Is There Persecution Of Christians in America?

​A lot of people are wondering if there’s persecution of Christians in America today.That is a sad thought but also a very valid concern.

There’s no question that Christianity is declining in America. While according to the Pew Research Center about 70% of Americans identify as Christians, a study conducted by sociologists C. Kirk Hadaway and Penny Long Marler indicates that less than 20% Americas regularly attend Church. Momentum is building against the Christian religion in America: the current government, the media, the educational system, the entertainment industry no longer share our Christian values. As a result, Christians are becoming more and more alienated from the key forces of society.

But does that mean that there is persecution in America?

Typically when we think about persecution we think about Nero throwing Christians to his lions for entertainment, or crucifying Christians in the Roman empire. Or today, we think about the horrible be-headings and senseless murders taking place in the Middle East.

While there is no question that those horrific acts definitely qualify as persecution, there are other, more subtle acts, that qualify as persecution as well.

Let me give you a couple of examples...

Remember David and Jason Benham? They are twin brothers who used to have a TV show on HGTV calles ‘Flip It Forward’. Everything was going well until activists found out that the two brothers were Christians and had expressed opposition to abortion and gay marriage in the past – before the show was even a project. Their views on abortion or gay marriage, naturally, have nothing to do with a house renovation show. Still, the network decided to cancel their show.

How about the bakers in Oregon who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, citing their Christian values as their reason? The state charge the bakery with a $135,000 fine.

Obviously this is all done in the name of civil rights – the very rights that Christians are not recognized. What used to be good is now bad, and what used to be bad is now good. 

I remember when the bakery case in Oregon happened – I thought ‘you know, when I realize I’m not welcomed in some place, I just leave. Why didn’t the gay couple go to some other bakery?’
Well, my dear friend, it’s because of …PERSECUTION.

You see, in America we’re not yet at a point where we behead Christians.  But there are four other forms of persecution aside from death.

The four forms of persecution

That's right - there are other forms of persecution other than death.

Let's examine these four forms of persecution:

1. Stereotyping: have you noticed how in the entertainment industry Christians are more often than not portrayed as ignorant, backward, homophobic, hateful and intolerant? And not just in the entertainment industry, by the way – remember when then candidate Barack Hussein Obama said of Christians: ‘They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren’t like them’. This is stereotyping. It doesn’t have to be true – it just needs to be repeated often enough for people to accept it as true. If you’re a Christian, you know that none of the adjectives the left uses to describe you is accurate. If you’re not a Christian, you may feel antipathy for us and may well buy into the idea that we are who the left says we are. But believe me – we’re not who the left says we are. We are who God says we are – and we’ve all (you too) been created in God’s image. But stereotyping, my dear friend, is another form of persecution.
2. Marginalization: Once the left has succeeded in stereotyping you, the next step is to make sure you have no place in the secular world – like the Benham brothers, you may lose your job, your friends, your house. When these things happen to you because you’re a Christian, you’re being marginalized. And we are being marginalized even if we don’t lose our jobs – think of how you’re no longer allowed to pray in public. Or if you’re running for office, the left consistently reminds you of the separation of State and Church. The Bible is no longer allowed in public schools, but the ridiculous theory of evolution is.
3. Intimidation: In October 2014 several pastors in Houston encouraged Christians to sign a petition calling for a referendum against an ordinance that allowed men and women to use each other’s bathrooms. What did the city government do? Houston Mayor Annise Parker ordered (yes, ordered!) five of the pastors to turn over all their sermons, emails and communications addressing homosexuality. Refusal to comply would result in jail. Nationwide negative reaction caused the mayor to rescind the subpoenas. But these types of actions are going to continue – and obviously, they are another form of persecution.
4. Litigation: In 2013 the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued a catholic hospital (Health Partners) for not offering abortion services. The ACLU intends to use the case to force all religious hospitals to practice abortion. Another example is the case of a Christian photographer in New Mexico who refused to photograph a lesbian couple ‘commitment ceremony’. The couple sued and the photographer lost and was fined with $6,000. As they litigate you into accepting THEIR values, the left is performing in fact religious persecution. I have never seen a lawsuit against a Muslim bakery or photographer who refuses to do business with gay people. The only ones being sued are Christians – what does that tell you?

What it tells me, my dear friend, is that we’re now apparently living in a post-christian America.

In a Clinton administration, things would have likely gotten worse. Now that Donald Trump has won the 2016 presidential election, it looks like God has answered our prayers and there’s a chance to course correct. But the left will always be there and it’s a matter of time until they get back in office – and, boy, are they going to ramp up persecution.

But not to worry, my dear friend. This mess can only end up in either of two things: a religious revival (it’s happened many times before and it might be happening right now) or Rapture (where all the Christians will be called by Jesus to join him in Heaven).

No matter how you look at it, it all ends in victory for us Christians.
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What side will you be on when Rapture happens?