How Does the Church Grow against a Rising Tide of Opposition?
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“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).
It is certainly no secret that the Church is under attack. And that persecution comes in a great many forms, some far more serious than others, including physical violence and even death. But to ask it quite glibly – what else is new? The church has been the victim of persecution since the resurrection, when most of the apostles died martyr’s deaths. We see examples of this when Saul chased down those of “the Way” to execute or imprison them, and then later in almost every city that Paul traveled to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
Throughout the last 2,000 years, Christians have been beaten, imprisoned, stoned, or otherwise physically attacked and even killed. In some parts of the world today, persecution can still be life-threatening. In many Islamic countries, the death penalty awaits. But there are other countries, some surprising, that are equally life-threatening.
Here in the U.S, persecution is far less severe or obvious, and here too the sources are quite varied. They include civil rulers, employers, fellow-workers, teachers or professors, neighbors, friends, relatives, family members, or even other members of the church. Who among us has not felt the pressures of criticism, ridicule, teasing or even mockery? Who has not experienced a bit of trepidation when discussing our faith? One need only be a casual or part-time viewer of social media to witness it.
Christians have lost jobs, been demoted (or not promoted), failed in school, sued in court, or even harassed by police or the FBI. Christian businesses have been the targets of intentional “attacks” and subsequent lawsuits. Note Colorado Christan baker Jack Phillips, who for twelve years fought a legal battle brought on by the LGBTQ community. Or take pro-life Pastor Mark Houck, arrested at gunpoint by the FBI in front of his seven children.
Indeed, persecution comes in many forms, but all Christians suffer some form of it. Perpetrators hope we will compromise or even abandon our faith in some way. And here in the short term, their tactics seem to be working. The social pressures and criticisms against Christianity seem to be taking their toll on Christian growth throughout the world – including in the United States. A recent Gallup poll suggests that church attendance among adults has decreased from 42% to 30% in just the last two decades. For many of us who have been around a while, this seems to be a startling decline.
Let’s face it, current social cultures – quite variable over time and generations – have put public pressure on those of faith. Unfortunately, there is a greater, less measurable impact on local churches caused by the current climate, even from within the Church. We have been witnessing a significant apostacy from Biblical truth by those who claim to be Christian. Add to that many Christians adopting the sounds-good/feels-good tenets of Christianity, while ignoring the more challenging aspects of Jesus’ teachings, such as hell and sexual morality. And others who simply profess to be Christian, but are casual or non-practicing, at best – or at least fail to live their faith.
So, how do we overcome this challenge? How does the Church remain strong and serve God without falling away and without compromising the truth, despite these pressures? How does the Church grow against what feels like a rising tide of criticism and opposition during these storms of life?
Since we know we won’t change persecution, maybe we are the ones who must change – in being better prepared, in expecting the prosecution and rejoicing in it, rather than shying away from it. Be better prepared to answer those who question us and changing our perspective on God’s hand in His Church.
A Change of Perspective
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches’” (Matthew 13:31-32).
Using parables was one of Jesus’ favorite methods of teaching. A parable is a short story from which the listener can derive a moral or spiritual lesson. Sometimes that lesson is obvious, others, not so much. The parable of the mustard seed may well be one of the latter – perhaps not so clear in its meaning. And, unlike some other parables, Jesus leaves it unexplained.
But upon examination, Jesus is comparing the kingdom of heaven to the tiniest of seeds that grows, slowly and continuously, into a massive tree. So it is with the kingdom. The Church started as a tiny seed and has grown – and continues to grow – despite all of the persecution, despite two millennia of people trying to stop it. Despite so many using religion in evil and vicious ways, God’s true kingdom will not be stopped. “…And the gates of hell shall not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).
John Mark Comer put it this way: “Who would’ve thought that an obscure teacher from a backwater corner of the world two millennia ago would become the central figure in all of human history? Not Julius Caesar, not Plato, not Napoleon, but Jesus of Nazareth.”
Indeed. Who would have thought?
Peter teaches us about God’s patience:
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (1 Peter 3:8).
God’s faithfulness to grow His Church is relentless. We don’t see it, and we are concerned about it because our vision is so short term, so impatient. We demand instant gratification. Quite the contrary of our Lord. While we are looking at the problems and challenges of our short-term lives, God is looking at generations upon generations.
One need only look at the growth of Christianity in the last century in Africa, China, and even in many Muslim countries to see how the kingdom has grown under persecution.
So, Do We Have a Role in This?
But none of this means that we do not have a role in expanding the kingdom. It is our responsibility to love people and to speak the truth. To spread the gospel and to live the message of the kingdom of God, and to behave like Jesus.
