Being a follower of Christ has never been easy. During His earthly ministry, Jesus assured His disciples that they would be persecuted for His sake. He says, "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name...You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death" (Lk. 21:12-19).
This hostility toward Christ and His followers is an important element of Christian History. Below, I have listed two groups who were responsible for the persecution that took place in the early church.
PERSECUTION BY THE JEWS
Even though the earliest Christians were Jewish, they often suffered imprisonment and death by their own people because their belief system was thought to be in conflict with what was taught by the law and the prophets. What the Jewish Christians taught, however, was that Christ was the fulfillment of what was promised to Abraham in Genesis 12. During His earthly ministry, Jesus assured his hearers that he did not come to introduce new ideas that were contrary to Scripture. Jesus teaches, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Mt. 5:17).
Although the Jewish people held the Scriptures in high regard, they believed that within them was a formula for achieving salvation. What the Jewish Christians taught, however, was that the Scriptures demonstrate the sinfulness of man and the need for a Savior. Jesus also criticized this reasoning saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me” (John 5:39).
The early Christians did not call for Jews to abandon their beliefs, but to embrace the fact that Jesus is the Messiah promised from the Old Testament. This was a "stumbling block" to the Jews (1 Cor. 1:23) who could not accept the fact that the promised Messiah came from humble beginnings, was crucified and had come under the divine curse for mankind.
PERSECUTION BY THE ROMANS
i. Nero
Nero began his rule in October of AD 54. He had dreams of greatness, but was despised by his people. On June 18, of AD 64, a great fire broke out in Rome. Rumors began to circulate and still exist to this day that Nero made an attempt to burn Rome to the ground so he could rebuild it the way he wanted.
At this time, there were a large number of Christian communities that had not been affected by the fire. Nero placed the blame on these Christians, which was well received by many Romans who thought Christians hated mankind. Nero had Christians killed by dogs, crucified and even had many set on fire in the evenings to illuminate the city. Both the Apostles Peter and Paul were thought to be killed during Nero’s reign.
ii. Domitian
It is not clear why Domitian persecuted Christians, but many think it was because of their rejection of the Roman god’s and the Roman traditions that were mixed with pagan worship. During Domitian’s reign, John was persecuted and exiled to Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation. Like Nero, Domitian was seen as a tyrant. His enemies ended up conspiring against him and murdering him in his sleep.
Whereas the Jews persecuted Christians due to their misunderstanding of the person and work of Christ; Romans persecuted Christians because they misunderstood the rationale behind the actions of believers. Christian activity remained separate from Roman activity, not because of hatred toward mankind but out of obedience to God’s word. For example, Christians could not worship Roman god’s because God clearly says in His word, “Do not turn to idols or make gods of cast metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God” (Lev. 19:4).
APPLICATION FOR TODAY
There are two important points of application that should be made when discussing the costly call of following Christ. First, is the fact that even though God's opposition is always present, He works within seemingly tragic circumstances to accomplish His purposes. Although God was not responsible for the persecution of His own people, He knew it was going to happen, to whom it would happen (Luke 21:12-19) and what He was going to do about it.
After Stephen was stoned, persecution intensified forcing believers out of Jerusalem. Luke then records in Act 8:4, "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (Acts 8:4). God used this persecution to force believers to go out from Jerusalem and make Him known. Roman persecution had a similar result in that it did not stop Christianity, but helped it spread.
The second point of application is that in order to be Jesus' disciples we have to be willing to follow Him no matter the cost. Jesus said in Luke 14:27, "Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Although many of us in this country will never have to experience the kind of persecution we have discussed, the willingness to endure sacrifice for the sake of Christ should never be far from our thinking. No cost is too high in the service of the One who laid down His life to purchase our eternal salvation.
Although this Christian journey is challenging, the present difficulties do not compare to the blessed hope that awaits every believer. Paul affirms, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:16-17).
