In the face of adversity, the Church has often found its greatest strength and growth. Throughout history, persecution has been a catalyst for the spread of the gospel, as believers have been scattered and the message of Christ has taken root in new lands. The book of Acts records how the persecution of the early Church led to its expansion: “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word“ (Acts 8:4).
In Genesis 50:20, Joseph explains that what the enemy meant for evil, God used for good and for the rescuing of many souls. This is consistent with how God so often takes persecution against His Church and uses it to build up His bride.
The Bible is full of examples of how persecution has been used by God to further His purposes. When the apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he wrote, “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). His chains became a testimony to the guards and those around him, and the gospel spread even within the household of Caesar (Philippians 4:22).
In the book of Acts, we read how the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, led to a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. However, this persecution resulted in the believers being scattered and preaching the word throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:4). The persecution that was intended to silence the Church became the very means by which the gospel message spread to new regions.
At first glance, persecution may seem like a force that would weaken and diminish the Church. After all, how can a community thrive when its members are subjected to violence, imprisonment, and even death for their beliefs? Yet, time and time again, history has shown us that the opposite is true – persecution has been a catalyst for the growth and strengthening of the Church.
The book and documentary “The Insanity of God” by Nik Ripken offer a powerful testimony to the resilience of the persecuted Church. Ripken, a missionary, spent decades interviewing believers in some of the world’s most hostile regions, where following Christ often comes at a great cost. Through their stories, he witnessed the incredible faith and courage of those who have endured persecution for their beliefs.
One of the recurring themes in “The Insanity of God” is how persecution, as mentioned above, has paradoxically led to the growth of the Church. In regions where the gospel has faced the fiercest opposition, Ripken found vibrant communities of believers whose faith had been forged in the fires of adversity. Their unwavering commitment to Christ, even in the face of imprisonment, torture, and death, has been a powerful witness to those around them.
From the early Church in Rome to the underground churches of China and the persecuted believers in the Middle East, the blood of the martyrs has indeed been the seed of the Church.
In “The Insanity of God,” Ripken recounts the story of a young woman in Central Asia who was beaten and raped for her faith. Yet, in the midst of her trauma, she found the strength to forgive her attackers and continue to share the love of Christ with those around her. Her endurance in the face of such adversity was a powerful testimony that drew others to the hope and peace found in the gospel. This is one of countless stories.
This endurance is not born of human strength; it is a gift from God, who promises to be with His people even in the darkest valleys. As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:3-5, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
As we consider the reality of persecution faced by our brothers and sisters around the world, we are reminded of the importance of prayer. The apostle Paul frequently asked for prayer for boldness and opportunities to share the gospel, even in the midst of his own imprisonment (Ephesians 6:19-20, Colossians 4:3-4).
We, too, must lift up the persecuted Church in prayer, asking God to strengthen and encourage them in their trials. We can pray for their safety and protection but also for their witness to shine brightly, that even in the midst of adversity, the gospel would continue to spread and take root in new hearts and lives.
Additionally, we can pray for those who persecute believers so that their hearts would be softened and their eyes opened to the truth of the gospel. Just as the apostle Paul, once a persecutor of the Church, was radically transformed by an encounter with the risen Christ, we can pray for similar transformations among those who oppose the gospel today.
As we stand in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters, let us be inspired by their endurance and draw strength from the same source of hope that sustains them – the unwavering love of our Savior, who has overcome the world.
As the apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-7,
May this living hope sustain us, and may the testimony of the persecuted Church inspire us to hold fast to our faith, even in the midst of adversity, knowing that our endurance will bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
