Later persecution - Early America - 20th century

1. Persecution in the Church
Lesson 5
Early America to Modern Persecution

2. Part II
Persecution in
Church History
From the Time of Colonial America to
Present Day

3. The Baptists were persecuted
 Crimes such as
 Preaching the gospel
 Refusing to have infants baptized
 Punishment
 Whipping
 Banishment
 Fines
 Property confiscated

4. In America before the
constitution
 Puritans, Anglicans and
Congregationalists persecuted or
discriminated against the Baptists
 Taxation
 Loss of property
 Whipping
 Incarceration

5. Roger Williams
 Main proponent of:
Separatism,
freedom of religion
separation of church and state
Founded the first Baptist Church

6. Roger Williams
 Because of his strong views on
separation, he was to be arrested, but
walked 100 plus miles in the snow and
was rescued by the Indians
 He basically set up Rhode Island as the
first colony with complete religious
freedom in the USA

7. Roger Williams and Indians

8. Roger Williams and John
Clarke in Rhode Island
 Went to England to get a charter –
Williams returned without success from
Oliver Cromwell, but after 12 years,
John Clarke received the charter
 Rhode Island – first place with
religious liberty ever 1663 – Clarke had
set up the first baptist church in 1638

9. First Baptist church in USA –
by Williams & Clarke

10. Obadiah Holmes whipped
 Clarke, Holmes & visiting preacher
Crandall visited a parishoner just inside
Massachusetts Bay. They were bound
and brought into a Congregational
church with hands tied and then
charged with failure to remove their
hats during a religious service. They
were fined (also mentioned about infant
baptism)

11. Obadiah Holmes
 Holmes, a former Congregationalist,
refused to have his fine paid, and was
whipped so badly that blood
overflowed his boots – for weeks he
could not lay on his back

12. Obadiah Holmes whipping

13. Persecution by the
Presbyterians
 A small colony of 5 Baptist families
was taxed to build a Presbyterian
church. They were unable to pay,
and their properties were sold at
10% of the value, much bought by
the Presbyterian minister who was
to move there

14. Persecutions under the Anglicans
– James Ireland 1748-1806
 22 years old arrested for preaching
without authorization from the bishop
 Placed in Culpepper Jail – tried to kill him
with sulfur fumes, blow him up with
gunpowder, poison him through a doctor,
cursed and rode horses through those
who gathered to hear him preach
 Eventually a small church was built on the
site of the infamous jail

15. James Ireland memorial

16. Persecutions endured – from
court records
 "pelted with apples and stone"
"ducked and nearly drowned by 20 men"
"commanded to take a dram, or be whipped"
" jailed for permitting a man to pray"
"meeting broken up by a mob"
"arrested as a vagabond and schismatic"
"pulled down and hauled about by hair"
"tried to suffocate him with smoke"
"tried to blow him up with gun powder"

17. Persecutions endured – from
court records
 " "dragged off stage, kicked, and
cuffed about"
"shot with a shot-gun"
" ruffians armed with bludgeons beat
him"
"severely beaten with a whip"
"whipped severely by the Sheriff"
"hands slashed while preaching“

18. Virginia – Anglican laws which
gave a little freedom
 Patrick Henry volunteered to defend
three baptist preachers – with success
 One baptist preacher/county who could
preach once every two months in one
location and never at night. No mission
work. They were convinced a church
could not survive without government
support. Freedom finally came in 1786

19. Summary observations thus
far
 As we began, we saw that the unsaved
(children of the flesh) persecute the
saved (children of the Spirit). Although
the example in Galatians was of
Ishmael and Isaac, that example
remains true today and has been true
since the beginning of the unsaved in
the line of Cain.

20. Summary observations
 Thus we can expect in any age that
there will be religious persecution
of the saved by the unsaved
 With the beginning of Christianity,
that persecution was outside the
church, primarily from the Roman
government

21. Summary observations
 However, when Christianity was no
longer a persecuted religion,
unbelievers flooded into the church.
 Many unbiblical heathen concepts
entered the church, especially with the
unsaved.

22. Summary observations
 Now the church became powerful,
wealthy, and began persecuting true
believers.
 We saw the beginning in the Old
Testament, with kings and others
persecuting the prophets.

