Persecution

The first great persecution for religious opinion of which we have any record was that which broke out against the worshippers of God among the Jews in the days of Ahab, when that king, at the instigation of his wife Jezebel, “a woman in whom, with the reckless and licentious habits of an Oriental queen, were united the fiercest and sternest qualities inherent in the old Semitic race”, sought in the most relentless manner to extirpate the worship of Jehovah and substitute in its place the worship of Ashtoreth and Baal. Ahab’s example in this respect was followed by Manasseh, who “shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another” (2 Kings 21:16; comp. 24:4). In all ages, in one form or another, the people of God have had to suffer persecution. In its earliest history the Christian church passed through many bloody persecutions. Of subsequent centuries in our own and in other lands the same sad record may be made. Christians are forbidden to seek the propagation of the gospel by force (Matt. 7:1; Luke 9:54-56; Rom. 14:4; James 4:11, 12). The words of Ps. 7:13, “He ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors,” ought rather to be, as in the Revised Version, “He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts].”

PERSECU'TION is the application of coercive means in matters of conscience, or the infliction of pains and penalties for conscience' sake. Under the Mosaic dispensation, which considers God as the King of the Hebrew nation, the enforcement of religious views was a part of the criminal law. To worship another god was treason, and was punished as such. Deut 13. Foreigners who dwelt in Palestine were not compelled to embrace Judaism, but they would not obtain full citizens' rights unless fulfilling this condition, Ex 12:48, and for open idolatry they were punished. Lev 18:26; Lev 20:1-5. Under the Christian dispensation, which considers God as the Father of all men, persecution becomes itself a crime, which, however, does not encroach on the right of the Christian Church to exclude any member for heretical doctrine or scandalous conduct. 1 Cor 5:3-5, 1 Cor 5:13. Persecution in the Christian Church has indeed been defended by reference to the Mosaic Law, but it is manifestly contrary to both the spirit and action of Christ and the apostles, who had rather suffer than inflict punishment, and who trusted to the power of the truth, and not to carnal weapons, for the universal success of their religion. Thus Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36. And Paul affirms, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." 2 Cor 10:4.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The act or practice of persecuting; especially, the infliction of loss, pain, or death for adherence to a particular creed or mode of worship. Persecution produces no sincere conviction. Paley.

2. The state or condition of being persecuted. Locke.

3. A carrying on; prosecution. [Obs.]