God’s Prescence In the Midst of Persecution

We are facing what appears to be state-sponsored persecution by ICE, something the United States of America has not experienced in this way for a very long time. Recent actions by federal immigration enforcement in cities such as St. Paul and Minneapolis have drawn national attention and widespread public reaction.

When we turn to Scripture, we find that the members of the first-century Church faced similar state-sponsored and religious persecution in Jerusalem. Stephen, a Jewish Christian, was brutally murdered by a Jewish mob, an act that marked a turning point for the early Church. Following his death, persecution intensified, and Christians were forced to flee Jerusalem. Rather than silencing the Gospel, this scattering led to the expansion of the Church, as believers carried the message of Christ into new regions. The Book of Acts documents this reality clearly. In Acts 8:1, Scripture states:

“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

This persecution caused believers to be scattered throughout the surrounding regions. While this displacement was painful and disruptive, it ultimately led to the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, contributing to the growth of the Church.

We also see evidence of the Roman government acting against all Jews, including Jewish Christians, through the decree of Claudius Caesar, who ordered all Jews to be expelled from Rome. This decree directly affected the early Church and reshaped ministry relationships.

Acts 18:2 states:

“And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome and came unto them.”

Because Priscilla and Aquila were forced to leave Rome, the Apostle Paul met them, forming a ministry partnership that became instrumental in strengthening the Church. Once again, what appeared to be a negative and unjust action resulted in God advancing His purposes through the expansion of the Church.

From these examples, we know that Christians faced persecution from both Jewish religious authorities and the Roman Empire. Although these events initially had negative and painful impacts, Scripture shows that God used them to strengthen, grow, and expand His Church.

The Epistle of James addresses these same concerns. James writes to the Jewish diaspora, believers who were scattered abroad because of persecution. His letter is written through the heart of the persecuted, as he understood firsthand what the members of the first-century Church were facing.

James writes in James 1:2–8:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

James does not deny the reality of hardship or persecution. Instead, he encourages believers to respond with faith, endurance, and spiritual maturity.

He calls the Church to:

• Have joy in hardship, recognizing that God is at work even in adversity

• Use hardship as a trial of faith, allowing perseverance to shape spiritual maturity

• Seek God’s wisdom without doubt, trusting Him fully rather than wavering

• Endure through hardship, remaining steadfast and spiritually grounded

• Remain focused on the mission, refusing to allow persecution to distract the Church from proclaiming the Gospel

The experience of the first-century Church reminds us that persecution does not hinder God’s work, it often becomes the means through which the Church is strengthened and expanded.