When people live a godly life out of love for God, those who do not know God are often angered by their joy and peace. The unbeliever cannot comprehend why we do what we do, so they ascribe ulterior motives to our actions. That often becomes their basis for persecution. Some people just do not like Christians because they feel conviction around them. They think we are trying to change them and they do not want to change. When people persecute us, it helps to refines us and at the same time stores up wrath for their day of judgment.