Matthew's Story: A Christian Persecuted by Christians

An Angry Friend

Over the last several years my friend, Matthew, has been doing a lot of soul searching. He and I have engaged in a few pretty lengthy and sometimes "heated" discussions that have sometimes really pushed the limits of our friendship. Thankfully these conversations have strengthened our relationship - and provided us with unique chance at raising our awareness on different issues.

Matthew came up to me a few months ago with something new to discuss. He told me he had been upset, and until recently he wasn't able to discuss it. I could tell this problem was especially burdensome: Matthew was extremely pissed. He was truly suffering, and it was time now for him to start heaving the stone from his chest.

Betrayed by Christians, Anger & Resentment Followed

This stone has to do specifically with the really rough start and tough times he has endured as a Christian. He tells me he has been persecuted as a Christian. While one most often thinks of Christian persecution in terms of injustices instigated by outside oppressors, Matthew tells me the attacks he has endured have come from a most unlikely and insidious source.

Matthew's attackers were his fellow Christians.

As Matthew would say it, he was really and truly angry for being persecuted by Christians for being a Christian, and for following Christianity in his own special way. Matthew feels deeply betrayed and resentful. He tells me, the fact these attacks would come from his brothers and sisters is especially injurious.

Ugliness into Beauty

Over these last few months Matthew and I have talked this over. While talking with me, he was visibly extremely angry, and his words were punctuated generously with his favorite expletives. Being the older of the two of us, and having experienced injustice in different venues, I told him of something that had been helpful for me in the past. I told Matthew he was going to have to struggle on this a bit. I told him that while he could heal himself, at the same time (if he wished) he could also have the unique and rare chance to empower the healing process in such a way as to turn it into something beautiful.