The Scene Back Then
Christians have experienced persecution for their faith right from the very beginnings of their existence. Indeed Jesus was the first to be persecuted, and the story that follows him in the New Testament is one in which such experiences were a norm rather than an exception. James and Stephen were executed, Peter and John were, amongst others, put in prison and even Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, himself was once a persecutor.
Going forwards Christians found themselves to be useful scapegoats for political purposes. In AD 64 for example, the Emperor Nero accused them of being responsible for the great fire that destroyed a large part of Rome. Interestingly Nero himself was suspected by many of being responsible. Regardless though of the circumstance, State sponsored persecution of Christians was common place. It was illegal to believe in Jesus.
Persecution saw a significant escalation when in AD 250, the Emperor Decius ordered all in the Empire to make sacrifices to Roman gods. In doing so a certificate called a libellous would be issued, with those not possessing one being in danger of imprisonment, confiscation of their goods or death. Christians were obviously opposed to such a measure with many outright refusing while others found creative means of obtaining their certificates. Some made the sacrifices, many out of pure pragmatism, but others finding the race too costly.
Later waves of persecution, like that of Emperor Diocletian's in AD 303 targeted Christian leaders and property. Christianity had become somewhat entrenched at this point and as such the work of persecutors was to attack the perceived heads of the movement.
As a generalisation then, the early persecution of Christians was because it was distinctly counter cultural. Christians stood out and that made them a target. They were looked upon with much suspicion as they held secret meetings and took part in strange rituals. Of particular concern were the rumours that Christians were cannibals (communion) and incestuous lovers ('love feasts' with their 'brothers and sisters'). They became easy targets for attack from both the authorities and the non-Christian community around them.
There was also, of course, a religious dimension to their offensiveness to the Romans. Ironically, Christians were labelled as 'atheists' for their refusal to believe in and sacrifice to the Roman pantheon of gods. It was thought by many that calamities such as internal political divisions within the Empire as well as a number of serious invasions by Gothic tribes were punishments from the Roman gods for allowing Christians to live among them. It is also worth noting however that this was not just a religious rejection, but a social one as well. To refuse to sacrifice to the gods of Rome, and indeed to the emperor himself, was to reject, separate and distance oneself from the society they lived in.
The Lesson For Now
Persecution can often be a difficult issue for us to engage with given that we live in a country where persecution rarely finds clearly distinguished physical forms. Martyrdom, imprisonment and assault for our faith is not our everyday fear. But it is worth noting the powerful effect that persecution had on the early Church. By all accounts it was a galvanising force. Tertullian famously remarked that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." Persecution had the effect of establishing and rooting the Church in its faith. On the one hand, those who were unwilling to bear the cost of Christ were quickly weeded out. On the other hand, the testimony and perseverance of those who faithfully perished in Christ's name provided an encouragement and an example of fortitude for those who remained. What they learnt, I suspect, is that only the Gospel could sustain such endurance. Faithfulness to God was borne out of a God given understanding that he had been incredibly, graciously, faithful to them.
If there is anything but the gospel that motivates our faith, we can rest assured that we will not persevere. Jesus tells the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 and in it describes the person who has no root. He says, "When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away." The story of the persecution of Christians should provoke in us thought. What would we have done if we were born in to their situation, or perhaps, what will we do if in time our country turns away from its generally accepting disposition? If we fail to establish our roots, if we fail to ensure that the gospel, that Jesus Christ, is the motivator of our faith, then we are in dire straits.
The Church's long experience of persecution should also cause us to consider whether we have learnt or forgotten the lessons of our past. The sad truth is that over the centuries, the Church has been both the persecuted and the persecutor. Indeed in different places in the world now, it is being and doing both. Our lives cannot reflect any notion of such animosity. To do so speaks ill of Christ's name and does not display the grace and mercy we ourselves have been shown. We must stand for the truth of the gospel and the holiness it calls us to, yes. But there must always be gracious room for sinners to join the fold, just as you and I have!
Perhaps then it is these things that Peter has in mind in 1 Peter 3 when we writes,
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing … But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.