NANCY FLORY — The 50^th Super Bowl is just around the corner. If your family is anything like mine, you’ll be sitting by the television whooping it up — or better yet, in the Golden State at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

My husband is a rabid football fan, much like the rest of his family. Every SEC game — and every NFL game featuring the Saints — is critiqued and hashed out in infinite detail. I grew up in Cowboys country myself. My relatives watched The Game every Sunday, and kicked around the pigskin on their own time, but I didn’t watch football much until I was married. All of that to say, I don’t have an excellent vernacular in football plays, but I’ve got some working knowledge — which is good, because to get into the game, you’ve got to know something about what’s going on.

That’s a bit like faith. There’s a lot we could be involved in right now in our world — from attacks on free speech to killing of the unborn. As a Christian, am I running the ball? Or am I on the sidelines? There’s an end to the game. Am I doing my part to share the gospel, to stand up for what’s right, to give hope to the hopeless until the clock runs out? What am I doing to position my team for a touchdown?

Maybe you’re asking that about yourself, too. There’s an easy way to tell. Are you being persecuted? Jesus said this:

 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. (John 15:19-21, emphasis mine.)

St. Paul told Timothy, “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12.)

Expect it. Prepare for it.

It’s easy to see this when we read about terrorists inflicting physical punishments, even beheadings, on Christians overseas. It’s even recognizable here in the United States where victims in some shootings have been singled out for killing after acknowledging that they are Christians. But much can also be said about the persecution that we endure when we are mocked, insulted or ostracized for our faith. Persecution comes in many forms, and it isn’t always physical attacks. The Christians who were sent the letter to the Hebrews were “sometimes … publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes … partners with those so treated.” (Hebrews 10:33) Even Jesus recognized this kind of treatment as persecution: “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (Matthew 5:11)

Notice, however, that Jesus specifically said, “on my account.” We are called to live at peace with each other: “If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18). So there is another question to ask ourselves. It isn’t just, “Am I being persecuted?” but also, “Is it on account of the Son of Man? Or are we failing to do all we can do to live at peace with our neighbors?” If we immerse ourselves in being the people Jesus called us to be, and suffer because of our actions, that truly counts as persecution in His name.

The persecution of Christians will not remain overseas. As Americans, we’ve already begun to suspect that we are not immune. Bakers have been fined for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, contrary to their Christian beliefs. A public servant has been jailed for refusing to recognize same-sex marriage. A family-owned business has been fined for refusing to allow a same-sex wedding to take place on family property, and they’ve chosen to shut down their wedding business rather than deny their faith.

So be prepared — and stand firm in your faith:

 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12-13)

Are you in the game? Do you have your game plan ready? What are you doing today that is attracting condemnation, opposition, maybe even persecution? Maybe it’s as simple as being teased by the water cooler when you refuse to laugh at an obscene joke. Maybe you received a harsh scolding when you posted a viewpoint in line with your Christian beliefs on Facebook. Maybe you were fined when you refused to deny your faith by accepting or promoting behavior that is abhorrent to God.

Remember, it isn’t the running back on the sidelines who is getting attacked. It’s the running back driving the ball toward the goal. Are you driving toward the goal? If so, be alert: attacks are imminent. The enemy doesn’t want to see us succeed and he will do everything in his power to stop us from advancing.

So if you’re getting sideways glances, pooh-poohs, or even downright persecution for your faith, rejoice, as Jesus said. You’re attracting the devil’s attention, just like a running back attracts a linebacker’s. If not, you might want to think about why that might be.

The linebackers are coming. Get ready. Grab that football and run. Game’s on.