The Reality We Face: Christians Will Always Be Persecuted

If you’ve read other articles talking about Christianity or Christian persecution in particular, or even if you have a full understanding of what it means to be a Christian, a title like that will seem painfully obvious.
 
Of course, Christians will always be persecuted! However, there is a particular reason I am talking about this right now.
 
Looking over topics to talk about, I came across an article on RealClearPolitics written by Penny Nance, President and CEO of Concerned Women for America.
 
Her article was titled: “When Will the Rising Tide of Bias Against Christians Stop?”
 
That title kind of surprised me, to be quite honest. “Rising tide”? Ma’am, Christians have been persecuted for almost two-thousand years. We’re not facing a “rising tide”, we’re already flooded by such persecution.
 
In her article, Ms. Nance points out the scrutiny the Vice President’s wife recently faced with regard to the fact she chose to teach at a Christian school. The media attacked her and the school for being anti-LGBT and really went quite far in their attacks against the Second Lady with someone in the media suggesting that she no longer be protected by Secret Service over this.
 
No doubt, this is Christian persecution, but it’s nothing new. Even Ms. Nance points out the many other times when people, particularly Democrats, have persecuted Christians such as Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) challenging a federal judicial nominee over his ties to the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization.
 
Other examples she pointed at were Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) saying of Amy Coney Barrett that Catholic “dogma lives loudly within you.” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called into question Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russel Vought’s Christian views as being “Islamophobic” and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) asking Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his confirmation hearing: “Is gay sex a perversion?”
 
But of course, this is hardly the tip of the ice berg of Christian persecution, even in America. In Colorado, a baker had to go through legal hell just because he refused to bake a gay wedding cake. And I don’t think we’ll forget the fact that a group of Catholic high school kids were hounded and harassed and vilified by the fake news media a couple of weekends ago (granted, for wearing MAGA hats, but still).
 
Most recently, the Left went a little bananas over the fact that Trump promoted “controversial” legislation in a number of states where the Bible would be taught in schools through the context of literature and history.
 
Over the decades, the Bible, crosses and overall prayer were banned in public schools, replaced with communist propaganda and flimsy theories of evolution which are heavily alluded to as being factual, if not actually being taught as fact in this day and age (I haven’t attended a science class that talked about it since high school back in the early to mid-2010s).
 
In the Middle East, Christians are regularly beaten, harassed and persecuted on a good day and outright killed and dismembered on a bad day. In China, Christians who refuse to include President Xi Jinping in their worship services are arrested and only God knows what happens to them.
 
But none of this is new. Like I said, Christians have been persecuted for two-thousand years.
 
Need I remind you that the Apostle Paul, before converting, actually hunted down Christians with Roman soldiers to have them executed? That Christians in Rome were considered atheists because they did not believe in the Roman gods? That it took Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century to legalize Christianity in Rome?
 
Jesus Christ, while He was still walking on this Earth, warned people that those who would follow Him, aka Christians, would face persecution and hostility from the world.
 
2 Timothy 3:12: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”
 
John 15:18: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”
 
1 Peter 4:12-14: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”
 
Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
 
Time after time in the Bible, it is made known to us that we will be persecuted by this world for the simple “crime” of being a Christian.
 
This is why I’m so surprised that Ms. Nance thinks this persecution is so unprecedented. But perhaps, I should try to look at how others might see this.
 
What do I mean? Let me explain.
 
I’m from Argentina. And while Argentina is largely Catholic, its founding was not necessarily due to Christianity or out of a necessity to allow people to express their religious freedoms.
 
America was founded a Christian nation. Included in the Bill of Rights is the freedom of religion. Argentina has that too, but it was not one of its main points upon the founding.
 
The people that settled here sought freedom of religion and the country was founded following Christian views.
 
The people that settled in Argentina went there not to be free of religious persecution but to conquer the land for Spain.
 
America since before its founding has been a sanctuary for Christians, where freedom of religion was considered as important as freedom of speech, press and assembly. And Christianity has been a major part of politics for a very long time.
 
So when in a country where Christianity is so prominent, I suppose it is understandable if people are noticing an uncomfortable trend in increased Christian persecution. This is supposedly the land of the free, so why would anyone expect Christianity to be persecuted?
 
Like I said, there is no rising tide of Christian persecution because we are already flooded by it and have been for a very long time. The only thing that is significant about the way Christians are treated in America and the way Christians have been treated elsewhere in different times is that America has provided what can be considered a period of relief of that persecution.
 
True, Christians don’t tend to be persecuted in America precisely because of the First Amendment. However, there has been plenty of Christian persecution anyway. Granted, not to the point of execution, thank God, but persecution has been there anyway.
 
And this persecution will only get worse because we live in what can only be considered a post-Christian America.
 
In a Christian America, socialists like AOC, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and others would not get within 10 miles of holding a government office, as no true Christian would vote for them. In a Christian America, we wouldn’t be debating the morality of a border wall, we would be united in an effort to secure our borders, while still helping those who legitimately want to come here and legitimately seek better opportunities and to contribute in this country.
 
In a Christian America, we would not debate, much less celebrate, the enacting of legislation legalizing abortion up to any point in the pregnancy. We would not debate gay marriage or transgenderism.
 
We have all of these issues because we live in a post-Christian America and have been for some time now.
 
As a result, we see a “rising tide” of Christian persecution. And maybe so in comparison to earlier in the country’s history, but certainly nothing like what Christianity has had to face in its entire existence everywhere else.
 
We are expected to be persecuted by the world because we are not of this world. We do not belong to the world; we belong to Christ. We do not follow the world; we follow Christ.
 
The unfortunate reality is that Christians will always be persecuted for as long as Christianity exists. But the fortunate reality that comes along with it is that, in that persecution, we are fighting the Good Fight. If we are to be persecuted for any particular reason, it is best to be persecuted for being a Christian.
 
If the world turns its back to us, we rest assured that our faith will be rewarded in heaven.
 
I often say that, even if the Left gets absolutely everything it wants, it’s ultimately okay. Part of the reason why is because even if the Left takes away all our freedoms and property (because that’s the nature of socialism), whatever the world takes from us, God will multiply in His Kingdom.
 
Take away our riches, God will multiply those riches in heaven. Take away our families, God will multiple those families in heaven. Take away our lives, God will reward us with eternal life.
 
Yes, we will be persecuted in this life. This much is to be expected. But even if worse comes to worst, we need not worry because we know that Christ’s return is far closer than any of us think. Even if we are made to suffer in this life, God will take away all suffering, all pain, all sorrow, all tears in heaven.
 
Our God created the heavens and the earth. He is the master of it all. So what if we are persecuted? Sure, it’s not a good thing by any means and it certainly brings pain with it, but we ultimately need not worry.
 
If I am to die for the simple reason that I am a Christian, I will die with a smile on my face and a heart full of gratitude for God.
 
Why? Because Christ took away our fear of death. He defeated death at the cross. In Him, we also defeat death.
 
Of course, this does not mean that we should simply be content with these things happening. We should still try to course-correct, but even if that does not happen, we can rest assured that this is all part of God’s Plan.
 
And trust me, He does not need a plan B.
 
Luke 6:22
“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!”
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