Rev. Wayne Detzler’s sermon at the Black Rock-Long Ridge Congregational Church (North Stamford, Connecticut) drew on the Apostle Paul’s counsel for those suffering persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. The same counsel applies to each of us, even if we face only non-life-threatening miseries.
Today, in many parts of the world, Christians face modern Neros bent upon suppressing those who follow Jesus’s call to spread God’s love to the world. While we in the United States do not yet endure strictures to the same degree, liberals’ hostility to evangelical Christians and their increasingly successful measures to outlaw religion and morality in education and all forums of public life portend nothing good. Liberal spokesmen like Richard Dawkins, for example, have suggested that parents who instruct their children in Jesus’s message are guilty of criminal conduct that warrants the political state taking their children from them.
Having spent much of their adult life as Christian missionaries in China, Rev. Detzler and his wife have witnessed imprisonment and beatings of most of China’s Christian leaders by that nation’s liberal-socialist rulers. Nonetheless, despite relentless persecution, there are an estimated 80 million underground Christians in China, meeting in homes, led by modern-day Apostle Pauls.
Rev. Detzler described a typical young, Chinese Christian woman who radiated serenity and joy, even while facing the continual threat of imprisonment and torture, having before her the example of her parents whose poor health resulted from such treatment over the years. How did she do it?
The answer can be found in Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1:27-30)
As Rev. Detzler observed, Christian joy is not a reflection of external circumstances. It comes from the spirit within, like the radiance from a light bulb.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe... (Philippians 2:14-15)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9)
It boils down to one thing: our strength is in Christ and being in Christ, by committing our lives to Him.
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