“The persecution of Israel’s prophets, and that of the saints of the New Testament and this age find their nexus in the life and Person of Christ. He sets the pattern for persecution within an inhospitable culture, and Scripture shows us at least two ways of understanding Him from this angle.”

Before we can explore the contours of growing domestic persecution, we must first be clear on our baseline for persecution in the first place.

What defines persecution?

Is it defined by the actions of a surrounding culture? Is it a particular pattern of legislation in more advanced governments, or the overthrow of a more sympathetic regime, a rash of violence targeted against Christian communities? Or do the changing winds of culture indicate that Christian persecution is rising?

Do we look to the historical Christian heroes of the past, such as the Ten Booms, the Boenhoeffers, or any of Foxes’ martyrs? Having stayed faithful under the rigid fist of history’s totalitarian regimes, their stories warn, inspire and encourage us – but they too, have their limitations.

External circumstances and historical martyrs most definitely inform persecution, but they do not define it.

The question, then, is not what ultimately defines persecution, but rather “Who.”

The persecution of Israel’s prophets, and that of the saints of the New Testament and this age find their nexus in the life and Person of Christ. He sets the pattern for persecution within an inhospitable culture, and Scripture shows us at least two ways of understanding Him from this angle.

[Editor’s note: This article is incomplete. The source for this document was originally published on raanetwork.org – however, the original URL is no longer available.]