Role of Persecution in Early Christianity
The early Jesus following movement saw persecution as suffering, which was regarded as a higher honor as it imitated the death of Christ on the cross. It was seen as a form of martyrdom that was viewed as glorious. It was nothing to be ashamed about since it bore the name of Christ. Persecution played a big role in convincing non-Christians to convert to the Christian faith since they came to see the truth of the Christian faith. It also encouraged other Christians to keep up the faith, especially at times of distress, and bolster their courage.
Significance of Persecution
In Luke’s narrative, Christians welcomed persecution because it signified their faith and belief in the name of Jesus Christ. Persecution encouraged the early believers to remain true to the Christian faith irrespective of the opposition. The main reason for this courage was the belief that they had to undergo many trials and tribulations before they entered the Kingdom of God (Span, 2013). Jesus prepared his disciples for the coming hostilities, which stuck with them even though they were likely to have been fearful. The sufferings endured by early Christians signified that Christ was near them and demonstrated that they were legitimate believers who were bound to follow His example of enduring persecution even to the point of death because of his message to humankind.
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Implications of Persecution
The persecution of early Christians had the implication of making it the religion of the state due to its strong faith and beliefs. Despite numerous attempts to eliminate it, Christianity experienced rapid growth, a factor that forced the state to abolish persecution and embrace it officially as a religion. Its acceptance in mainstream society resulted from its resilience and endurance in the face of persecution and opposition.
If persecution could not have been part of the early Christian story, it is hard to envisage whether it could have grown to become a well-known faith. The conviction and belief that was demonstrated by early Christians help to encourage many non-Christians to convert to Christianity. The opposite could be true because, in the absence of persecution, the Christian faith could not have become as popular today. Christian martyrs attracted the attention of not only the state but also of other non-Christians who were amazed by the kind of faith, courage, and belief that the early Christians demonstrated.
References
Span, J. (2013). Persecution in Luke and Acts. Biblical Mission . https://biblicalmissiology.org/2013/10/07/persecution-in-luke-and-acts/
