This article is divided into three parts. You can find the other articles by clicking here and here.
Canadian Marshall McLuhan noted that “the medium is the message.” Jesus’ incarnation was living proof of this. God lived among us, and His very presence carried an incredibly powerful message of its own, even without uttering a word. Of course, Jesus did speak and what He said coincided entirely with who He was and what He did.
Persecution, though challenging, plays a significant role in amplifying the message of the gospel. It does so in at least two ways:
- First, persecution is consistent with God’s purposes – therefore, those who suffer for their faith are infused with the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Colossians 1:21 – 29, Paul draws a clear connection between his own suffering under persecution and the growth of the church, explaining that his suffering is consistent with God’s purposes. He rejoices in his sufferings for the sake of others because he believes that through them, he is filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the church.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known . . . 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Missionary Arthur Glasser, referring to Colossians 1:24, states:
This points up a cardinal principle: the gospel cannot be preached and the people of God cannot be gathered into congregations within the nations (John 11:52) without individuals here and there “completing what is lacking in Christ’s affliction” in order to accomplish this task (Col. 1:24) . . . . Such afflictions confront all who deliberately involve themselves in active service for Christ, especially when they seek to bear public witness to the gospel. [Christ’s afflictions] are “incomplete” in the sense that each successive generation of people of God must willingly embrace sufferings if the worldwide missionary task is to be completed. Only then will this privilege be forever ended.
As Revelation makes clear, Christ’s suffering through His Church is not endless. Glenn Penner notes: “[t]he time will come when the number of martyrs is complete and the suffering will end, as Christ returns to judge the earth.”
Meanwhile, Paul expresses his commitment to “fill up” what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ (1:24) and labor with all the energy that God “powerfully works” within him (1:29). While he ministers in weakness, God provides the strength he needs to endure and to continue. The power that raised Christ from the dead is assured to those who fulfill Christ’s sufferings. Indeed, one simply could not do the latter without the former.
- Second, the suffering of persecution gives the messenger of the gospel great credibility.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23 – 12:10, Paul passionately defends his credentials as a true apostle of God. He describes the numerous hardships, beatings, imprisonments, he has endured for Christ’s sake:
…with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. (emphasis added) (verses 23–30)
Paul boasts not in his visions and revelations, but in his weakness (verse 5). This is because his weakness is the conduit for Christ’s power and strength (2 Corinthians 12:9b,10).
It was Paul’s suffering in persecution – not his eloquence or his forceful personality – that gave his words great credibility with the Corinthians and with others. Paul did not seek out persecution, but God used Paul’s suffering to put the power of Christ on display in his life. Persecution was, literally, the medium through which Christ emphasized the power of the gospel message through Paul’s life.
What was true in Paul’s life is also true for us. Glenn Penner pointed out that “[p]ersecution . . . proves that we truly are messengers of God.” As we minister through the weakness and suffering of mistreatment, God can, and does, provide us the strength we need to endure and continue. The power that raised Christ from the dead is assured to those who fulfill Christ’s sufferings. These two – Christ’s power and His sufferings – are inseparable.
Stay steadfast in faith, find strength in weaknesses, and continue to shine the light of Christ in the darkest places.
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