Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

If I am interpreting the question correctly (i.e., that it is referring to persecution OF Christians, rather than to persecution BY Christians), Christian persecution would be actions of any degree (ranging from negative comments or shunning, to adverse economic measures, to imprisonment, to causing physical harm, or even to the taking of lives) carried out in opposition to a person or group based on aspects of their Christian faith.

Typically, such persecution is based on perceptions of the actions or beliefs of Christians as being in conflict with laws or requirements of the society in which they live (such as allegiance owed to a ruler or government, or obedience to laws that conflict with Biblical guidance).

February 10 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

Christian persecution is mistreatment of Christians by non-believers because our beliefs and lifestyle offend these people. Persecution can be in thought, word or deed. Persecution can come from individuals, social groups, family groups, ethnic groups, even from governments at all levels.

Here are some examples of different types of persecution.

Persecution by Thoughts
1) these Christians are pompous know-it-alls who think they are better than everyone else
2) these Christians act like they're holier-than-thou but are just hypocrites

Persecution by Word
1) words that mock, belittle, criticise, ignore, abuse, accuse, Christians because of who were are and what we stand for
2) words that seek to refute what Christians believe in such as atheist attacks

Persecution by Deed
1) Christians not invited to family functions
2) Christians not invited to after work social connections
3) Christians ignored at neighbourhood social events
4) Christians subjected to bias, prejudice, and discrimination by individuals, ethnic or religious groups, governmental authorities
4) Christians targeted with violence by ethnic groups
5) Christians arrested, property seized and imprisoned by governmental authorities
6) Christians flee their own country as refugees from religious violence

Why do Christians face persecution? Here are some thoughts.

1) Everyone who has a religious faith believes they are right and everyone else is wrong. Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, etc believe they are right and Christians are liars tried to deceive everyone else.
2) Christians believe that as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we are the only people who have a right relationship with God and that is offensive to everyone with an alternative belief
3) As Christians proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and in deed, people will be offended because they are rebelling against the will of God; they are sinning because they won't accept Jesus and follow him and they don't care
4) The holy presence of Christians in the lives of other people makes them feel guilty and ashamed about their sins, which makes them angry with us
5) When people feel convicted for their sins by our witness, they get angry with God and that anger spills over toward us
6) Christians are persecuted to stop the advance of the kingdom of God on the earth. Satan will use any person, group of people, ethnic culture, religious or political organisations he can control, to stop our mission of bringing Jesus to our world.

Ultimately, Christians are being persecuted because we are confronting every human being with their life or death decision; what will they do about Jesus.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God (2 Corinthians 2:14-17).

Christians are the smell of death to those who are perishing, that is why we are so offensive to them.

If we don't face any persecution today, could it be that we are blending into our culture so well that we are not a threat or offensive to anyone because of what we believe or how we choose to live.

February 11 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report