What can the persecuted church teach us about walking faithfully with Jesus in our broken world?
Persecuted for My Name offers insight and guidance from those who have walked the difficult path of faithfulness under severe persecution. Sixth-generation Chinese Christian S. E. Wang and the late Timothy Keller (1950–2023) reflect on the inevitability, challenges, and opportunities of persecution for all Christians through careful biblical exposition and foregrounding the lived experience of Chinese house churches.
Wang answers big-picture questions on the role of the church in society, why persecution happens, and what Jesus' bodily resurrection teaches us about being a faithful Christian presence in society. Tracing a theology of ascension throughout Scripture, he shows how Christians receive empowerment and encouragement through the ascension of Jesus Christ, that our heavenly resurrected identity and citizenship guide the nature of our earthly journey in the midst of oppression.
In part two, Keller's biblical exposition of the letters to the churches of Revelation 2 anchors us with a theology of persecution both for those who are being persecuted and those who fear persecution. Whether in biblical or modern times, the way of the cross is crucial for forming our Christian identity, discipleship, and ministry in whatever pressing circumstances we find ourselves. And the gospel is the power that saves, sustains, and continually transforms Christians for the rest of our lives, even in persecution.
What you'll find in Persecuted for My Name:
- A theology of persecution from the lived experience and theological reflection of Chinese Christians
- Historical insights and testimony of persecution in China and how the church has lived faithfully under duress
- Tim Keller's rich, in-depth exposition of the letters to the churches of Revelation 2
- A discussion guide ideal for group use
With Persecuted for My Name, you'll see that suffering matters because it is connected to God's cosmic story unfolding through time. Because the ascended king is coming, the church can endure under persecution. For Christians who want to understand what faithful witness looks like in any context, Persecuted for My Name offers not just encouragement, but a theology to live by.
This book is ideal for pastors equipping their congregations for cultural challenges, small groups deepening their understanding of faithfulness, scholars of world Christianity and missiology, and anyone who wants to learn what the global church can teach us about living faithfully when the cost becomes real.