23. Summary observations
 The monolithic corrupt Catholic church
began persecuting many, although at all
times God has had His chosen believers
within the church. When the concept of
the state church arose, the Protestant
churches also used the same methods.
 The one church which has never
persecuted by conviction is the Baptists

24. Summary observations
 The concept of the state-church created
many problems
 All are in the church – saved and unsaved, by
virtue of their birth into a location
 Infant baptism is a way to ensure that all are
in the state church, and insisting on freedom
of choice is a threat to the state church
existence
 The more monolithic the structure, the
greater opportunity for abuse

25. Persecution in Expansion
 With expansion of outreach especially
since the 19th century, new sources of
persecution came forth
 There was competition between
churches over various new lands
 There was direct conflict with other
religions – Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism,
Shintoism, etc

26. Persecution and martyrdom in
missionary outreach
 Raymond Lull was an early Catholic
missionary to the Muslims.
Originally rich and profligate, he
got saved, cared for his wife and
family, but then became a monk
and went to reach the Muslims
many times over many years

27. Raymond Lull, missionary to
Islam
 Finally he returned to Bugia, east of
Algiers
 After 10 months hiding, he presented
himself publicly no longer hiding, and
was stoned to death in 1315
 Apparently some of his philosophical
ideas were not well accepted, but it is
clear that he had a tremendous burden
and love for the Muslims

28. Life of Raymond Lull, killed by
Muslims

29. John Williams
 Very effective missionary to the Pacific
Islands
 He was finally killed and eaten on
Erromango as he tried to extend to New
Hebrides. There were clues that danger
was there – no women on the shore, and
he did not send natives first. He tried to
outswim the natives, but was clubbed to
death
 His descendents went to Erromango to
accept apologies from the natives in 2009

30. James Chalmers
 Another effective Scottish missionary
to the New Hebredes, loved by his
people.
 After many years he decided to extend
his ministry to the dangerous Fly River
area. He and a fellow missionary were
clubbed to death and eaten

31. James Chalmers

32. John Coleridge Patteson
 As Anglican bishop of Melanesia, he learned
20 different Melanesian languages. He
brought native boys to New Zealand for
education and to be returned as evangelists.
Once he had over 50 students.
 His plan was defeated by European
“blackbirding” - capturing slaves. The
natives became suspicious of his methods

33. John Patteson’s body set
afloat

34. John Coleridge Patteson
 When he went ashore, he did not return,
and those following him were driven back
by arrows. Later his body was pushed out
in a canoe with 5 marked wounds for 5 men
who had been stolen “blackbirded.
 His death helped stop the practice of
capturing slaves for sugar and cotton
plantations, and raised up other
missionaries

35. John Paton
 He suffered a great deal under the
natives of Tanna, and escaped. His
wife and daughter had died there
 He eventually went to Aniwa and
had a very effective ministry for 24
years

36. Jim Elliot – Operation Auca
 Members of three boards – all young;
Nate Saint had been in Ecuador 7 years,
as the oldest.
 They were aware of the tragedy in
Bolivia by NTM a decade earlier when
hostile Indians killed 5 missionaries
 They made contact in 1955 by plane,
and landed 3 months later – knew little
of the language

37. Jim Elliot
 All 5 missionaries were killed by the
Auca indians, but later Elizabeth Elliot
and Rachel Saint lived among them and
saw many get saved
 It appears that the Auca are territorial,
and view all foreigners as a threat
which must be eliminated…
 Many missionaries were recruited after
their deaths

38. Jim Elliot and others

39. Nate Saint’s plane displayed at
MAF

40. Dr. Carl Becker
 Africa Inland Mission contacted
him and he left for Africa with his
wife and children. After living in
several different areas, he settled
in Oicha, Belgian Congo to work
among the pygmies

41. Carl Becker
 He was very innovative, especially with
leprosy and psychiatric patients. He had
4000 patients in a 1100 acre compound
and very great success – experts from
over the world came. He was treating
2000 patients daily and doing 3000
operations per year
 He also used electric shock therapy for
psychiatric patients.

