PERSECUTION – BE PREPARED FOR LIES AND MUCK

One of the critical aspect about the persecution of Christians is that, lies will be spread, and muck will be thrown on us. We see the same in the entire human history. Whenever man wants to defeat someone or a group of people, the first things they do is, to defame them, discredit them, demonise them, dirty their reputation and standing, so that, once it is done, it becomes easy to do, whatever they wish to do. One has to first, dehumanise a person to the lowest possible denominator, and only then, the hate would flow freely and unabated.

Look at the life of Jesus. He was called all kinds of names, by those who claim the status of being the “Chosen People” and the followers of One True God, before they plotted his cold-blooded murder, based on lies, manipulation and pure hatred from the very pits of hell. The class that hated Jesus was the religious and the ruling class. They are the ones who held the power. They are the ones most affected by Jesus’ revolutionary teachings…which in fact were, the rectification of the corrupt teaching and implementation of the God given, holy and righteous commandments, by the religious and ruling class, for their own personal interests.
– “You are a Samaritan and have a demon” – John 8:48
– “You are a blasphemer” – John 10:33
– “You are a drunkard, a glutton, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” – Luke 7:34
– “You are a Galilean” – John 7:52
– “You are the son of a carpenter” – Matthew 13:55
– “You are a madman” – John 10:20
– “You are a deceiver” – John 8:48
– “You are a liar” – John 8:45
– “You are a bastard” – John 8:41
– “The Talmud contains a few cryptic allegations that Jesus was illegitimate, and a medieval Jewish story characterizes him [Jesus] as a child of adultery.” – “Was Jesus Illegitimate?” by Bible Odyssey

Early Christians were severely persecuted too. The names they were called is also astonishing. The Roman Empire, and its entire administration, viewed Christians as evil. They were accused of anti-empire [anti-nationals in today’s terms] and subversive, making them the perfect scapegoats, for all the problems in the society. Here is a list of accusations against Christians, by the Roman empire, which, well and truly, led to severe persecution, unlike any in the entire world, even till date.
– Anti-empire, anti-nationals and subversive elements, wanting to destabilise the empire
– Cause for the Societal Problems
– Accusations of Cannibalism

The world will hate Christians. However, before it hates us, it has to DEHUMANISE us as bad, wicked and evil people. Only then it becomes easy for the vengeful world to hate us, spread lies, and throw muck at us. Jesus said…
– “18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 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. 20 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. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.” – John 15:18-21

May the LORD help us to hold on to Him, in the face of insults, persecution and all the muck that will be thrown at us. Such a scenario is normal, natural and expected…
– “12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” – 2 Timothy 3:12-14