Letters to the Church

by Francis Chan

  That’s what you read with the early church in Acts 5:40–41: “When they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Think about that for a second: “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” How are you going to stop people like that? That was the problem with the government and the early church. They were saying, “How do we stop these guys? We kill them, and they’re happier. We torture them, and they walk away rejoicing. We can’t stop them. Are we just going to kill them all—just to not listen to them anymore? They’re rejoicing in this. They get stronger through persecution.”

  Until we embrace the suffering that so many Christians embrace around the world, we’re not going to have an unstoppable Church. The Enemy is fighting so hard to keep us from reaching that place, because once we get there, he has no foothold.

  NOT OF THIS WORLD

  Over the past decade, it has been refreshing to see Christians have a greater awareness of people’s thoughts and feelings. Rather than quickly judging and labeling people, they take time to listen to their stories and consider their hurts and desires. This is a good thing. In so doing, however, many have made a damning mistake: they have lost sight of God’s thoughts and desires. In their compassion for people, they have ignored the holiness of God. They have forgotten that what God feels about an issue dwarfs what any human feels. Or every human.

  “Let God be true though every one were a liar.”

  Romans 3:4

  In an effort to be sensitive to others, we often lose sight of truth. When we do this, we no longer help people but damn them. True compassion takes into account far more than what a person feels today; it takes into account what he or she will feel on judgment day. What some do in the name of being open-minded and compassionate is actually done out of self-love and cowardice. We want to be accepted, so we listen and coddle but refuse to rebuke. If that is love, then the prophets, apostles, and Jesus were the most unloving people to ever walk the planet.

  On the contrary, Jesus loved so deeply that He was willing to suffer a lifetime of rejection, even rejection from His Father on the cross. Jesus never lost sight of God’s holiness and the offensiveness of sin. He suffered for speaking truth, showing us that true love is often rejected. This was the way of Jesus. This is the way of love.

  We may never have to run from physical suffering like our brothers and sisters around the world, but many have chosen to run from the suffering of rejection. More and more often, people are starting to water down their convictions because they don’t want to offend anyone. Instead of embracing the persecution that comes with standing out from and against the world, we have begun to embrace the world to try to convince it to tolerate us. That’s not the way it was supposed to be.

  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

  John 15:18–20

  When Jesus confronted the Pharisees, He did not mince words, addressing them with “You brood of vipers” (Matt. 3:7; 12:34; 23:33; Luke 3:7) and other such terminology. When He saw people trying to make a profit by money changing and selling sacrifice animals in the temple, He accused them of desecrating the temple of God and flipped over their tables (Matt. 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:13–22). Jesus felt a righteous anger toward the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the greed and disrespect of the money changers. Has it ever struck you that besides Jesus no one else seemed to recognize the sin of these two groups of people? You don’t see the crowds of Jewish temple-goers confronting the Pharisees or getting upset about the unholy activity going on in God’s temple. They were used to it. It was part of their culture.

  Similarly, I think we have become much too accustomed to allowing sin to invade the church because it’s part of our culture. The culture of the world in the twenty-first century is so self-centered. Whatever you want, go get it. It doesn’t matter that you took an oath to be committed to this person; if he or she doesn’t make you happy anymore, you have the right to leave. No one has the right to judge you. What matters most is that you love who you are. When we start operating like this in the church, we begin catering our theology to people’s desires and ultimately their sin. This kind of attitude is so ugly and offensive to God. We can’t do this in the church. Our commitment to the Kingdom must take precedence over culture.

  Jesus and the apostles were persecuted because what they said and taught was so countercultural. The culture of our world is just as ugly, if not more so, than it was in Jesus’ time. The teaching of the church should be radically different from that of the world. There will be backlash, and church attendance might decline, but the church will be purified. We need to return to a God-centered theology rather than a human-centered theology, and we need to be willing to flip some tables and suffer for it along the way.

  PURSUE JESUS, NOT SUFFERING

  While it is so crucial to have the willingness to suffer, we have to be careful in how we live out our theology of suffering. Understand the point of the Scriptures is not asceticism. We are not pursuing suffering just for suffering’s sake. We pursue Jesus, and suffering always accompanies Him. As believers, we spend our days pursuing Christ Himself, Christlikeness, and the mission of Christ, none of which can be done apart from suffering. We should be like horses with blinders on, looking only straight ahead at our goal. As we are fixated on and obsessed with our pursuit of Jesus, we know persecution will come at us from all sides.

  Part of the reason we have created a culture of noncommittal Christianity that avoids suffering is that we don’t treasure Him enough. We want Jesus, but there are limits to what we will sacrifice for Him. We want Him, but there are lots of things we want in life. The good news is placed on par with or even below other forms of “good news.” “I’m getting married!” “I’m having a child!” “The Giants won the World Series!” “God became flesh, was crucified for our sins, rose from the grave, and is returning to judge the world!” Other kinds of good news stir more emotion than the gospel. Think how insulting that kind of attitude must be to God!

  We need to take time to dwell and meditate on the impossibility of the cross. The almighty, all-knowing, all-powerful God who spoke the universe into being sent His Son to die a criminal’s death so we could be with Him forever. We get to dwell with Him forever! I don’t care how many times you’ve heard it; if that doesn’t cause you to fall on your face in worship, there’s something wrong!

  It’s this kind of eternal mind-set that allows us to keep things in perspective when things get difficult. When we truly understand what Jesus did for us, the sacrifice He made on our behalf, and the incomparable beauty of the eternal life promised to those of us who endure, we can’t help but fall in love with Him, to the point where it actually becomes a joy and desire to give our lives to Him in return.

