“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” ( John 15:18, NIV)

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About three weeks ago, Pennsylvania Democratic lawmaker Brian Sims recorded a live video outside of his local Planned Parenthood Clinic in Philadelphia. In the video, he rebuked what he considered a riotous and hateful group of protestors and promised money if his viewers disclosed the protestors’ private information to the internet.

Who were these bigoted protestors and what vile act were they engaging in that called for their doxing?

The protestors were a man, a woman, and three teenage girls; their crime, peacefully praying for babies outside of Planned Parenthood.

At the time, the group was not talking to any potential clients of Planned Parenthood and they were not waiving offensive signs. Rather, they were praying.

It seems that we are now in an age in America where praying for the unborn is seen as a social sin.

Representative Sims outrageously declared that this small peaceful group was “pseudo-Christian,” using their white privilege to shame young women. While it may seem crazy that a publicly elected official is using his platform to slander and dox peaceful Christians, this persecution is nothing new.

Jesus gave full disclosure to His disciples that following Him would not be without persecution. In fact, as Christians, we are promised persecution. When sending out His disciples in Matthew 10, Jesus promises: “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” If Jesus, who was fully man and fully God, was persecuted and crucified, then why should we expect any different as his followers?

Every incident of persecution reminds us as Christians who we follow, and that being a disciple of Jesus is more important than anything else. In a social media world, we have the means to show what really matters when the pressure is on. As the writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb 12:1-3, NIV)