Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Persecute –diōkō

• to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away
• to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after
• to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal
• to pursue (in a hostile manner)
• in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one
• to persecute
• to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something
• without the idea of hostility,
• to run after, follow after: someone metaph., to pursue
• to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire

We’ve developed this fear in society of going against the grain of what is deemed a social norm. Right now, the idea of inclusivity is pushed…. and as it turns out, this puts Bible believing Christians in the cross-hairs of the cancel culture. We as Christian have no choice about the matter…. we have to take a stand. For example, if someone comes up and demands to be called by their “pronouns” a Christian has to make a choice here. The word of God teaches against homosexuality and, morally, if we agree to align ourselves with their lifestyle by complying with their pronouns we’re condoning the lifestyle and becoming partakers by affirmation. We have to stand against this type of social tyranny as it seeks to invade our personal freedoms to determine what we believe independently of others. It’s a violation of my rights to be forced to affirm against my own judgment that a boy is a girl simply because the boy wants it that way. We would vex our own spirit man to go against the Word and affirm what they want us to….and so we are and will be persecuted as a result. Preaching against any sin will bring out social justice warriors….but we have to stand firmly on the Word and what we believe, so the Gospel can be preached.

This is minor though…. there are those who are put to death for believing in Jesus… this is true persecution.

Revelations 12:11 ¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.