The biblical word translated into English as persecution means to chase after; to harass, trouble, molest or mistreat.
It seems to me that Christians and Christianity suffer persecution—face-slapping if you will—from numerous places. I realize that I may be accused of paranoia, and I do not intend to engender fear. However, consider the obvious. In many parts of our country, religion is considered a taboo topic. At almost every turn, some new source of criticism arises to challenge the integrity of the Christian faith as well as the believers' intelligence.
Consider some recent attacks. Even though serious historians have poked holes in Don Brown's basic thesis in The Da Vinci Code, he arrogantly and falsely continues to declare that all information in the book is factual. How many have been misled is an unknown, but the number must be significant if gullibility is any indicator.
Or consider the recent claim that Jesus' tomb has been discovered. Oscar-winning director James Cameron produced a documentary that recently aired on the Discovery Channel. The film includes scholars who appear to affirm that the tomb belongs to Jesus. The scholars, however, have cried foul and indicated that they were misquoted. While the Discovery Channel has yet to acknowledge that the research in its documentary is bogus, its website now includes an article written by the misquoted scholars calling the documentary's conclusions erroneous. In fact, one biblical scholar has referred to the documentary as “archeo-porn.” Another asserts that the producers fudged on the facts. As though a “documentary” weren't enough, these same fact-fudgers have published a book that continues their baseless attack of Christian faith.
In fact, several books have gained attention recently for their evangelical atheism. In one, The God Delusion, which appeared on the best seller list for 29 weeks, author Richard Dawkins reportedly says his hope is that “religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down.” Not surprisingly, some authors have challenged Dawkins' beliefs. Alister McGrath, one of Dawkins' fellow professors at Oxford University and a former atheist himself, has written a response to Dawkins' book called The Dawkins Delusion: Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine. McGrath's book is scheduled for release in the United States soon.
If I were not a Christian, non-believers' myriad attacks on Christianity would not confuse me. I would expect that. Rather, I would be puzzled by the lack of authentic Christian behavior from the community of faith. Bertrand Russell, a well-known British atheist, is credited with having said, “I would become a Christian if it weren't for Christians.”
Russell's argument is flawed, of course. According to that logic, we could reasonably argue that economics is not to be believed because Al Parish, an investment fund manager and former economics professor, claims that he has amnesia and simply can't remember what he did with $134 million dollars. In the interest of full disclosure and to illustrate my point that many Christians are not actually living their faith, before his recent dismissal Parish taught at Charleston Southern University, a South Carolina Baptist college. I do not know the level of Parish's religious commitment, but when he was hired, he indicated that he was a Christian.
Athough we American Christians do not face physical persecution, the intellectual and emotional persecution that many of us experience is real and painful. In the U.S., we Christians have long been pampered as favored children. The time has come for us to accept what many of our international brothers and sisters already understand—persecution of Christians is normal in our imperfect world.
If an unbelieving world is slapping Christians in the faith with persecution, how then shall we Christians turn the other cheek? We will not successfully demonstrate our belief in Christ by responding loudly and emphatically from media-friendly pulpits. Nor will Christian intellectuals who deliver counter-point for point—though there is certainly a place for such apologists—be able to deter the persecutors. Rather, the kingdom needs Christians whose actions demonstrate the principles and precepts they profess.
But how can we deal with our culture's ever-increasing criticism and misunderstanding? First, we must realize that persecution is normal and learn to live with it. We must also allow others to hold and voice their beliefs—even beliefs that oppose our own. After all, unbelievers' insistence that there is no God neither removes him nor restricts his power. A few years ago, I traveled to Hungary with a partnership mission team. Our trip included a visit to an agricultural museum displaying an old anvil and a half-dozen worn-out hammers. The face of each hammer had been split and peeled back by countless blows to the anvil. In contrast, the anvil was none the worse for the wear. Like that anvil, true faith in Christ is not fragile and requires no coddling. Authentic faith will withstand every conceivable attack.
We also can find encouragement in the witness of others who have preceded us. The recent movie, Amazing Grace, has reintroduced the world to William Wilberforce. The movie traces briefly his struggle to embrace the faith and the degree to which he took his faith seriously once he became a believer. Wilberforce would not be content with a complacent Christianity that did not require whole-hearted devotion and practice by Christ followers. Consequently, the sin of slavery and the need for its abolition became so clear to Wilberforce that abolishing English slave trade became his life's cause and his greatest earthly success. His conversion to Christ literally made the world a better place for millions of human beings. The captives were set free, and Wilberforce demonstrated his faith publicly and effectively.
How should Christians respond to persecution? Biblically. That is, we must live radically obedient lives. When we do, non-believers will sit up and take notice. What is it that Jesus says? “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:44-45, NIV).
What shall we do? Turn the other cheek and keep on keeping on.