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Divine Mysteries: Exploring the Trinity, Evil, and Human Destiny  /  Lessons God Has Taught Me  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 3
In the story about Witness relatives vs. non-Witness relatives, he suspects “there’s probably a little truth on both sides” and that the Witnesses may often be the aggressors. Where have you seen “persecution” language used as a badge of faithfulness when it may actually be covering over pushiness, lack of love, or poor boundaries?
Another way to ask: He says “persecution” stories can hide the fact that the group might be causing the conflict. Where have you seen people use “we’re being persecuted” to cover pushiness, unkindness, or bad boundaries?

Direct Answer Based on Bercot’s example, “persecution” language can become a badge that automatically labels outsiders as hostile, when the real issue may be the believer’s aggressiveness, repeated boundary-crossing, or inability to live at peace. He suggests the truth is often mixed, but he suspects the Witnesses’ pushy evangelism commonly contributed to the conflict.

Support from Transcript:

  • He recounts the Witness narrative: non-Witness relatives “always gave them such a hard time…a badge of our Christianity, the persecution.”
  • After leaving, he hears the opposite: relatives said “the Witnesses made it…miserable,” and “the Witnesses were the aggressors.”
  • He gives concrete behaviors: “reproaching them for celebrating pagan holidays…always trying to witness to them or give them literature even when…not interested.”
  • He notes relatives wanted peace: “they would like to just be family friends and stay out of theological discussions.”
  • He concludes: “my guess is there’s probably a little truth on both sides,” but because Witnesses were “very aggressive,” relatives “would have left them alone” if they had “politely explained… and left it at that.”
Discussion Follow-ups How can we tell the difference between suffering for Christ and suffering because we were rude or unwise? What boundaries can protect relationships without silencing our convictions?

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