Some claim that Christianity is a “religion of the powerful.” But try
telling that to persecuted Christians!
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In America, increasing numbers of people in our colleges and in the media
are worried about various “micro-aggressions” and “insensitivities.” So those
who find themselves so offended by the words of others can repair to a
designated “safe space,” where they can work out their distress with hugs and
perhaps coloring books. They probably never heard that saying about sticks and
stones.
Meanwhile, these delicate flowers are missing out on the biggest story of
injustice in the world. According to multiple agencies, adherents of
Christianity—supposedly the religion of the powerful—face far more persecution
than followers of any other religion.
Let me give you a few data points about what this means for our brothers
and sisters worldwide before telling you what it all means for us. For the
second straight year, according to a study from the Italian-based Center for
Studies on New Religions, up to 600 million followers of Jesus worldwide are
being prevented from practicing their faith, with untold numbers paying the
price of martyrdom. While much of the persecution comes from the Islamic State
and similar radical Muslim groups, Christians face discrimination from many
sources. The Pew Research Center counts 145 countries where Christians face
harassment or worse—145!
In Iraq, with the breakdown in order since the Gulf War, the number of
Christians has evaporated from about 1.5 million in 2003 to somewhere around
275,000 today. Many were killed; many more have been driven out as refugees. In
Pakistan, India, and Myanmar, nationalist religious movements—whether Muslim,
Hindu, or Buddhist—have falsely tagged Christians as agents of Western powers
and seek to restrict their freedoms.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
notes that China has increased its level of persecution against Christians. Many
church buildings have been bulldozed. Pastor Bao Guohua and his wife were
sentenced to 14 and 12 years in prison for opposing a government campaign to
remove crosses from churches.
It’s no wonder that Robert Nicholson of the Philos Project says, “There
are many places on earth where being a Christian is the most dangerous thing you
can be.”
We know that the default setting for the daily lives of many fellow
believers around the world is not power, but persecution. But what does this
mean for those of us here in the still relatively protected West? Well, of
course first and foremost we should pray for our persecuted brethren. And yes,
we should speak up for them, with our government, in the media, with our
neighbors, and wes should support organizations that aid the persecuted. We know
that when one member of the Body suffers, we all suffer.
But let me also suggest that a focus on persecuted Christians helps us
develop a biblical worldview and a solid Christian discipleship. The Bible says
that we battle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12), and that our adversary, the devil, goes about
like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8). Persecution
reminds us we are in a spiritual battle—all of us—and that we all must face the possibility that standing for
Jesus could prove costly indeed.
Persecution, as the struggles of our fellow believers attest, is a normal
part of the Christian life. 1 Timothy 3:12 reminds us that all who want to live a godly life for Jesus will
face it. There are no “safe spaces” for Christ-followers in this world.
Martyrdom can be expected. The church historian Eusebius said that the early
martyrs “wove a crown to offer to the Father; … and having triumphed gloriously
should win the mighty crown of immortality.”
A Christian worldview reminds us we are
in a spiritual battle, one that requires courage—and not safe spaces. Are we
ready to don the full armor of God?
