Will Civil Disobedience Lead to Persecution?

Note: Throughout this post, I will be referring to “Christians” in a broad sense, to mean anyone claiming to adhere to the Christian/Catholic faith. This would certainly include many who have not come to a genuine saving faith in Christ. The world at large makes no distinction so neither shall I in this post.

There can be no doubt that God has His hands all over this pandemic situation. He is in the sickness and in the health. God’s mighty hand is orchestrating everything at all times. His ultimate plan will come to completion at some point, regardless of how we choose to live our lives.

Throughout the day, I’ve been thinking about the concept of civil disobedience and about when it is or isn’t appropriate for Christians. I do not plan on making a judgment call on that in this post, but the topic lead me to consider a potential result of Christians rebelling against the lockdown and social-distancing orders.

I am no prophet, but perhaps God will use their disobedience to usher in the widespread persecution in the U.S. that we know will come eventually. After all, from the world’s perspective, it is predominantly professing Christians (whether individually or in collective groups) that are ignoring the orders and continuing to meet, gather, etc. It is the Christians pushing to reopen the churches (or just refusing to close them in the first place). It is mostly the Christians who are refusing to wear masks in public, against the wishes of the government (and most of the world).

And, therefore, it is mostly Christians who, again from the world’s perspective, are endangering the population by allowing the virus to spread farther and wider. Christians will offer a multitude of reasons for their civil disobedience, including the clear biblical commands to gather in worship, to reach out to the lost, or even just the fact that God is in control of the virus so they have no fear.

While many of the reasons Christians cite for their actions, I am convinced that all the world sees is that this particular religious group is threatening the health of every man, woman, and child in the country.

All that is to say that I wonder if this may not be the catalyst that our government may use to issue new legislation aimed directly at Christianity and its followers. Could this be how the government gets away with passing laws requiring all churches closed permanently? Perhaps restaurants will now have a legal reason for banning Christians from walking through their doors? Maybe eventually outlaw the Bible that “obviously” teaches Christians to spread the virus around?

After all, if the majority of the country is constantly having their fears stoked by the media and they see a specific group of people making it worse, would they not also call for such actions to be taken? Did not much of the early persecution begin with Emperor Nero falsely accusing the Christians of starting a fire?

Now, obviously, I know there would be a tremendous amount of backlash among many citizens and a few politicians, but let’s not forget: the DNA of our leaders is no different from the DNA of those leaders in China, North Korea, Nigeria, or Nazi Germany (who falsely accused the Jews for their loss in WWI) for that matter. There is no reason for us to believe “it could never happen here.” It can and it will. It is only a matter of time. We just need to be prepared for it and pray for the Lord’s grace to accompany us at the time.

Again, the goal of this post is not to pass judgment on anyone (I’ve already made my viewpoint on the subject pretty clear) and I know that many God-fearing Christians will come to different conclusions. I’m just always watching what is going on in the world and thinking of how God may be using the events to further His agenda for the world.

Whatever side of an issue you fall on (regardless of the issue), please remember that the world is hurting. They are frightened and lost and in need of a savior. Please remember to be loving, kind, and compassionate, even as you go about your daily business!

Stay safe and God bless you all!