Religious Freedom and Preparing for Suffering and Persecution
By Bunni Pounds
In a time when the Early Church was ridiculed for their belief that Jesus was the Messiah, a layman, not an apostle, took center stage as he bore the wrath of the religious crowd.
Stephen, appointed as a deacon by the apostles to be a servant-leader, was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. He demonstrated his steadfastness in the Word of God and in prayer, operating in signs and wonders. He was a man who took the directive of 2 Corinthians 3:18 seriously:
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
His eyes were on Jesus, and the culture hated him because of it.
As Stephen stood before the religious leaders, he poured out the Word of God in one of the most incredible sermons in the New Testament (Acts 6). He articulated his case so well that anger and vitriol started manifesting in the actions of the leaders, and they began to throw stones at him.
Can you imagine stones hitting your flesh?
It must have been horrific.
Yet the Bible records that they saw Stephen’s face “as the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15) and he even cried out to God in the middle of his pain (Acts 7:60).
I can imagine Stephen, this bi-vocational leader who served those around him, thanking God for redeeming him, thanking Him for His presence, and crying out for mercy for himself AND for his enemies, even as he suffered.
Because of Stephen’s testimony in the face of suffering, a young man named Saul, who held the coats of the leaders stoning Stephen (Acts 7:58), had seeds of truth sown down into his heart which were later reaped by Jesus Himself on the Damascus Road.
Jesus even stood up for Stephen at the right hand of the Father.
“But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” - Acts 7:55-56
This description of Jesus in heaven is unique. Scripture records that He sits at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33) and Hebrews 7:25 it says – “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” But this is the only time Jesus is said to be standing in heaven.
Christ Jesus is always making intercession for us, but in this dramatic moment in the Early Church, Jesus gives Stephen a standing ovation.
What made Stephen ready for this moment? His daily devotion to the Lord and his faithfulness.
Did he ever think that he would be a martyr for Christ?
I doubt it.
As we believers start getting involved with government, politics, media, the arts, or any sphere of influence in our modern American life – be prepared for pushback.
“You have never lived until you have had over a million dollars spent against you and your family.” That was a common refrain from me after I ran for Congress and lost in a runoff.
After years in the political movements, I will be straight with you: If you choose to engage – you will get blindsided, you will have people hurt you, you will lose political battles, and legislation that you believe in will die on the floor of the state house.
Aren’t you excited to get involved now?
But know this – it is still worth it. The battles that we undertake for liberty, freedom, morality, and our families are worth it! America is worth it!
The things that prepared Stephen for his moment in history are the same things that will equip us for the days ahead. He was part of a community of believers, serving among the apostles and his other brothers and sisters in Christ. He didn’t isolate. He got involved and served his brothers and sisters in the community in a very hands-on way.
Stephen was faithful to the daily disciplines of prayer, worship, and the Word of God. He kept first things first. His commitment to his devotional time with God manifested in his stirring message, the signs and wonders that he performed, and his pure heart before the Lord. You can’t produce those results without time in His presence.
This man of God served and laid down his life for others. This humble heart posture is what I believe prepared him for the moment when he had to choose whether he would hate his persecutors or forgive them. He chose to not let any hindrance come between him and God, so even with his final breaths, he forgave those who were literally killing him (Acts 7:60).
Stephen lived out Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), forgiving those who persecuted him, displaying meekness and internal strength. This courageous man made a choice to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), regardless of the consequences, and he paid the ultimate price. But Jesus stood up for him.
At the end of our journey here on earth, we want to hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” - Matthew 25:21
If God is stirring your heart to do something proactively and intentionally for America, please do it! Only, stay close to Jesus and be prepared for what might lie ahead. Persecution in some form will come to every believer who stays true to the Word of God, but He will always be with us.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.” - Psalm 23:5-6
Stephen is a powerful picture of an end-time messenger who was willing to exchange the applause of men for the standing ovation of God. Like him, we are all called to engage, to carry the presence of Jesus Christ into our culture!
May we be obedient to ENGAGE wherever God calls us!