked by civil authorities seeking the civil good.  For example, when Pliny the Younger was a provincial governor in first century Rome he was a loyal servant of the Emperor.  His duties bore the significance of a trusted official.  He was an auditor, a civil engineer, a lawyer and a military inspector!  What is more, his letters indicate that he sought to do all of these responsibilities to his utmost. It is in the midst of these responsibilities that we find something interesting.

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