David Pawson on Church History Part 9: 1900–1968

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Thoughtful Thoughts 9.5.25 by John Dunning. 

Church History part 9; Persecution.

INTRODUCTION

I dedicate this week’s Thoughtful Thoughts to persecuted Christians of today.

This week’s study includes a letter copied out from a time when Christians needed serious encouragement as they were suffering severe physical and mental persecution… The letter is relevant to persecuted Christians throughout history, including today. (The full name of this letter is “The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus'. As “Mathetes” means “student” in Greek, it means, “The letter of a student to Diognetus”.) 

It is dated from c. 130 AD, give or take. (ie the days of the first and second generation after the apostles of the early church, give or take a few years.)

It may not mean as much to today's western Christians as it did when it was written, but for today’s persecuted believers in the rest of the world, it is the best description of Christian believers that I came across. 

The letter is relevant to persecuted Christians throughout history, including today. The persecuted church of today will identify with this description, as the sentiment is bang up to date;- it is only the language that is dated…

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“THE MANNERS OF CHRISTIANS“ - A letter to Diognetus.

“For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. 

The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. 

But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. 

They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. 

As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things - as if foreigners. 

Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. 

They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. 

They have a common table, but not a common bed. 

They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. 2 Corinthians 10:3 

They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Philippians 3:20 

They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. 

They love all men, and are persecuted by all. 

They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. 2 Corinthians 6:9 

They are poor, yet make many rich; 2 Corinthians 6:10 they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. 

They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless (others); 2 Corinthians 4:12.

They are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. 

When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life;

They are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, 

- and are persecuted by the Greeks; 

yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.” (Ends).

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EPILOGUE

1). Jesus warned us of the persecution that will follow those who follow Him. 

Matthew 24:9-10 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

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2). If you are being persecuted for your faith, Jesus says this to you;-

Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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3). Today’s persecuted Christians

The letter quoted in today’s study is relevant to persecuted Christians throughout history, including today’s persecuted Christians… see the note, next, on the “Barnabas Fund”.

In the prayer section of our weekly Devotional, (This link takes you to our devotional https://blog.inspirationalmedia.org.nz/ ), there is an update on persecutions, written by the Barnabas Fund, if you wish to support those being persecuted today in your prayers. 

See the link below…

https://www.barnabasaid.org/gb/news/updates-on-the-persecuted-church-15-march-2023/

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This is John Dunning signing off from “Thoughtful Thoughts” for another week.

This link takes you to our DEVOTIONAL https://blog.inspirationalmedia.org.nz/

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