The world is changing radically for Christians, and it is harder now for many of them to proclaim their love for Jesus Christ when they are being persecuted left and right.
Still, Pastor Rick Warren from Saddleback Church prefers to look at the glass half full. He believes that there are actually some lessons Christians can learn from those who are persecuting them.
"When you feel pressured by the world because you love Jesus and other people don't, you need to remember three things," he writes on his website.
The first thing to remember is that opposition is an opportunity for Christians to be more like Jesus, Warren says, as he shares the Bible verse John 15:18. It says: "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first."
"If you're going to grow up and be like Jesus Christ, then you're going to have to go through the things Jesus went through, including loneliness, discouragement, stress, and temptation. What makes you think God would spare you when he didn't spare his own Son from those things?" Warren asks.
The second thing to remember is that opposition will only deepen one's faith. Warren explains that faith is like a muscle—without being stretched, strained, and tested, then it will never grow. Likewise, if a person does not encounter any opposition in their lives, then their faith will not grow.
"The strongest believers in the world right now are those who are having their faith tested the most," he says.
And lastly, opposition will give people eternal rewards. Warren uses the Bible verses Matthew 5:10-12 to state his case. It says, "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven."
The pastor points out that people will get rewarded for being like Jesus.
But if they are rude or obnoxious to unbelievers, they will not get rewarded.
"If you live a self-righteous life when you get persecuted, you're not a martyr; you're just a jerk," he says. "You don't get rewarded for that. You get rewarded for being like Jesus. When you share your faith, you're to do it with gentleness and respect, just like Jesus, and you will be rewarded for it one day in Heaven."
