Persecuting The Church Is Fulfilling Prophesy

“If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you as well. If they kept my word, they will keep yours as well. But they will treat you like this because of my name…,” (John 15:19-21).

MY PREVIOUS article was headlined, “The Attacks On Christianity in Africa.” There is no doubt that some people have plotted to use every resource at their disposal to campaign against the Christian Church in Africa. They are mostly unbelievers who do this by ridiculing the Bible, mocking Jesus Christ and despising pastors.
It is a campaign of calumny designed to persecute Christians, dent the image of Christianity with an aim to collapse it. These enemies began to openly lampoon the Church centuries ago through books and other media. However, today persecutors commonly attack the Church, using the social media. Some of them have resolved to sustain the campaign until they destroy the Church, but they cannot succeed.
The truth is that they are not only fulfilling prophesy, but also wasting precious resources ignorantly. Gerald Massey, English poet and 19th Century Egyptologist who sought to destroy Christianity with his writings failed miserably. God, by His sovereign power and will, opens a door of salvation in continents, cities, towns and villages. God can shut the door of salvation in Africa and open it elsewhere by His divine incontestable power and authority.
In a video which is widely circulated on social media, one of the attackers of the Church, a Ghanaian man who funnily calls himself Avram Ben Moshe, admits that he is working for his master, the devil. And his confession is true. The devil is the master of all men and women who have been unleashing never-ending attacks, oppressions and persecutions of the Church since its birth in the first-century.

The fact is that anti Church campaigners in Ghana and elsewhere have the right to worship any object of their choice under the constitution. Besides, we all enjoy freedom of speech. However, this tiniest group of people who pride themselves of having unparalleled ability to reason ought to see the need to appreciate the numerous investments the Church has made in the education, health and other sectors of the economy.

Oh sorry! It is difficult if not impossible for an unbeliever to say anything good about the Church of Christ, considering the fact that the world hates Christ and His Church without cause. Human beings naturally tend to spread information about vices than virtues, a phenomenon which is evident in the work of journalists. They report on bad things people do far more than the good things they do.
The Church may not be perfect in so far as it is made up of human beings who make mistakes. In spite of its imperfection, the Body of Christ is the greatest force with greatest life-transforming power in the world. By the preaching of the Gospel, thousands of people who otherwise were hopeless have received hope. Thousands of people who would have operated as armed robbers, murderers, prostitutes, homosexuals, drunkards, drug addicts and other criminals and social deviants have been transformed.

Also, many who thought of committing suicide after being hit hard by life’s challenges rescinded their decision when they heard the message of hope preached by pastors. Moreover, many have been healed of medically-incurable diseases and delivered from demonic oppressions and possessions through prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. I am a living testimony; your unbelief and doubt are your own problem.
Again, hundreds of people from underprivileged communities and families boast of having academic degrees and gainful employment today, because the Church sponsored them. Helping the orphan, widow, the needy and the poor is a ministry the Church pays greater attention to. Even small churches regularly donate to the inmates of various orphanage homes and prisons to address their plight.
Let the Christian, therefore, remain resolute in his faith in God the Father through Jesus Christ. We must understand that persecution, campaign of calumny, religious oppression we suffer in the world is a fulfilment of prophetic word which validates the truth of God’s Word.
Let the child of God take consolation in the words of Christ Jesus that “…in the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Christ Jesus with His Church is an overcomer. Attacks may be launched against Christians, but they cannot be defeated, because they are overcomers.
Let the Christian, therefore, endure persecutions to the end, bearing in mind that attacks on the Church will continue until Christ Jesus returns. Again, let the Christian consider that, “…our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” at the appearing of our great Saviour (Romans 8:18).

By James Quansah