Someone asked me if I’ve ever been persecuted as a Christian. Here’s my answer:

When I think about persecution, nothing personal pops into my mind. The blessedness of being persecuted for right behavior or being falsely insulted for Jesus’ sake, for the most part, seems to have illuded me. I have been insulted by Christian friends for writing a book about racism and for another book I wrote about an alternative to traditional church. I have lost 4 different jobs in ministry because I wouldn’t compromise my belief in or passion for Jesus, but when I think about how Christ-followers are treated in China and Iran and other places in the world, that hardly seems like persecution.

Whether we’re persecuted or not, Christians are called to do what God requires, not to follow our own desires. We’re called to be peacemakers. However, being a peacemaker doesn’t mean becoming a moral compromiser who violates his conscience in order to avoid conflict. The threat of persecution should never be allowed to silence Christ-followers.

As long as violence
Is allowed to silence
People of peace,
War will never cease.