How To Deal with Online Haters, Persecutors, and Enemies

by Dale Partridge & Veronica Partridge

It’s obvious, isn’t it? The stakes are rising for those willing to share the truths of Scripture in the public arena. Social media and the press have been weaponized and, like a machine gun, can be turned toward you without warning. For this reason, many Christians have decided to remain quiet on matters of morality and faith while online.

However, this should not shock any follower of Christ. Nearly 2,000 years ago the Apostle Paul made the expectation quite clear to us. In 2 Timothy 3:12 he writes, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” That is to say, we should not be surprised at the growing animosity between the culture and the church of Jesus Christ.

But what about you? Have you found it difficult to share your faith on social media or in other public formats? Has fear driven you to remain silent? What about your response to those who lash out against you? Are you responding in love? In this episode, Dale and Veronica Partridge attempt to answer these questions from Scripture as an encouragement to those who need it.

Additional Resources

Scripture References

  • 2 Timothy 3:12

    “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

  • Matthew 5:10

    “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

  • 1 Peter 4:12-14

    “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

  • John 15:20

    “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

  • Matthew 10:34-39

    “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

  • Proverbs 28:1

    “The righteous are bold as a lion.”

  • Matthew 5:44

    “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

  • John 3:18-21

    “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

  • John 7:7

    “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.”

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