persecution

 I think of this passage these days whenever I hear some white evangelicals whine about how persecuted they are...

2 Corinthians 6

3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, 

and no one will find fault with our ministry. 

4 In everything we do, 

we show that we are true ministers of God. 

We patiently endure troubles 

and hardships 

and calamities of every kind. 

5 We have been beaten, 

been put in prison, 

faced angry mobs, 

worked to exhaustion, 

endured sleepless nights, 

and gone without food. 

6 We prove ourselves by our purity, 

our understanding, 

our patience, 

our kindness, 

by the Holy Spirit within us, 

and by our sincere love. 

7 We faithfully preach the truth. 

God’s power is working in us. 

We use the weapons of righteousness 

in the right hand for attack 

and the left hand for defense. 

8 We serve God 

whether people honor us 

or despise us, 

whether they slander us 

or praise us. 

We are honest, 

but they call us impostors. 

9 We are ignored, 

even though we are well known. 

We live close to death, 

but we are still alive. 

We have been beaten, 

but we have not been killed. 

10 Our hearts ache, 

but we always have joy. 

We are poor, 

but we give spiritual riches to others. 

We own nothing, 

and yet we have everything.