42. Carl Becker
 At age 70, he left in 1964 escaped the
Simbas (he had been targeted). He
returned and continued 13 years after
that and finally retired to the USA age
83.
 He worked on a hospital and training
center for Africans.

43. Dr. Carl Becker

44. Boxer rebellion –
184 missionaries murdered
 This was a political uprising to rid
China of all foreign influence
 CIM lost many missionaries

45. Boxer rebellion

46. Boxer rebellion

47. John & Betty Stam
 Much turmoil in China between
communists and Chang Kai-Shek
 CIM director Hoste asked for 200
volunteers. Betty went to China, loved
John, but John finished school, and re-
met Betty who came to Shanghai for
health reasons. They were married next
year and studied the language

48. John & Betty Stam
 John was extremely adept and
became fluent quickly in Chinese
 The couple went to a small town in
the interior of China
 The country was overrun by
Communist bandits. They seized
both and held them for ransom

49. John & Betty Stam

50. John and Betty Stam
 While held, the bandits talked about
killing their 3 month old baby. When a
prisoner protested, he was hacked to
pieces. Betty hid the baby in a sleeping
bag with money. When led to
execution, a man protested. They
found a Bible in his home, and he was
executed as well.

51. John and Betty Stam
 John and Betty Stam were executed
by the communists publicly. - with a
great outpouring of support for
missions following.
 The baby was hidden & brought by a
Christian evangelist to another
missionary family and was raised by
family in the USA

52. Missionary Martyrs
 Other famous martyrs were John Birch,
evangelist who preached and rescued
many during Japan’s invasion – from
Hangchow.
 Eric Liddell, great Olympic champion,
grew up in China and returned after his
Olympic victory. He evacuated his family
but died later of a brain tumor when in a
concentration camp. He gave a powerful
witness in the camp.

53. Eric Liddell, missionary and
Olympic champion

54. Part II
Persecution in
Church History
The Present Day

55. Missionary Martyrs
 Graham Staines, 58, director of Leprosy
work in Orissa, India was murdered;
burned to death with two sons while he
slept while returning from a camp
meeting. Graham was popular and a
humble man who had served the lepers
35 years.
 His wife publically forgave his
murderers. The perpetrator was
arrested 4 years later. Ferment was
because the Christians abandoned old
tribal customs

56. Graham Staines

57. Paul Carlson
 Born in 1928, got training as MD, married
with 2 children, wife a nurse. 1961 CMS
asked for MDs for Congo and went where
the political situation was volatile – stayed 5
months, felt the call to permanent missions
 He left medical practice, came as missionary
to Ubangi Providence. Communists came,
and Paul moved his family to CAR. When he
returned to close the hospital, the Simbas
captured him. He was tortured 3 months,
and then killed during a rescue operation
when helping another missionary over a wall

58. Dr. Paul Carlson

59. Dr. Paul Carlson

60. Other martyrs – Simbas
 Hector McMillan gunned down and
two boys shot. They were rescued,
had to leave Hector’s body behind.
His wife had come to peace reading
about Adoniram Judson’s mourning
Ann’s death.
 The two boys faked death – one had
prayed “Father, forgive them for they
know not what they do – 12 years old.

61. Other martyrs – Simbas
 Jay Tucker, Assemblies of God 25
years, tortured and killed. They took
45 minutes torturing him, then
dumped his body in the river for the
crocodiles. But a convert used a
tradition that someone’s blood in the
river will carry the truth – and the
majority of the tribe was saved

62. Other martyrs
 Betty Olson - Vietnam... Initially other were
killed in a leprosarium by the communists.
 She had a difficult childhood as a MK raised in
Africa, and then sent to boarding school. Her
mother died of cancer when she was 17. Her
father remarried, and she took training as a
missionary nurse.
 She went to Africa to work with her father and
step-mother, but relationships were so
difficult that she was asked to leave. She
became depressed age 29

63. Other martyrs – Betty Olson
 She escaped, but 6 years later was
captured during the Tet offensive. She
and two men were on a death march,
malnurished with malaria, leaches, etc.
One died. She was tortured and
eventually killed. She suffered terribly
and died of dysentery and malnutrition,
but came out of a deep depression and
resentment of her parents, and lived a
selfless life her last years.

