Are You Avoiding Persecution?

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness" (Matt. 5:10).

If you don’t experience persecution, people probably don’t know you’re a Christian.

I heard of a man who was fearful because he was starting a new job with a group of unbelievers whom he thought might give him a bad time if they found out he was a Christian. After his first day at work his wife asked him how he got along with them. "We got along just fine," he said. "They never found out I'm a Christian."

Silence is one way to avoid persecution. Some other ways are to approve of the world's standards, laugh at its jokes, enjoy its entertainment, and smile when it mocks God. If you never confront sin or tell people Jesus is the only way to heaven, or if your behavior is so worldly no one can distinguish you from unbelievers, you will probably be accepted and won't feel the heat of persecution. But beware!

Jesus said, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you. . . . Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory" (Luke 6:26; 9:26). The last thing anyone should want is for Christ to pronounce a curse on them or be ashamed of them. That's an enormous price to pay for popularity!

If you take a stand for Christ and manifest Beatitude attitudes, you will be in direct opposition to Satan and the evil world system. Eventually you will experience some form of persecution. That has been true from the very beginning of human history, when Abel was murdered by his brother Cain because Cain couldn't tolerate his righteousness.

You should never fear persecution. God will grant you grace and will never test you beyond what He enables you to endure (1 Cor. 10:13). Nor should you ever compromise biblical truth to avoid persecution. In Philippians 1:29 Paul says that persecution is as much a gift of God as salvation itself. Both identify you as a true believer!

Memorize 1 Peter 2:20-21. Ask God to continually grant you the grace to follow Christ's example when difficulties come your way.

Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, noting the severe persecution Paul endured for Christ's sake.

I worked in ultra liberal Manhattan for more than 20 years.

Not once, including myself, did I see or hear anything about someone losing their job or even getting grief for saying they are Christian.

I always say it. I have worked in 4 investment banks. Has NEVER been an issue.

I’m not gonna look to get persecuted when it’s not happening in my life and I never hide my Christianity

I never saw any real persecution in the workplace either.

Got some teasing about it, and other snarky remarks, but nothing beyond that.

A friend is a CPA and has worked at the corporate offices in some pretty big banks, and he said that any CPA who is a Christian and doesn’t let them know during the job interview is a fool. They want Christians because they know they are honest.

However, I did have a different Christian friend who was asked to cook the books and she refused, and was passed over for a promotion.

However, later, when it came out what happened, the guy who agreed ended up going to jail.

I've worked several places over the years. First job was at 17, now 58. My faith became known one way or another at every job.

The only persecution I've ever experienced was at the hands of fellow Christians who disagreed with me on one doctrine or another. It was never anything serious until my last job where my supervisor was a Christian.

At first everything was fine. We even prayed together before work. Then one day, the topic of speaking in tongues came up. I told her I believed in it but rarely do it. She was adamant that speaking in tongues was speaking to the devil and The Bible prohibits it.

I mentioned that it specifically says in The Bible to NOT prohibit speaking in tongues (I forget where). She flipped out and called me a devil worshipper and made the next 6 months of my life a living hell.

I eventually took a lower paying job just to get away from her.

I now work in a hospital that has one room that serves as a Chapel. That is where I spend my breaks.

I have prayed with several patients, including one who has since rescinded his Do Not Resuscitate order because he believes God has allowed him to live long enough to mend fences with family members he has alienated over the course of his life.

He used to just lie in bed waiting to die. Now he gets into his wheelchair and does laps around the hallways using his feet as much as he can to build up enough muscle strength to walk.

Glory to God.

In Oregon state government, Christians need not apply. At some agencies, the interview process requires applicants to state how they value and will promote diversity. Example

A couple years ago, a professor at Willamette University was invited to a bible study. The professor declined, saying it would threaten her job, and couldn't attend until she got tenure.

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