What are the temptations that the church faces when it undergoes persecution? We could probably predict that we would be faced with the temptation to water down what we stand for. There have been many who when put under pressure have given up their commitment to the supremacy of Christ, to the exclusivity of the gospel. In this situation we can become vulnerable to false teachers who offer us a nicer set of teachings that would help us fit in better. Even today we are facing constant social pressure to be nice and accepting and to take the strong truths we believe, and the high view of holiness we hold to and make it more PC, more inclusive, more loving, etc. We could probably predict that some of us would be really discouraged and even begin to question God and start doubting His reality or whether He is good for allowing such bad things to happen to His people. But there would also be some of the surprising temptations that we would not expect to face like turning on one another. Persecution like we see in the early church can either unite us, or it can turn us against each other. We can begin to blame each other for what is happening, we can strongly disagree with each other about how to proceed, in instances of an authority vacuum strong personalities begin to clash for prominence. As people begin to be put under pressure and suffer losses they can either support and help each other or start reacting and taking it out on each other. Under this pressure some will give up and walk away; some will compromise; some will become judgmental; some will try and stir up a political response, some will begin to criticize the leaders and gather...

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