Lesson video

Hi, my name is Miss Minton and welcome to this Christianity Practises lesson on Christian response to persecution.

Now, by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to describe Christian persecution in past and present contexts and explain Christian responses.

Now, lots of our learning today will be new to you, but please don't worry because I'm here to guide you through each step of our lesson.

And I'm confident that by the end, you will achieve this outcome.

So let's get started by taking a look at our keywords for today.

We have martyr, persecution, and solidarity.

Now, a martyr is a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs.

Persecution refers to hostility and ill treatment, especially on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs.

And solidarity refers to unity between members of a particular group.

Now, our lesson today will have two parts.

We'll start by looking at Christian persecution past and present.

And we'll then look at how Christians respond to persecution.

So let's get started and take a look at Christian persecution past and present.

Now, to start off, I'd like us to remind ourselves of what Christians believe about Jesus.

So pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

Off you go.

So as part of your thinking time or your discussion, you may have mentioned the belief that Jesus is the Son of God or the incarnation of God, so God in human form.

You may have mentioned Jesus's death on the cross and how this brings the possibility of eternal life and salvation.

Or you may have mentioned the belief that Jesus resurrected three days after his crucifixion.

So three days after his death.

Now at the time Jesus lived, his teachings and the beliefs associated with these teachings were controversial.

And this is because Jesus challenged religious leaders.

He stated that he was the Son of God.

He broke social and religious rules.

And he was also seen as a threat to those who were in power.

Now, this controversy actually led to Jesus being arrested, sentenced to death and crucified.

So Jesus was killed because of his teachings and the beliefs that were associated with these.

So let's check your understanding.

True or false? Jesus's teachings and the beliefs associated with them were consistent with mainstream beliefs in the time and place that Jesus lived.

Fantastic, that statement is false, but why is that statement false? Well, it's because the teachings of Jesus and the beliefs associated with his teachings were actually controversial at the time and place that Jesus lived.

So they weren't popular beliefs, and this is because Jesus said that he was the Son of God.

He challenged religious leaders and he broke social and religious rules.

So well done for identifying that the statement is false and for identifying the reason why.

The early Christians were persecuted for refusing to worship the Roman emperor, and the Roman gods.

They were also villainized and blamed for things that they didn't do.

So for example, Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE.

Many Christians were also killed because of their beliefs.

Now, examples of Christians who were killed because of their beliefs include St.

Peter and St.

Paul.

And because they were killed due to their beliefs, they are known as martyrs.

Now, St.

Peter and St.

Paul were both highly influential in spreading early Christianity, but both of them were sentenced to death by the Roman Emperor Nero.

It's believed by many Christians that St.

Peter was crucified, but that St.

Peter was actually crucified upside down because he didn't feel worthy of receiving the same death as Jesus.

So he was crucified upside down to make his death different.

This demonstrates St.

Peter's commitment to his beliefs until the very end of his life.

It's also believed that St.

Paul was killed for his beliefs, but that St.

Paul was beheaded at around the same time St.

Peter was killed.

Now, unfortunately, persecution continued for Christians after this.

And in 303 CE, the Great Persecution began under the rule of Emperor Diocletian.

Now, many Christians consider the Great Persecution to be the most severe persecution of Christians.

So the most impactful and serious persecution that Christians faced.

During the Great Persecution, churches were destroyed, Christians were forced to worship the Roman gods, and many Christians died for their beliefs, making them martyrs.

So let's now check your understanding.

Which word describes a person who is killed because of their beliefs? A, apostle; B, disciple; C, martyr; or D prophet.

Fantastic, the correct answer is C.

Martyr is the word that describes a person who is killed because of their beliefs.

Now, historically, persecution has also occurred within Christianity.

So Christians facing persecution at the hands of other Christians as well as non-Christians.

And this happened during the Protestant Reformation.

So during the Protestant Reformation, Christian groups engaged in persecution against other Christians who held different beliefs to them, largely around worship and church authority.

So what we can see here is that, historically, Christians have faced persecution at the hands of non-Christians, but also at the hands of other Christians as well.

Now unfortunately, persecution continues today against Christians in some parts of the world.

And in some countries, particularly where Christianity is a minority religion, so there are less Christians compared to members of other religions, Christians are treated unjustly.

So they're treated unfairly and badly.

Now, in some cases, Christians are targeted by terrorist groups, and these groups inflict violence upon Christians for the beliefs that they have, and they make the lives of Christians very unsafe.

Now we're going to look at some examples of where Christian persecution exists today.

So Christian persecution exists in North Korea today.

And in North Korea, Christianity is banned and Christians actually risk imprisonment or even death for owning the Bible.

Christian persecution also takes place in China where Christianity is very heavily regulated.

Many churches in China have been shut down, and those that haven't are monitored very closely with surveillance used to monitor worship.

Some Christians also face persecution in Nigeria where terrorist groups such as Boko Haram have targeted Christian communities.

Churches have been burned and many Christians have been forced to flee their homes because it's unsafe for them.

So let's check your understanding.

True or false? Christians no longer face persecution.

Well done, that statement is false, but why is that statement false? Well, it's because in some parts of the world, particularly where Christianity is a minority religion, Christians do still face persecution.

And examples of places where Christians face persecution include North Korea, China, and Nigeria.

It's now time for you to have a go at a task.

I'd like you to complete the table by explaining how Christians have faced persecution in the past and in the present.

The table is completed with sentence starters for you.

So the sentence starters for Christian persecution in the past are these: Historically, Christians have faced persecution since.

After Jesus's death.

Persecution also occurred.

And the sentence starters for Christian persecution in the present are this: Today, Christians still face persecution in some parts of the world where.

For example.

So pause the video and have a go at completing the table.

Well done for your work during that task.

