DATE
July 20,2025
If you thought that it was easy to follow Jesus, think again. Throughout the world Christians are being hunted, sought out and persecuted—their only crime being their confession of Jesus Christ—being followers of Him who redeemed them from their sins.
In 2024, Christian organization, Open Doors, reported that on average 13 Christians a day are killed worldwide. This rounds out to about 5,000 people each year being martyred for their faith. If you live happen to live through the ordeal of being captured, you could then face prison time. On average another 5000 Christians are imprisoned yearly. And attacks on the properties of churches and/or followers of Jesus—they average almost 8000 a year. Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan; Middle Eastern countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yeman; Africa nations Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Libya, Nigeria prosecute Christians at an extraordinary high level—just recently 70 Christians were beheaded in Congo, just for their faith. This does not include those countries you often hear of who persecute Christians like China, old Soviet block states such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and others that border China or Iran, plus the African continent including Mozambique and all of north Africa. Check out this map denoting the all countries of the world and the degree of their tolerance towards Christians.
Perhaps you feel that because you live in the West (noted as Christian nations such as Europe and North America), you are safe if you make a decision to follow Christ. Since the turn of the century, persecutes against Christians has been on the rise—as it has been for Jews. In the last five years the role of government has played an increasing role in persecuting Christians as noted by the Family Research Counsil in their report entitled, “FRC Releases Updated Report Detailing the Intensifying Intolerance Toward Christians in the West” (https://www.frc.org/newsroom/frc-releases-updated-report-detailing-the-intensifying-intolerance-toward-christians-in-the-west#gsc.tab=0), dated January 2024. The report researched 34 countries and found that, “Examples of government-sanctioned acts of hostility Western Christians faced within the past four years include being arrested or fined for preaching or praying in public spaces, being punished for voicing biblically informed beliefs in the public square, and pastors facing fines or imprisonment for failing to abide by COVID-19 restrictions—which were sometimes more stringent on houses of worship than on secular institutions and businesses.” These events are so evident to church goers, that Vice President, JD Vance (a Catholic), in his famous speech to the Munich Security Conference, in February 2025, brought to remembrance the incident of British citizen, Adam Smith-Connor, a 51-year-old physiotherapist and army veteran who stood 50 meters from an abortion clinic and silently praying for three minutes. Not obstructing anyone. Not interacting with anyone. Just silently praying on his own. Police observed him and demanded to know what he was doing there, Adam replied simply, It was on behalf of the unborn son he and his former girlfriend had aborted years before. Adam was found guilty of breaking the government’s new “buffer zone” law, which criminalizes silent prayer and other actions that could influence a person’s decision within 200 meters of an abortion facility. He was sentenced to pay thousands of pounds in legal costs to the prosecution.
You may think, okay, I wont pray in public, that doesn't bother my walk with God. Well, what if someone merely thinks you are praying? You may think, that's ridiculous. Perhaps, but according to the Vice Presidents' speech, “This last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called Safe Access Zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law. Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizen suspected guilty of thought crime”.
“This last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called Safe Access Zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law. Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizen suspected guilty of thought crime”Beloved, Think It Not Strange
There are many other ways unbelievers demean, smear and discourage believers from sharing their faith. It can come in the form of police intimidation—who wants to go to jail for merely sharing the gospel on a street corner with people who voluntarily desire to hear what is being said; or, giving a Bible to a close friend while you are at work; or, sharing Scripture with a family member who is in a nursing home? All of these scenarios can incite actions from unbelievers that is totally out of character for them. More surprising, their out of control response may cause a great deal of problems for you. Are you prepared?
Scripture tells us, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy-1 Peter 4:12,13. As a Christian you will go through many hard trials, and through those trials God proves you, He tries you, as silver is tried-Psalm 66:10. He proves you at the waters of Meribah-Ps 81:7. And when we call on Him to help us, He hears and, more often than not, He deliveres us-Ps 81:7. But will you take that stand? Jesus says, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross (the problems, hardships, etc), and follow me”-Mark 8:34. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven”-Mt 10:32,33.
Are you ready to be a Christians? You will need to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour-1 Peter 5:8. However, God has given you a way to protect yourself with His help. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints-Eph 6:10-18.
