Do We Really Have to Endure Persecution & Isolation for these Views?

C wrote me on July 15th 2012 a heartfelt complaint after suffering persecution for holding to her guns on the issue of Jesus' Words Only:

My Reply

C.

I outlined how to have a church starting in your own home with your spouse, and spreading it out to others. See our page Jesus on Church Structure. I explained how you could attend Paulinist oriented churches to fellowship with those who also share a love for Christ (even though often misdirected). See our page How to Treat Paulinist Tares.

Due to privacy laws and common decency, I cannot give out other people's information. Sorry.

Turning to your problem, persecution is clearly unpleasant. Jesus endured it and it did not end well in terms of this earthly existence. All His friends abandoned him. His closest apostles denied knowing Him, i.e., Peter. Even a friend betrayed him unto death, i.e., Jesus called Judas "friend."

One way to feel less alone and bear persecution for following Jesus is to read the books of those who think like us and endured persecution too.

I recommend you read Dietrich Bonhoeffer Cost of Discipleship and another of his works -- which directly answers your  question -- called "Life Together."  (Bonhoeffer ignored Paul in Cost of Discleship, and Bonhoeffer was obviously influenced by Kierkegaard who criticized any further attention on Paul's writings. See my page.)

As Bonhoeffer suffered imprisonment at the end, he says that a Christian life is not supposed to be necessarily one in fellowship with fellow believers. If you have any fellowship with fellow believers, it is solely a gift of grace. "Not all enjoy this blessing" of fellowship, Bonhoeffer said. Instead, Bonhoeffer in Life Together (NY: Harper 1954) written circa 1943 quoted Martin Luther from 1525:

"The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ. He wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lillies, not with the bad people but the devout people. Oh your blasphemers and betrayers of Christ. If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared?" (Luther)

Indeed, the Reformation would never have succeeded unless a few were willing to suffer persecution and isolation. Their original numbers were just 2 -- Luther and Carlstadt. Now there are millions whom they spawned.

Bonhoeffer says Jesus' remark that His followers are to be joined from the four winds in Matt 24:31 implies we are scattered. Bonhoeffer writes:

"Until then, God's people remain scattered, held together solely in Jesus Christ, having become one in the fact that, dispersed among unbelievers, they remember Him in far countries."

After saying that it is only a grace of God that gives us any fellowship and many do not have such a blessing, Bonhoeffer says:

"The imprisoned, the sick, the scattered lonely, the proclaimers of the gospel in heathen lands, stand alone. They know the visible fellowship is a blessing...but they remain alone in far countries, a scattered seed according to God's will." (Id., at 18-19.)

Thus, if you are suffering persecution, count it all joy, as James says. It is a sign you are on the right track. And a servant is not above His master, and since Jesus suffered persecution, so will all those who follow Christ. Jesus however taught us to dust off our shoes and move to the next town. Not that we are weak, but then the pearls you have will no longer be trampled unworthily.

I hope this helps. Blessings and Shalom,