Persecuted Church

The unity of the body of Christ is seen in both suffering and honor, in hardship and in rejoicing. As we read in 1 Corinthians 12:26, the suffering of any one member is the shared suffering of the entire body. At Trinity Evangelical Church, we hold to this reality as it is taught in Scripture and to the mandate found in Hebrews 13:3, to remember those in prison as if we were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if we ourselves were suffering.

We recognize that the persecution of Christ-followers is not something new, but rather since the very beginnings of the church has been an ever-present reality. Whether Stephen being stoned for his proclamation and witness, the apostles being killed and threatened for preaching the name of Jesus, or the life and testimony of Jesus himself, with his torture and death on the cross, persecution has always been with us. Persecution even seems guaranteed us. In John 15:20 it is written, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

It is easy to become insulated in the relative safety and comfort of our church and homes and to forget that there are those whom we call brothers and sisters, currently giving up everything for the sake of the Kingdom. It is natural to lose sight of the reality that persecution in its rawest form may one day knock at the doors of our building, our homes, and our community. It is simple to lose track of what legitimate persecution looks like in the face of our common daily struggles and hardships.

In recognition of these things, we make diligent effort to stay attuned to the persecution of fellow Christians around the globe and accordingly, as written in Ephesians 6:18, to pray always in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication, to keep alert with all perseverance, and to make supplication for all the saints. We recognize that our abilities to physically stem persecution are limited and that while we must be ready to support practically when we can, our primary mission for this season is to be vigilant in prayer.

In 1 Peter 4:12-13 it is written, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

For the brief season that evil and brokenness are allowed to persist, persecution of the faithful will continue. Even in this grim reality, history shows us that the persecution of the church has often yielded great harvest for the kingdom and the endless expansion of the gospel message, even when times seemed darkest. So, as we look to the return of the King, and say, “Come, Lord Jesus,” we wait patiently in all prayer and all supplication, rejoicing that in the face of hardship, loss, and even death for our faith, our Redeemer lives.

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