Christian persecution is any hostility, experienced from the world, as a result of one’s identification with Christ. This can include hostile feelings, attitudes, words and actions. But what does the Bible mean by the word “persecution?” In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus says in the Beatitudes that persecution is a blessing. Not one that many of us ever desire! Jesus also defines the word for us in Luke 6:22 using four verbs. He says, “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.” Note that it is Jesus in you who is the reason for and the target of persecution.