Matthew 5:11: “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.”

On Friday, April 5, Rick and Kay Warren’s son, Matthew, committed suicide. Because of Rick Warren’s popularity, all kinds of responses flooded social media and other venues of communication. Warren’s response to this tragedy was partly captured in a letter he wrote to his congregation, Saddleback Church, in California: “Only those closest [to us] knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America’s best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided. Today, after a fun evening together with Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life.”

Rebekah Lyons, wife of pastor Gabe Lyons, wrote, “As Christians, we believe this side of heaven all disease, sickness and pain is rooted in a world broken by sin. But there are real consequences to living amidst the mess. To oversimplify these complexities would be na?ve at best, negligent at worst.”

Encouragement and support has poured in from all over the country. However, in the midst of their grief and pain, the Warren family has had to endure some hateful, cruel and vicious comments from people who do not agree with the famous pastor’s convictions. He has opposed homosexual marriage and supported Proposition 8 in California (the law that overturned same-sex marriage and is currently before the Supreme Court).

I thought about including some of the posts from his attackers, but then decided what they had to say was not worth repeating. In fact, it is evident to me from their writings that they live in moral darkness. What they tried to do was persecute a Christian who was simply following God’s truth. As you can imagine, the most vicious attacks came from within the gay community.

I cannot fathom the pain this family must feel. Thank God that thousands of Christians responded with kindness and love.

It is possible to be so blinded by one’s position that we lose any perspective on decency – or even reality – in the wake of an opportunity to bash someone we dislike. The Warrens have suffered because of the death of their son, and that suffering was made more painful through the unwanted, unneeded and unnecessary statements of those who oppose them and their faith. In cases like this, the need to share can simply be ungodly. Unfortunately, social media allows a cowardly person the opportunity to attack innocent people.

Persecution comes in different forms and in many ways. Whether you agree completely with Rick Warren as a pastor or not is not the issue. He is a Christian and therefore part of the family of God. He and his family have experienced an emotionally wrenching tragedy. Even if a fellow believer cannot support his methodology in ministry, he or she can defend and support him and his wife in their time of anguish.

The radicals in the gay community are not content to practice a lifestyle that is condemned in Scripture. They want to intimidate, hurt and persecute those who disagree with them. They preach tolerance but practice intolerance.

We live in strange and challenging times. However, persecution has never been far removed from those who follow Jesus Christ. We must draw support and confidence from each other. Rick Warren wrote to his church on the day his son died: “Today, we need your prayers for us.” Let us continue to pray for them as they deal with the death of their son and the hurt they feel from misguided people who feel the need to share.