When persecution arises, how far should missionaries go in activism before they risk harming the very believers they hope to protect?
Hale reminds missionaries that their decisions during persecution carry asymmetrical consequences. A foreign worker may be expelled from the country, but local believers may suffer imprisonment, torture, or death. Reckless actions, especially those with political overtones, can implicate the national church and expose ordinary Christians to severe reprisals. In addition, missionaries may find themselves lending support to causes that change their character once they gain power, or they may fracture the church by aligning with one faction over another (Hale, On Being a Missionary, 178–182).
Faithful workers must therefore keep their priorities straight. If they have taught the Word of God plainly, they have already taught believers that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Suffering for Christ is not an emergency to be managed away at any cost, but part of normal Christian discipleship. Missionaries should take persecution seriously, pray fervently, and use lawful means of appeal when appropriate, but they must resist the urge to become the saviors of persecuted believers through dramatic interventions that have not been carefully weighed.
Zeal for justice can easily blend with pride, fear, or a desire to control outcomes.
Hale advises that any strong action be taken only after much consultation and united prayer. Missionaries must listen to national leaders, consider the likely impact on the wider church, and test their own motives. Zeal for justice can easily blend with pride, fear, or a desire to control outcomes. By slowing down to consult and pray, workers give the Holy Spirit room to guide not only their consciences but also those of those who will bear the cost.
In seasons of persecution, missionaries best serve the church not by impulsive activism, but by prayerful, consultative decisions that protect believers and keep the gospel—not political theatrics—at the center.
Disclaimer: Information in my “slip-box” doesn’t necessarily reflect my agreement with the source or all its content. Recording diverse perspectives helps strengthen one’s position beyond the echo chamber of like-minded thinkers. By documenting alternative viewpoints, we engage in the intellectual wrestling match that ultimately deepens our understanding.
I aspire to post one note from my “slip-box” every weekday. If you want to learn more about how to work with knowledge, click this link: What is knowledge management?
Pastor Dan Patrick, raised in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., holds both a Bible degree and a Master’s of Divinity. He has ministered across five states from coast to coast, serving in various capacities, including pastoral leadership. Dan’s primary mission is to help people love God’s Word and find their purpose in God’s work.
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