And when we share this message, it should not be done in anger, in hatred, or with vitriol. That includes how we answer others on social media. We should share this message with empathy, realizing that people who callous their hearts against God and reject Him outright will one day stand before Him to be judged. That judgement is not our job.
How many do you know who have been saved by being screamed at? Yeah, me either.
It is not ours to fix our broken world or what we may see as our broken country. We will not solve all our problems simply through our political system. Our country will not suddenly be blessed because we put prayer back in the schools or keep “one nation under God” in the pledge of allegiance. Those are mere words.
Let us remember that we are planting and watering seeds – changing one heart at a time. It is not ours to talk people into anything.
In Matthew 13:33, Jesus also taught that the kingdom of God was like a woman working yeast into a batch of dough. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Yeast is tiny in size but only requires a small amount to have a major impact on everything it touches. A little is kneaded into the dough, yet, given time, the yeast will spread throughout. Yeast makes the dough rise from within. In the same way, God first changes the heart of a person, and that internal change can have a significant impact over a lifetime, and even have an incredible ripple effect over generations.
The gospel influence in our culture works the same way. We must act as agents of change, slowly transforming that culture from within, one heart at a time.
Steps We Can Take as Agents of Change
1. Expect Persecution
When we expect something is going to happen, we are always better prepared. Just think about weather alerts for an upcoming storm. When we know it’s coming, we ready ourselves; we organize and equip ourselves accordingly. We can do the same thing for persecution – even mild persecution.
Consider for a moment what it took for the Jews in Jesus’ day to tell their families. Or what a son or daughter of a Muslim family who gives their life to Christ must endure. I can’t imagine, but let us pray now for similar boldness and faith.
2. Stand Firm. Be Strong and Courageous
Stand firm in your faith. Do not compromise simply to please or appease others. Be of good courage and use your gifts and talents to strengthen your church community and fellow believers, even when it seems counter-cultural or uncomfortable. Our ultimate desire should be to please God, not people.
3. Do Not Respond with Anger or Insults. Forgive.
When Jesus was on the cross, He didn’t reply with anger or hatred. He didn’t call down 12 legions of angels as He could have. Instead, He responded with patience, mercy, and grace, and He asked the Father to forgive all of His oppressors.
As difficult as it might be – let us imitate that.
4. Be Prepared to Give an Answer
Our faith is not blind, but it may appear to be so to the outside world. Be prepared to answer those who question why or what you believe. To touch people’s hearts, it must be more than a simple “because.”
I recently saw an article listing 14 questions that atheists commonly ask. We must be prepared to answer those honestly and correctly.
Study the word of God – and know the reasons why it wasn’t simply “written by men.” The New Testament is a collection of the most historically accredited ancient documents in history. Jesus was mentioned by both Roman and Jewish historians, as well as in the Jewish Talmud – rendering the historicity of Jesus undeniable. Discover that truth.
Then, we answer with gentleness and respect.
Simply stated, we must each make a personal decision about Jesus. Either He was a lunatic of the first order, or He was precisely who He said He is. There is no middle ground and no decision is a decision. Jesus gave us the option to make our own decision to accept or reject Him. Let people hear that.
5. Help to Create Disciples
As a Church, we can do a better job of creating disciples rather than simply assuming they will grow in their faith on their own. The command of Jesus was to create disciples and “…teach them.” This must be more than expecting them to attend Sunday services and listen to sermons. It must include prayer and allowing time in God’s word. One way we could go about this is starting discipleship classes to help new and young believers alike.
6. Live Our Faith
Pray that God would help you change the way you think, the way you feel, the way you act and the way you speak. Then live as if Jesus was right there by your side – because He is. His Spirit is within each of us.
“All believers have God in their heart, but not all have given their whole heart to God.” - Max Lucado
7. Serve Others
Don’t just say it – do it. You don’t have to go on a mission trip with your church, there are opportunities all around us. Often, they are in our own neighborhood, or right across the street. Help a single mom or an elderly couple. Volunteer with local organizations. Help. Serve. Let’s not get so wrapped up in our own lives that we look past others who so desperately need help.
We need to step away from our finite lives and our finite viewpoints, even our finite lifespans. We need to stop being concerned with what we are accomplishing today or this week or even this year in terms of “church attendance.” We need to look at the ripple effects of the kingdom of God. We, as the Church, need to be wholly committed to and passionate about the kingdom of God.
We need to be passionate about His kingdom that is expanding slowly and growing fiercely steady over millennia. It’s not about you or me. It’s not about our local church. We need to change our perspective and keep ourselves focused on and trusting in His kingdom and His will.
Our lives will be forever changed. Our lives will be forever devoted to Him. After all, He can do a much better job of that than we can.
Father, Let Your kingdom come. Let Your will be done.
Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/andrej67
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.