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But this is a distorted reading of the Bible. The Pharisees were not just religious leaders; they were also a political group. To go against the high priest was to go against Rome itself. So when Jesus (indignantly) overturned the tables when he entered the Temple, his action was not just a protest against the religious leaders but against the government of his time.

Something is therefore wrong when preachers proclaim a theology of politeness. They tell their listeners that they may disagree as long as they are not disagreeable.

What they fail to recognize, however, is far worse. By emphasizing the silence of Christ in the face of suffering, it asks Christians — and everybody else who is weak — to suffer willingly.

This is why many Christians today do not experience persecution. Enjoying the comfort of their sanctuaries, they do not stand for the rights of the oppressed.

The moment they do that, they will be accused, maltreated, and in some cases, be like their Master — crucified."

--George Matthew Adams