Hammer on Anvil '

They called the apostles in, beat them, and told them not to speak in the name of Jesus again. Then they let them go free. The apostles left the meeting full of joy because they were given the honor of suffering disgrace for Jesus (Acts 5:40,41, NCV).

I have never been able to wrap my brain around this passage of Scripture. The disciples were merely doing what Jesus commissioned them to do, and they were imprisoned, beaten, and threatened with worse. That part I understand; we are not to be greater than our Master, and since He suffered, we will suffer.

Their response is what baffles and humiliates me -- they rejoiced! When I insert myself into this passage and try to imagine what my own response would be, I confess it would not be nearly so noble. I enjoy my comfort way too much to be imprisoned and beaten. And I would complain loudly that I did nothing to deserve such treatment!

How about you? Does the thought of being "worthy to suffer shame for His name" cause you to rejoice? Or are you of the "all things in moderation" persuasion -- where faith is private and tidily compartmentalized and so shallow that it could never possibly get you into any trouble?

I doubt any of us has had to endure what the disciples did. To some of us, "persecution" might mean a coworker ribbing us about our faith, or one of our children being teased at school for reading their Bible in the cafeteria. Perhaps you experience chronic health problems, and bemoan that you are suffering persecution. But none of our everyday annoyances comes even close to what our brothers and sisters around the world are suffering. We don't have to meet in secret to hold a church service. Our church affiliation does not make us targets to be thrown into prison, tortured or killed.

Sometimes harassment comes from your own "camp" -- well-meaning Christian brothers and sisters who don't understand your zeal and passion for God, and encourage you to "cool it" when you get "out of control." A precious friend of mine is undergoing some of this right now -- God has put her in a place where gay people are drawn to her, and she loves them with the love of Jesus. Does she try to change them? No -- she knows that is not her job. She is a free-flowing conduit through which Jesus can touch others, because her heart is surrendered to Him. And she gets lambasted by the Pharisees who think she should judge the gay people and convince them they are headed for hell.

When my husband was fired from his job as a reporter at a small-town newspaper because he started a local right-to-life group, a well-meaning friend said that was the closest thing to persecution that he had ever witnessed. But John was quick to assure him that losing his job was a far cry from being persecuted for his faith. He merely took a stand for his religious convictions, and was fired.

I guess the question we all need to ask ourselves is one that is difficult to consider: Are we so sold out to Jesus and His purposes that we are willing to die for our faith? Are we willing to go wherever God asks us to go, and spread His Word boldly, even if that means risking bodily harm or even death? Is our relationship with Jesus strong enough to withstand such persecution, or would we lose heart and recant our faith?

Let us endeavor to possess a faith so vital that we, along with the Apostle Paul, can say, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).