Modern Day Christian Persecution

QUESTION: Is there modern day Christian persecution?

ANSWER:

Modern day Christian persecution is prevalent. People of all ages are being persecuted for their faith. The Bible says that Jesus has called believers out of the world. We don't belong to the world anymore. John 15:19 says: "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

The Bible tells us that before we came to Christ, we were part of the world and were blinded from the truth. In other words, we were inside of a lie, partaking of worldly activities. After we came to Jesus and decided to give our lives to Him, we immediately gained an enemy - the devil. His goal is to take our eyes off of Jesus and he often uses persecution to distract and test us. Jesus knew this was going to happen. In John 15:18, Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." Jesus was even hated by the religious people of those times. In fact, it was the self-righteous people that ultimately wanted to kill Him.

When Jesus sent His disciples into the world, He knew it wouldn't be easy for them. They were going to be attacked and persecuted when they witnessed and shared Jesus with the people. In Mathew 10:16, Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

The beautiful thing is that Jesus didn't leave us as helpless orphans. He sent His Holy Spirit to empower us. We shouldn't be afraid of modern day Christian persecution. Jesus made an astonishing statement that we have to keep in our minds all the time: "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).

Persecution because of our belief in God is a consequence of your choice to be on the part of the light. Persecution is a privilege. We impact others when we shine God's light into the world.

Read a first hand account of modern day Christian persecution.