Despite what some may claim, Christians are being persecuted in America. That might be hard to hear, but it’s true. Even though the United States is, arguably, the freest nation on the planet, and offers the First Amendment protection, Christians still face already-and-increasing persecution. When making such a factual statement you will inevitably be met by a chorus of “no, not really.” While there may not be heads rolling, stakes burning, and lions digesting the remains of the faithful, make no mistake about it, persecution in this country of those who seek to pursue a godly life is real.
What counts as persecution? It could be being slandered and mocked for your faith, or being passed over for a promotion at your job because you refused to fly the Pride flag from your cup holder during June. Consider the following examples:
- Churches were forced to close, with no solid scientific evidence supporting that decision at the time (nor provided since) for months in 2020 and into 2021, even as casinos and strip clubs were allowed to stay open.
- For years, private Christian business owners have been dragged to court, targeted for destruction by the LGBTQ+ movement.
- Jack Phillips, a baker in Colorado, has been harassed for over a decade, bombarded with requests to make the most profane cakes, and dragged in and out of court simply for trying to run his business as a Christian (persecution that continues despite his having prevailed at the Supreme Court).
- Barronelle Stutzman, a florist in Richland Washington, who was eventually forced into retirement because she also refused to compromise on her traditional Christian faith commitments and participate in the celebration of sin.
- Coach Joe Kennedy, a high school football coach in Bremerton Washington, who was fired for exercising his First Amendment rights to pray to God in public. It took him almost seven years to fight to undo this unjust persecution, prevailing only when the Supreme Court ruled that “a government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment…the Constitution neither mandates nor tolerates that kind of discrimination.”
Legally we might call this “discrimination,” but make no mistake, it is also persecution: persecution against Christians because of their faith in Jesus Christ as King and their refusal to compromise on the basic teachings of the Bible.
Be in prayer for the persecuted around the world but also be in prayer for the persecuted here at home. And be in prayer that God’s people will have the courage, wisdom, and discernment to know how and when to stand up to persecution.