  “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

  Philippians 3:8–11

  Look at the passage above and ask yourself whether this describes you and whether this is how others would describe you. The apostle Paul was so obsessed with knowing Jesus he even wanted the fellow
ship of sharing in Christ’s sufferings. Imagine if Jesus was being stretched out and whipped and you were on the other side of Him. You’re looking at Jesus, face-to-face just taking it with Him. You would be in excruciating pain, but you could look in His eyes and know you’re with the Son of God, the Creator of everything, and you’re going through this together. Paul wanted to know Jesus as deeply as possible, even if it required immense suffering.

  There’s a level of love we can reach where we actually grow to want that. To want that type of intimacy, where you feel as if you are nailed right there next to Him. You could lose everything—your reputation, comforts, possessions—and count that all a bunch of trash, because it’s all worthless compared with knowing Christ. Suffering is so important because through it we come to know Jesus more. To know the power of His resurrection. To know the fellowship of His sufferings.

  LOVE PEOPLE, NOT SUFFERING

  “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

  1 Corinthians 13:3

  God is clear. Our suffering must be motivated by love. This is the example of the Father (John 3:16) and the Son (15:13). If we sacrifice for any other reason, there’s no merit in it. It’s not even enough to decide to suffer as a missionary. He wants you to love a people group so much that you are broken over their lostness and sacrifice your life to bring the gospel to them.

  When was the last time you sacrificed for someone else’s sake? Unless I’m mistaken, isn’t that the whole point of the gospel? If this isn’t commonplace in your life and you can’t think of anyone outside your family you’d sacrifice for, you need to seriously examine your life. This is what separates Christians from the rest of the world. We suffer because we love people, even our enemies.

  I have friends who have adopted children because they wanted children. I have other friends who have adopted children because they loved children. There’s a big difference. I have friends who love so well they have adopted children with special needs or troubled children out of the foster system. These loving decisions often wreak havoc in a family. As I ask the couples why they do this, the answer usually sounds like this: “We don’t think about how much we will suffer if we take her in; we think about how much she will suffer if we don’t.”

  When we love others, we are being the hands and feet of Jesus. Jesus loved the marginalized, rejected, and forgotten. And at the end of His life, His hands and feet were nailed to a cross. Real love demands something of us, and it will lead us into suffering.

  NEW EXPECTATIONS

  “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

  1 Peter 4:12–14

  This passage says it all! Peter told us not to be surprised when trials come “as though something strange were happening” (v. 12). Trials are part of the plan. Because of a false gospel that many people have been taught, they question God’s sovereignty when suffering comes. Scripture says we should expect it. And there should be a part of us that actually wants it so we can “rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (v. 13). Think about Christ returning in all His glory. Imagine how joyful you would be if you could recall suffering you endured for His sake. Now you could anticipate eternal rewards. Peter said that those of us who have suffered rejection for His sake are “blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (v. 14). This is a powerful statement. He was saying your willingness to suffer is proof the Spirit of God rests upon you. Our suffering proves to us that we really are Christians!

  Christians are people who believe in life after death. The Church is a Bride that believes the Groom is returning and He is going to take her away to be with Him for all of eternity. Our confidence in this truth produces actions that look stupid to an unbelieving world. Our hope motivates us to suffer. We understand the brevity of life and eagerly hope for a glorious eternity. We are sure of it. We are betting everything on it, even our lives.

  The apostle Paul suffered more than anyone I know. In speaking of his personal sacrifice, he said, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19). He knew how idiotic his actions would be if his existence ended at death, but it didn’t matter because he was confident his physical death would just be the beginning. The suffering in his life was proof he believed the first verse we all memorized. He knew he would “not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is the good news. He did not have to fear death or suffering, and neither do we.

  So expect suffering, desire it, and rejoice in the midst of it. This is our DNA, our heritage, and God’s plan for the Church. We are called to be an army of people who are so madly in love with Jesus that we are unshakable. This is the kind of force that can change the world.

  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

  Hebrews 12:1–3

  Let’s arm ourselves with this mind-set. Let’s remember heaven and live in light of what’s coming. Let’s spur on one another to greater levels of surrender and radical expressions of boldness. Let’s encourage one another to rejoice in suffering. We want to become Spirit-filled, gospel-centered Christians devoted to prayer; but let’s not forget, we also want to be suffering Christians. That’s who Jesus was, a suffering servant. Let’s endure until the end.

  COULD IT BE MORE OBVIOUS?

  I am going to close this chapter with Bible verses. I already filled this chapter with plenty of Scripture because I wanted to be clear that this is not some obscure and isolated teaching in the New Testament. It may feel new to you if you attend a church that teaches not the entirety of Scripture but only the parts that are palatable to the masses.

  Jesus made it clear that following Him meant suffering, and so did everyone else in the New Testament. So please don’t just jump to the next chapter. While reading books, I have been guilty of skimming verses that are familiar to me. Please don’t do that here. Take the time to meditate on and pray through the following passages. You could have an amazing time of fellowship with Jesus as you interact with these verses.

  “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

  Romans 8:16–18

  “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

  Ephesians 6:11–12

  “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”

  Philippians 1:29

  “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.”

  2 Thessalonians 1:5

  “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

  2 Timothy 2:3

  “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecut
ed.”

  2 Timothy 3:12

  “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.”

  Hebrews 13:12–13

  “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

  1 Peter 2:19–21

  “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”

  1 John 3:13

  “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

  1 John 3:16–18

  “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”