The Persecution of Inconvenience

“And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” (Ac 5:40 AV)

 

To whom Peter’s persecutors are agreeing is a Pharisee named Gamaliel.  The argument proposed by Gamaliel was if the gospel was of man, then it would eventually come to nothing.  He gave several historical events in the recent past of Israel to prove this point.  He counted with the understanding if it was from God, there was nothing they could do to stop it.  Their persecutors had every intention of severely beating Peter and his companions, even to the point of death.  Gamaliel, uttering a prophecy he wasn’t truly aware of, gave then good advice.  If it is of God, then all the beatings in the world aren’t going to stop it.  Gamaliel knew the more physical persecution the disciples suffer, the greater the revival results from it.  So, we are considering the world’s solution to conquering the gospel.  A solution that is effective if the church is not aware of it.  That is, persecution of inconvenience.  Make preaching or sharing the gospel inconvenient.  Not impossible. Peter and his co-laborers were beaten and let go.  They were told not to preach.  They were discouraged from it, but not stopped.   If the world arrested the saints for proclaiming their faith, it would embolden them.  However, throw some obstacles in the way and they just might get discouraged enough to quit.

It doesn’t take a whole lot to discourage someone from their zeal.  Put a roadblock or two in the way, and it is no longer worth the trouble.  I thank the LORD for my father.  He taught me many principles of life which, over the years, began to slowly appreciate.  One of those principles was there was a right way and a wrong way of doing something.  Even if the right way took more effort, that was the way it was to be done.  Many of those lessons came while in the Boy Scouts.  But one of those lessons came while working as a child, delivering the newspaper to customers in our neighborhood.  My father required when a paper was delivered, it was done properly.  Just because it was on the front porch or step did not mean it was done properly.  These papers had to be out of the weather and in perfect condition when the customer retrieve his newspaper.  This meant getting off our bikes and placing them in the mailbox or front door.  Even if we delivered to apartment buildings, these papers had to be placed at the front door laying flat and to the side.  We developed a skill that would rival any delivery system.  We found if we rolled and tucked the paper, we could throw it to an upstairs customer, hit the ceiling and it was to fall down in front of the door, opened and flat.  Just like my dad wanted.  However, if it failed to open, we would have to climb the stairs and fix it.  It was inconvenient.  My friends never wanted a paper-route.  It was too much effort.  It was inconvenient.  My siblings hated delivering and as soon as they turned fifteen, they got a part-time job doing something else.  I did too.  It was too inconvenient.

I fear with the adjustments we are being forced to make with COVID, and the soon to be inconvenience of an administration contrary to religious liberty, the church is being persecuted by inconvenience.  We don’t go door-to-door because our Governor asked us not to.  We don’t play musical instruments or sing in a choir because our leaders believe it too risky.  It is not more convenient to stay at home and live-stream than it is to get all dressed up and come to church.  The Devil knows if there was all-out persecution, we would fight back with a commitment to sharing the gospel.  All he has to do is make it more inconvenient than it was in the past and we will quit.  If it is too much work or the rewards do not outweigh the risk, then it isn’t worth it.  We don’t need to be taken out and shot.  We don’t need to be beheaded.  We don’t need to have our material belongings taken.  All the Devil has to do is make it a bit inconvenient and we shut down and give up.  It doesn’t take much.  A roadblock here.  A slippery road there.  All it takes is a deviation from what we have become accustomed and we are relaxing in our recliners wishing for the past.  I don’t know about you, but there is much work to do before that trumpet blows and the LORD will not entertain our excuses.  Time to get used to a little bit of inconvenience for the glory of God.