By: Obed Pineda
In the summer of 64 A.D., a great disaster sparked one of history’s most vicious crimes against humanity; the Neronian Persecution. Roman historians believe that the raging fire that lasted several days and devoured a great portion of the ancient city begun at the Circus Maximus. Although there is no solid evidence that proves that Nero was the culprit behind the fire, Roman citizens suspected that it was indeed he who perpetrated it. Due to the mounting suspicion from his kingdom (and his rapidly declining popularity that had commenced way before the fire broke out) Nero found the perfect group to falsely accuse; Christians. Christianity had only been around for approximately thirty-one years and was considered as a “minor religious sect” by everyone at that point in history. Nero was well aware that this new “sect” was wildly unpopular among the Roman locals primordially because it clashed with their ideals centering on worshiping Caesar as the embodiment of the goddess Roma, and because it was composed mainly by lowest class of their society; the poor and the slaves. Nero’s cruel abuse of power led the charge against the faithful who refused to abandon the faith, resulting in barbarous acts of torture and murder inflicted upon them, as recorded in the annals of history (cf. Hebrews 11:35-38). Three years after these inhumane practices were legalized by the crown of Rome, the apostle Paul found himself imprisoned; a victim of Rome’s lawful persecution. Erudites of Biblical history concur that the apostle to the Gentiles was most likely martyred in 67 A.D., and determining that it was perhaps also the same year he wrote his farewell address to Timothy (cf. 2nd Timothy 4:6-8). The purpose of comprehending what the political climate was like for a devout Christian when this sacred epistle was inspired to be written is to illuminate the enormity of Paul’s charge to Timothy exhorting, “Preach the word! Be ready in season, and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2nd Timothy 4:2). It must be understood that Paul’s advice of preaching the word “out of season” is not speaking about time. What he is explaining to his spiritual son is that he must preach the whole counsel of God (cf. Acts 20:27) when it is convenient and when it is not convenient! The whole point of the apostle is that a servant of the Lord must never remain silent before sin, even if there is dangerous consequences lurking around the metaphorical corner (cf. 2nd Timothy 2:1-3, 3:12). Knowing that Paul was in jail precisely for not shunning to preach the Gospel of Christ and was now advising his young apprentice to be bold and do the same (cf. 2nd Timothy 4:5) exhibits the holy proverb promulgating, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). This, too, brings to memory a valiant prophet of old who abruptly appears in the Old Testament during the reign of one of Israel’s worst kings (cf. 1st Kings 16:29-33). King Ahab’s reign of terror began “in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah” and lasted twenty-two years (cf. 1st Kings 16:29). Ahab’s queen, Jezebel, was a zealous follower of Baal who seduced Israel’s king to bow to the false god (cf. 1st Kings 16:31-32). Jezebel’s fanaticism posed a serious threat to the prophets of Jehovah God because “Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD” just like Nero did with Christians during Paul’s lifetime in the first century (1st Kings 18:4a). Ahab and Jezebel were unequivocally an apotheosis of Israel’s corruption, immorality, and apathy toward the sublime God. The darkest nights, however, produce the brightest stars and God’s response to the despot Ahab was the mighty and tenacious Elijah who proclaimed, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” (1st Kings 17:1). Elijah was immersed in a time period where to cry out publicly against Baal was to invite the bloodthirsty sword of Jezebel, but even this real, unprecedented level of danger did not deter him from speaking on behalf of God. The inspired James reveals that Elijah was able to successfully stop the rain from falling because “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16b-17). Since Baal was perceived by his devotees as the lord of nature, Elijah wisely concluded that a severe drought would expose the charlatanry of asking Baal to bless the land with an abundance of crops instead of seeking the only, true Provider to Whom he prayed (cf. Jeremiah 14:22). His humble request to God would culminate with his bold challenge to the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (cf. 1st Kings 18:22-40). The prophet had hoped that during the three and a half years of drought and famine, Israel would realize the foolishness of leaving the only God for a figment of man’s imagination, and that they would repent and turn back to Him. Lamentably this was not so when Elijah pressed the people to openly declare whom they now believed to be the real God, but instead they elected to remain silent (cf. 1st Kings 18:20-21). Perhaps one reason for their silence was because they were still unsure, but highly unlikely because they undoubtedly bore witness to the prophet’s of Baal imploring him to make it rain to no avail. Furthermore, Elijah reminded them that “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men” as a result of Jezebel’s heartless massacre (1st Kings 18:22). This manifests that the most probable reason for their silence was that they were afraid of what the calloused queen would do if it was reported to her that they had chosen Jehovah God as their God (cf. 1st Kings 19:1-3). They, unfortunately, did not remember that silence grants power as well. Their decision to remain silent was conveying to the prophets of Baal that their denial of God (whom Elijah served) as God, was correct as well. Hence the reason Elijah found it necessary to publicly demonstrate the power of God and bring to light the falseness of Baal. This illustrates why today the true Christian, too, must not remain mute when false doctrine is being taught in their presence. It is incorrect to accept that to be outspoken against false teaching is to create controversy, since the controversy was initiated the moment God’s word was wrested by them (cf. 1st Kings 18:17-18). Elijah and Paul both teach (in example) that true faith is unveiled in not being afraid of speaking on God’s behalf (cf. 2nd Corinthians 4:8-14). It behooves us as the people of God to not be afraid to speak the whole counsel of God, no matter what the political climate may be (cf. Ephesians 5:8-11, 1st Peter 3:14-17). Only when our faith is firmly placed in Christ Jesus, we will bravely speak to the world about Him, exuding a spirit of tenacity.