Christians,
Persecutors and Lions
By
Julio
Severo
While
Christians today are discussing the danger of a coming government that will
persecute them relentlessly and the right is exploiting this fear to elect its
candidates, Christians in the Roman Empire already lived this danger on a daily
basis.
They
were tortured, burned alive and thrown into the lions’ arenas. They were eaten
alive and there was nothing left of their bodies even to be buried in a
cemetery with dignity.
The
persecution of the Roman Empire was total: political and religious.
However,
there was not only Roman persecution. For religious reasons, non-Christian Jews
persecuted Christian Jews and still stoked the Roman Empire against Christians.
Non-Christian Jews saw themselves as a people much more chosen by God than
Jesus Christ and Christian Jews. This wrong Jewish perception persists today.
The
Christians’ reaction was to pray for the bloodthirsty Emperor Nero. The Apostle
Paul said:
“First
of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high
positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in
every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who
desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1
Timothy 2:1-4 ESV)
Paul
did not curse the persecuting Romans and Jews. He didn’t curse Nero. In place
of profanity, he encouraged Christians to pray for the cruel Emperor Nero and
his salvation.
Paul
could have this spiritual attitude because he was not just a nominal Christian.
Through prayer and reading the Bible, he lived in deep spiritual friendship
with Jesus.
Yet,
if he were involved in political interests, he would curse Nero day and night.
He would curse Jews who persecuted Christians.
The
quality of those who do not know God is their potty mouth, full of the filth of
their hearts. The quality of those who know God is their mouth of praise,
prayer and preaching of the Gospel.
Today’s
Christians are not tortured or eaten by lions and they curse everyone and do
not pray for anyone. Christians in Paul’s day were tortured and eaten by lions,
they did not curse anyone, but they prayed for everyone.
It
was cursing, slandering and lying that the Russian communist dictator Lenin
built the Soviet Union. It was with servants like Paul who did not curse, but
prayed, praised and preached the Gospel that Jesus Christ expanded the Kingdom
of God throughout the world — a kingdom that is bigger than the Roman Empire,
bigger than the American Empire, bigger than Facebook, bigger than Twitter and
bigger than Google.
I
hope that the spiritual example that Paul left two thousand years ago, when he
and many Christians were persecuted without cursing, will serve as a lesson for
modern Christians, who neither pray nor read the Bible, but speak as many
profanities and vulgarities as if they were more spiritual than Paul and even
Jesus Christ.
Portuguese
version of this article: Os
cristãos, os perseguidores e os leões
Source: Last Days Watchman
Recommended Reading:
The
Miracle of the Simplicity of the Gospel
Christians
need to seek the baptism and supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit
Theological
Zombie Tries to Turn Author of the Gospel of Luke into Zombie
Swimming
and Driving Is Dangerous… for Those Who Cannot Swim and Drive
Rev.
Larry Christenson, a Charismatic Lutheran Pioneer
Rex
Humbard, Premier Televangelist Who Blessed Millions
Spiritual
Gun Control Is Not God’s Idea
Demon-Expelling:
Truths and Confusions
Julio
Severo seeks to move Christians to daily prayer with ‘Prophetic Prayers’
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