In Luke 6:22 Jesus faced His disciples and said, “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”  It’s called suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:41)  But why?  John 15:21 gives us insight into this when Jesus said, “They will treat you this way because of My Name, for they do not know the One who sent Me.”  Worldly ignorance of God breeds fear, fear leads to distrust, and distrust transforms into hatred towards His people. But we shouldn’t look at this persecution negatively…for I Peter 4:16 says, “If you suffer as a Christian, don’t be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that Name.”  For in the end we will be blessed for standing in His Name.