They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. John 16:2
The rise of radical Islam in countries such as Egypt and Iran has resulted in increased persecution and killing of Christians. In the name of their religion, these fanatics believe they are serving their Allah by destroying those who refuse to follow the false prophet Mohammed’s teachings. We can understand this to a certain extent, because the god that these people serve is not the God of our Bible, not the God Who send His Son to be the Saviour of the world. Their devotion to such a false god automatically put them at odds with the followers of the true God. But what about those who claim to follow the God of the Bible, who read and profess to obey the same Scriptures that we do? Why would these turn against the Christians and the Gospel that we seek to proclaim? As Jesus reminds us, they think they are serving God.
Opposing and killing those whose beliefs are different has been a part of religion ever since the encounter between Cain and Abel. Religions of the world are at war with each other and within themselves, and all in the mistaken belief that they are serving their gods. And their favourite targets are the true believers. This is because all of the world’s religions, the Christian religion included, are based on the need for works and ritual instead of simple faith in the finished work of Christ. The so-called Christians of the denominational world, those whose faith is in their religion and not in the Lord Jesus, are just as much enemies of the cross and the true Christians as those who openly serve other gods. Strident followers of such denominations strongly oppose the Gospel when it arrives in a community, and ostracize any who are saved as a result of the Gospel preaching – the putting out of the synagogues that Jesus refers to in our text. All this should remind us that religion is of the devil, and leads to strife and persecution, just as it did when religion reared its ugly head in Cain’s offering. This reality offers you and me little comfort while here in our little earthly sphere. But it promises us joy in the world to come.
Do not be offended if you are persecuted for your faith. Those doing so are deluded into thinking they are serving God by hating and hurting you. Show them the truth by displaying the love of Christ. -Jim MacIntosh