What to Do When Persecution Comes

The disciples of Christ would be betrayed even by members of their own households. “You will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” But He instructed them not to expose themselves to persecution unnecessarily. He Himself often left one field of labor for another in order to escape from those who wanted to take His life. So His servants were not to be discouraged by persecution, but to look for a place where they could still work for souls.HH 161.2

But whatever the danger, Christ’s followers must not hide their principles. They cannot remain uncommitted until they are sure it is safe to profess the truth. Jesus said, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.”HH 161.3

Jesus never purchased peace by compromise. His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He never tolerated their sins. He was too much their Friend to remain silent while they were following a course that would ruin their souls. He worked to help people be true to themselves, true to their higher, eternal interest. The servants of Christ, called to the same work, should be careful that, in trying to prevent conflict, they do not surrender truth. We can never obtain real peace by compromising principle. And no one can be true to principle without stirring up opposition. Jesus told His disciples, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Their only fear should be to surrender truth, betraying the trust with which God has honored them.HH 161.4

Satan works to fill our hearts with doubt. He tempts us to sin and then to regard ourselves as too evil to approach our heavenly Father. The Lord understands all this. Jesus assures His disciples of God’s sympathy, that not a sigh is breathed, not a pain felt, not a grief pierces the soul, but the throb vibrates to the Father’s heart.HH 161.5

The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place (Isaiah 57:15), not inactive, not in silence and solitude, but surrounded by thousands of holy beings waiting to do His will. Through channels we cannot understand, He is in active communication with every part of His domain, including this speck of a world. God is leaning forward from His throne to hear the cry of the oppressed. To every sincere prayer He answers, “Here I am.” He lifts up the distressed and downtrodden. In every temptation and trial, the angel of His presence is near to deliver.HH 161.6

Jesus continued, “As you acknowledge Me before others, so I will acknowledge you before God and the holy angels. You are to be My witnesses on the earth; likewise I will be your Representative in heaven. The Father does not see your faulty character, but He sees you clothed in My perfection. And everyone who shares My sacrifice for the lost will share in the glory and joy of the redeemed.”HH 162.1

Those who would witness for Christ must have Christ abiding in them. The disciples might speak fluently on doctrines, but unless they possessed Christlike meekness and love, they were not representing Him. A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ would deny Him. People may deny Christ by speaking evil, by foolish talking, by words that are untruthful or unkind. They may deny Him by shunning life’s burdens, by conforming to the world, by uncourteous behavior, by justifying self, by cherishing doubt, and by borrowing trouble. And “whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”HH 162.2

The Savior said, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” This strife is not the effect of the gospel, but comes from opposition to it. Of all persecution, the hardest to bear is in the home, the distancing of our dearest earthly friends. But Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.HH 162.3

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Christ will not fail to reward any act of kindness shown in His name. He includes the feeblest and lowliest of the family of God. “Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”HH 162.4

And so the Savior ended His instruction. The chosen Twelve went out, as He had gone, “to preach the gospel to the poor; ... to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.” Luke 4:18.HH 162.5