#212 CHRISTIANS UNDER PERSECUTION

One may be a Christian in spite of his hostile environment; in fact, he must be a Christian in spite of his environment.  "This world is not a friend to grace." The Bible says, "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” I John 3:13, and, "In the world ye shall have tribulation."(John 16:33) The world must be resisted and overcome.  "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."(I John 5:4)

In Paul's day there were saints in imperial Rome, the seat of civil power, and emperor worship.  Not only in Rome, but even in "Caesar's household," there were "saints of the Most High".  They were not afraid to            join with Paul, the "prisoner of the Lord" in sending salutations to the church at Philippi.  "All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household."(Philippians 4:22) Christians in "Caesar's household."

How or when the gospel had  "penetrated into that dark abyss of crime and infamy" we are not told, unless it was through the labors of Paul during his imprisonment, as Howson suggests: "History has few stranger contrasts than when it shows us Paul preaching Christ under the walls of Nero's palace." These brethren in Nero's household were loyal to the Lord at a time when they might be called upon to seal their faith with their blood.  Nero, the monster, described by a secular historian as being "half beast and half devil" fed vicious dogs, hungry lions, and tossing flames with Christians.  These saints were subjected to great temptations, but God provided for them, as he will for us the way of escape, I Corinthians 10:13.

It has been the lot of choice souls in different ages of the world to hold aloft the torch of truth and righteousness in the midst of wicked and hostile men.  Enoch in the decadent times before the flood, Joseph in Egypt, Obadiah at the court of Ahab and Jezebel, Daniel in Babylon, the saints in Caesar's household -- these all have left us examples of courage and fidelity that should hearten and inspire us to be "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."(Philippians 2:15) After all, it may be that there lurks more danger for the Christian in the world's attentions than in its antagonisms.