64. Other martyrs – Betty Olson
 Benge, who survived,
gave a strong
testimony of her
witness – he had
survived 5 years in
prison marches. Benge
said she was the most
selfless person he ever
met – giving her
meager food to
indigeous Christians
and coaxing him out of
meningitis.

65. Nationals as martyrs
 Chang Sen, blind evangelist, gave
himself over when 50 Christians
would have died –
 They cremated his body because
they were afraid he would rise
from the dead

66. Terrorism & martyrdom
 Terrorism viewed missionaries as enemies.
Often they were considered CIA spies. Some
Catholics were murdered by right wing
groups. In Guatemala, 9 priests were killed
in 9 months
 Both left wing and right wing terrorists were
active
 Wycliffe decided not to yield to kidnapping
demands

67. Terrorism & martyrdom
 Chet Bitterman, struggling linguist, was
singled out in Columbia when they did not
find the head of mission. He had been there
2 years with his wife and two children. His
wife’s parents were missionaries in Columbia.
He was held 48 days, and then found shot in
the chest.
 Wycliffe was deluged with 200 volunteers to
take his place.

68. Chet Bitterman

69. William Donald McClure
 Old time missionary – evangelist,
“doctor” without training, vet,
agriculturalist, set up very successful
broad-based ministries
 Church planter, opposition from witch
doctors – some were saved
 He was shot to death by guerillas after
Haile Selassie was deposed after 50
years in Ethiopia

70. In modern times other
martyrs include
 Marcus Whitman was killed by Indians
 Chet Bitterman was executed by Marxist
terrorists
 Five men from NTM were killed by
Indians
 Twelve missionaries were executed by
the Japanese at Hopewell – World War II
 Many missionaries killed by the Simbas

71. Summary and conclusions
 Persecution of believers started with
Abel and has persisted to the present,
and we can anticipate its continuation
at least until Christ returns.
 The righteous have been persecuted by
the unrighteous, and especially the
religious unrighteous, throughout the
ages

72. Conclusions…
 The Old Testament prophets and the
New Testament apostles experienced
persecution, and many experienced
martyrdom.
 Jesus, who is PERFECT RIGHTEOUS-
NESS, suffered the worst persecution
and abrogation of justice

73. Conclusions
 The religious persecutors often believe
that they are doing God’s work. The
unreligious may simply enjoy showing
their might.
 When there is a union of the church
and the state, there is almost inevitably
persecution. Sometimes the persecuted
turn persecutors when they gain power

74. Conclusions
 We are not to fear persecution or persecutors,
but rejoice that we are counted worthy to
suffer for His sake
 We must be careful that it is indeed for
Christ’s sake that we suffer, and not for our
own misdeeds or foolishness
 We must not deny Christ
 We must not place life or family above Christ

75. Conclusions
 We have a responsibility to stand with those
who are persecuted for righteousness sake –
example Corrie Ten Boom, who hid Jews
from the Nazis
 The Lord promises to sustain us during all
our trials, and never leave us or forsake us

76. Conclusions
 Trials can purify or motives and
demonstrate our priorities and our faith
in a very tangible way
 We are servants to our tormentors, and
need to pray for them. Many have
been saved – like Saul of Tarsus after
the death of Stephan

77. Conclusions
 God can show his great power when we
choose to forgive our tormentors, and
especially when we overcome evil with
good. Repaying evil with good
demands God’s supernatural power and
can transform our suffering into an
offering to Him

78. Forgiveness transforms
 When Zacharias the high priest was stoned
at the order of King Joash, he asked for
revenge – and got it. Joash was later killed
by his own servants and buried to the relief
of all.
 But when Jesus and Stephan forgave their
persecutors, God’s great power was
demonstrated transforming sinners to saints.

79. God uses persecution for
witnessing opportunities
 Paul looked at his imprisonment in this
way, testifying before Kings and also
presumably the emperor himself
 He was very clear that his imprisonment
was for the furtherance of the gospel
(See Phil 1)

80. God uses persecution to purify
us and prepare us for heaven
 We see that all things that are
permitted in our lives as Christians to
conform us to the image of His son –
with the goal of spending eternity with
Him
 Furthermore, there are great rewards
for faithfulness in times of persecution