Are you suffering at all, because you are representing Christ?
As I read through the New Testament, it seems that Christians will be marked by suffering at some level, if we really are representing Christ (1 Peter 2:21-23, 1 Peter 3:13-17, 2 Timothy 1:6, Acts 5:41, 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, Philippians 1:29, Romans 8:17, John 15:18-20, 16:1-4). We, in the U.S., may not suffer at the level that the early church did, because our laws force a certain amount of tolerance and hinder violence. But, we can still suffer rejection and ridicule. We almost surely will suffer those ways, at some level, if we are living for and talking about Christ.
We should not take this kind of suffering as a sign that something is wrong in our lives. Rather, it is a sign something is right with the way we are living. 1 Peter 3:14 says “you are blessed” if we suffer because we are living righteously for Christ. This is a hard perspective to have – not just pointing at others, but for me - but it is a truth of the word of God.
I’m talking about suffering that is directly related to representing Christ, not suffering in our lives from general hardship, and especially not from our own sin (1 Peter 3:17, 4:15). I’m talking about the suffering distain, mockery, or rejection that comes from living a different life, a life lived by what is right in God’s site, in a immoral culture, and from talking about Christ, in a culture where most will reject Him (1 Peter 3:15-16, 4:16).
As much as I care to share Christ, I think I look for friendly opportunities, not ones where I think I might be rejected or mocked. I think if I were taking every opportunity the Lord wanted me to, I would probably be suffering more. I want to take every God-lead opportunity, even if it brings suffering.
Like I said, this is a hard perspective to have. It’s even harder to live. Would you at least start with reading through the verses listed above, and praying that God would help you respond the way He desires?
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