TALKING RELIGION

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Paul Remembers His Visit

13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews. 15 For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity 16 as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last.


Some of you may labor in workplaces that frown on talking religion in the workplace. You have to be very careful how you share your faith. It might cost you your job or get you called on the carpet before a supervisor. This religious persecution is justified as protecting others from unwanted solicitation or discrimination because one has differing beliefs.

This level of religious persecution pales, however, when compared to the persecution early church believers faced for speaking “… the very word of God…”. They risked execution for their beliefs.

Remember, the best testimony … witness … for your faith is the life you live, not the words you say. Show your non-believing coworkers the difference Jesus Christ has made in your by imitating His lifestyle in yours.