So you were asked to complete the table by explaining how Christians have faced persecution in the past and in the present.

So for Christian persecution in the past, you may have said that, historically, Christians have faced persecution since the time of Jesus, with Jesus himself being poorly treated, and killed because of his teachings.

After Jesus's death, many early Christians faced persecution including St.

Peter and St.

Paul who were both killed for their beliefs.

Persecution also occurred between Christians during the Protestant Reformation.

For Christian persecution in the present, you may have said that, today, Christians still face persecution in some parts of the world where Christianity is a minority religion.

For example, in China, Christianity is heavily regulated.

In North Korea, Christianity is banned.

And in some parts of Nigeria, Christian communities are persecuted by terrorist groups.

So well done for your work completing the table.

We're now moving on to the second part of our lesson, which is to look at how Christians respond to persecution.

Now, for many Christians, it's important to remain committed to their faith even when facing persecution.

And James 1:2-4 says this, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Now, this passage encourages Christians to see trials and difficulties as opportunities for spiritual growth, not just as something to avoid or escape.

And some Christians would apply this teaching to persecution.

Now, as well as this, many Christians also believe that suffering can bring them closer to Jesus.

In Philippians 3:10, it says this: "I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." Now, this passage suggests that suffering is a way to grow closer to Jesus by sharing what Jesus endured when he was crucified.

Now, as well as persecution being an opportunity to grow in faith and to share in the suffering of Jesus, for many Christians, suffering also provides an opportunity for them to grow as a person.

In the Book of Romans 5:3-4 it says this: "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Now I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

How might Christians interpret this passage? Off you go.

So Christians might interpret this passage as suggesting that suffering has a purpose.

It shapes faith, it builds character, and it leads a person to a deeper hope in God.

Now, we've looked at passages from Philippians and Romans and both of these books are attributed to St.

Paul.

Now I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

What does this suggest about how Christians should respond to persecution? Off you go.

So this suggests that Christians should remain committed to their faith despite persecution.

And this is because St.

Paul was persecuted and also killed for his beliefs.

But from these writings, it suggests that he remained committed to his beliefs throughout the persecution until the very end.

So let's now check your understanding.

This sentence contains a missing word.

Writings attributed to St.

blank suggest that Christians should remain committed to their faith through persecution.

Is the missing word: A, Peter; B, Paul: C, Philip; or D, Patrick? Fantastic, the correct answer is B, Paul.

So writings attributed to St.

Paul suggest that Christians should remain committed to their faith through persecution, well done.

Now, many Christians today aim to respond to persecution with practical action.

And an example of how this can be done is through charitable organisations that aim to support both individuals and communities who are facing persecution.

Examples of charities and organisations that support persecuted Christians include Open Doors.

Open Doors supports persecuted Christians in over 70 countries around the world, and they work in areas that are affected by religious extremism, helping Christians respond peacefully to this.

Another organisation is Christian Solidarity Worldwide which investigates human rights abuses and lobbies government and the United Nations.

They also offer legal support and protection for people who have been victims of religious persecution.

Now, many Christians today actually choose to support organisations and charities like Open Doors and Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

And we're going to hear from examples of two Christians who support these organisations.

First up, we have Louise who is a Methodist Christian.

Louise says, "I support Open Doors by donating money that's used to provide Bibles to persecuted Christians who are living undercover." And next up we have Asher who is a Pentecostal Christian.

Asher says, "I support Christian Solidarity Worldwide; I am signed up to receive their weekly prayer email so I can pray for justice for those facing persecution and show solidarity." Now, what we can see here is two Christians from two different denominations who both support persecuted Christians, but in slightly different ways.

So Louise donates money whereas Asher prays and shows solidarity that way.

So now we've seen that there are a number of ways that Christians can respond to persecution.

Let's imagine that I've been asked to give one way that Christians can respond to persecution.

I've said by showing solidarity through prayer.

I would now also like you to give one way that Christians can respond to persecution.

So pause the video and have a go.

So you may have said that Christians can respond to persecution by remaining committed to the Christian faith, supporting Open Doors, and supporting Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

So well done if you've got one of those answers or something similar.

It's now time for you to have a go at a task.

Izzy is explaining how Christians respond to persecution.

Izzy says, "Christians can respond to persecution by staying committed to their beliefs.

James 1:2-4 encourages Christians to see trials and difficulties as opportunities for spiritual growth, not just as something to avoid or escape.

Therefore, Christians can respond to persecution with commitment to their beliefs as a way of growing in their faith." Now, I'd like you to write a second paragraph explaining another way that Christians respond to persecution.

So pause the video and have a go.

Well done for your work on that task.

So you were asked to write a second paragraph explaining another way that Christians respond to persecution, and your answer might be similar to this.

Another way that Christians can respond to persecution is by praying for those who are persecuted.

This can be done as an individual or through charities such as Open Doors or Christian Solidarity Worldwide, where you can sign up to a weekly prayer email and show solidarity to those persecuted by praying for them.

So well done again for writing a second paragraph and adding to Izzy's answer, explaining how Christians respond to persecution.

We've now reached the end of our lesson.

But before we finish, let's take a look at some of the key things that we've learned today.

So we've learned that persecution refers to hostility and ill treatment, usually because of ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs.

We've seen that Christians have faced persecution since the time of Jesus, and that many Christians throughout history have been martyrs of their faith, for example, St.

Peter and St.

Paul, who were both killed because of their Christian beliefs.

We've also seen that Christians still face persecution today, particularly in countries where Christianity is a minority religion.

We've seen that many Christians respond to persecution through commitment to faith, but also practical responses like praying and donating to charity.

And finally, we looked at how organisations that support Christians facing persecution include Open Doors and Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

So a huge well done for all of your work this lesson.

It's been wonderful learning with you today.