The Church Was Told It Would Be Persecuted—Not Become the Persecutor

Jesus never promised His followers an easy road.

He warned that we would be hated. He warned that we would be rejected. He warned that following Him could cost us relationships, comfort, reputation, and even our lives.

Jesus said:

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” — John 15:18 (KJV)

The Bible prepares the Church to face persecution.

But somewhere along the way, we need to be careful that in our desire to defend truth, we don't become the ones doing the persecuting.

There is a difference between standing for truth and tearing someone apart.

There is a difference between biblical correction and public humiliation.

And there is a difference between contending for the faith and attacking everyone who disagrees with us.

Yes, Christians Are Supposed to Correct Error

Let's make this clear: love does not mean ignoring false teaching.

Scripture tells us to correct, rebuke, teach, and defend sound doctrine. Paul told Timothy:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” — 2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)

But notice something important.

Paul didn't just say rebuke.

He said “with all longsuffering.”

That means patience matters.

Our heart matters.

Our approach matters.

The goal isn't to prove how wrong someone is and how right we are. Biblical correction should desire to bring someone closer to truth and ultimately closer to Christ.

Paul explains this even more clearly:

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” — Galatians 6:1 (KJV)

Notice the word: restore.

Not embarrass.

Not ridicule.

Not destroy.

Restore.

Before You Correct Them, Examine Yourself

Jesus gave us another warning that we sometimes forget when we believe we have discovered someone else's error.

He spoke about seeing the speck in our brother's eye while ignoring the beam in our own.

“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” — Matthew 7:5 (KJV)

Jesus wasn't saying we can never recognize something wrong in another person.

He was teaching us about the heart from which correction should come.

Look at yourself first.

Before I correct someone, I need to ask:

Could I be misunderstanding them?

Could my emotions be involved?

Am I offended?

Am I trying to restore this person—or prove that I am right?

Would I say this the same way if nobody else were watching?

Those questions matter because even people who love Jesus can allow their emotions to interfere with what God is doing.

Just look at Peter.

When Jesus explained what was going to happen to Him, Peter rebuked Jesus because Peter believed what Jesus was saying shouldn't happen.

Jesus responded:

“Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” — Matthew 16:23 (KJV)

Peter loved Jesus.

Peter was close to Jesus.

And Peter was still wrong.

Being close to God does not mean we are incapable of misunderstanding something.

That should make every one of us approach correction with humility.

When Correction Becomes Cruelty

There is something wrong when Christians seem to enjoy another Christian's failure.

There is something wrong when correction becomes mocking.

When we make jokes about someone.

When we ridicule them.

When we recruit others to attack them.

When we celebrate their downfall.

When we spend more time talking about them than praying for them.

At some point we need to ask whether this is still correction—or whether something else has taken over.

Scripture says:

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)

Love doesn't celebrate sin.

But love also doesn't celebrate someone's destruction.

If someone truly is walking in error, that should break our hearts—not entertain us.

Truth Without Love Doesn't Look Like Jesus

Jesus was never afraid of truth.

He confronted religious leaders.

He confronted hypocrisy.

He called people to repentance.

But Jesus also wept over Jerusalem.

He touched people everyone else rejected.

He restored Peter after Peter denied Him.

Jesus could speak some of the strongest words in Scripture while still desiring redemption.

That's the difference.

Biblical correction isn't:

“Look how terrible this person is.”

It's:

“I see something dangerous here, and I love you enough to tell you the truth.”

Paul wrote:

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” — Ephesians 4:15 (KJV)

We need both.

Truth without love can become cruelty.

Love without truth can become compromise.

Jesus calls us to truth and love.

Remember Who the Enemy Is

Sometimes I wonder whether the enemy has convinced Christians that other Christians are the enemy.

Someone interprets a passage differently, so we attack.

Someone worships differently, so we separate.

Someone says something poorly, so instead of talking with them, we gather an audience against them.

There are absolutely essential truths of the Christian faith that we must defend.

But every disagreement does not make another believer our enemy.

Paul reminds us:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…” — Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

The person standing across from you isn't automatically your enemy.

And if they truly are your enemy, Jesus made our responsibility even more challenging:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you…” — Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

Think about that.

If Jesus commands me to love even my enemies, how much more carefully should I treat my brothers and sisters in Christ?

The Church Was Warned About Persecution

Jesus told His followers persecution would come.

Paul wrote:

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” — 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV)

We should be prepared to endure persecution for following Jesus.

But we should be very careful that we don't become the source of persecution toward others simply because they don't agree with us.

The Church should be known for courage.

The Church should stand firmly for truth.

The Church should expose darkness.

The Church should correct error.

But we should do all of it looking like Jesus.

Not with pride.

Not with mockery.

Not because destroying someone makes us feel more righteous.

But because we love people enough to desire restoration.

Before You Hit “Post”

Maybe before we make that video...

Before we write that comment...

Before we share that person's mistake...

Before we tell everyone what someone else supposedly did...

We should stop and examine our hearts.

Ask:

Have I prayed for this person as much as I've talked about them?

Do I want them restored—or exposed?

If they repented tomorrow, would I celebrate their restoration as loudly as I announced their failure?

And perhaps the hardest question:

Am I correcting them because I love them, or because being right makes me feel righteous?

Because love corrects.

Love warns.

Love speaks truth.

But love seeks restoration.

The Bible told us the Church would experience persecution.

Let's be very careful that while defending the truth, we don't become the persecutors ourselves.

Stand for truth.

Correct what needs correcting.

Refuse compromise.

But do it with humility, compassion, patience, and love.

Because if our correction doesn't look anything like Jesus, maybe before examining everyone else's heart, we need to examine our own.

Pastor Scott