In what way(s) people still persecute “the Way,” today? 533-2 - 5 - 7

The early apostolic church was called the way with people meeting in secret often in home-based churches; “The Once and Future Church” per CM. Also according to CM, when you persecute the church, you persecute Christ as evidenced by 1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

Jesus proclaimed who He was and is as evidenced by John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” No wiggle room here, rather a claim to an exclusivity resented by many unbelievers resulting in persecution of Bible believing Christians. We were forewarned by Jesus; John 15:18, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”

Jesus also promises a reward for those persecuted in His name. Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And again in Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Jesus hated the hypocrisy of the organized religion of His day and the feeling was mutual. A book I highly recommend is “Killing Jesus” by Stephen Mansfield who wrote, “Once the officials in Jerusalem became aware of him, they began envisioning his death."

Jesus was condemned by the temple leadership because he healed on the Sabbath, ate with tax collectors, allowed a prostitute to wash his feet and exposed their greed. Jesus was perhaps the most politically incorrect man in all history.

Christianity gives one a feeling of self-worth and places a high value on people. Dictatorships cannot co-exist with Christianity. Organized religion is, in my opinion, about control of the laity by those in leadership roles. Not so many centuries ago those holding to the early apostolic teachings were hunted down, tortured and murdered by the Jesuits acting under the authority of Rome.

BACs are marginalized, denigrated and there was even talk of being put on the terrorist watch list. Also the believer is considered to be very politically incorrect, called intolerant and are despised by those who are lost in their sin. And of course by those who are peddling the more politically correct theology that all roads lead to God.