Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The beatitude before this one pronounces a blessing on those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Taken in isolation, it would be easy to read that beatitude as a sort of general "Rah, rah for the underdog" sentiment. But coupled with this, it takes on a very different sense. For this beatitude is a refinement and a refocusing of the one preceding it. Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are, whether they realize it or not and whether they like it or not, persecuted on Christ's account. Thus, the pro-life atheist like Nat Hentoff who endures brickbats for his defense of human life is, whether he knows it or not, suffering on Christ's account. This does not mean that salvation is guaranteed everybody who endures persecution. But it does mean that those who do God's will are doing it whether they think they are or not — and that they may be in for a happy surprise not unlike the sheep who said, "Lord, when did we see Thee hungry and feed Thee, or thirsty and give Thee drink? And when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee, or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee?" Such people had no idea they were serving Christ. But they were anyway. And we have it on pretty good authority that "the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"
