Your Faith...persecuted,hated?

YOUR FAITH…PERSECUTED, HATED?

The Christian persecution we read about in Scripture and history books is not a thing of the past. It still exists. Today, in the 21st century, we are living in a time when persecution against Christian believers is the highest in modern history. According to Open Doors’ 2019 World Watch List—an in-depth investigative report focusing on global Christian persecution—persecution is increasing at an alarming rate. Let us look at some facts from the last five years:

In North Korea, Christians are considered hostile elements to be eradicated.

Afghanistan—Where Christianity is not permitted to exist.

In Somalia, Christians are high value targets.

Believers in Libya face abuse and deadly violence

Christians in Pakistan live with constant threat of mob attacks.

Christian converts in Sudan targeted for persecution.

Christians imprisoned and dying in shipping containers in Eritrea.

Believers in Yemen especially vulnerable in civil war and famine

Illegal to convert, illegal to preach in Iran.

Unprecedented violence against Christians in India

1 in 9: Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution.

14%: The rise in the number of Christians in 2019 who experience high levels of persecution.

4,136: Christians killed for faith-related reasons

2,625: Christians detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned

1,266: churches or Christian buildings attacked

7 of the countries the primary cause of persecution is Islamic oppression.

11: countries scoring in the “extreme” level for their persecution of Christians. Five years ago, North Korea was the only one.

Every day, 8 Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith.

Every week, 182 churches or Christian buildings are attacked.

And every month, 309 Christians are imprisoned unjustly.

340 million Christians around the world suffer some form of persecution, such as arbitrary arrest, violence, a full range of human rights violations and even murder.

China also exported surveillance technology and systems training to more than 100 countries. Some have used it to identify and track Churchgoers.

84 countries have laws against blasphemy. Many of these laws allow courts to impose lengthy prison sentences on individuals found guilty.

reporting period (from October 2019 to September 2020):

4,488 Churches or Christian buildings were attacked

4,277 Christians were unjustly arrested, detained, or imprisoned.

1,710 Christians were abducted for faith-related reasons.

2 Corinthians 11:20-31

For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you in the face. To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold (I speak foolishly) I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am even more: in labours far more, in beatings immeasurably, in imprisonments far more, in deaths often. By the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have spent in the depth of the sea. In journeys often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers; in labour and hardship, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness, apart from what I leave unmentioned, what comes against me daily: the anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast about the things concerning my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

What happened to religious freedom. THIS WILL GET WORSE. As we get closer to the end times, we can expect persecutions against believers to increase. The fact is, we are living in an environment that is growing increasingly hostile to the Gospel we proclaim.

1) A PROMISE OF HARDSHIP

The Powers Behind This Hardship

The disciples are warned that they will be delivered up to the “councils”. This is a reference to the Jewish Sanhedrin, which was their version of the Supreme Court. They would also stand before “rulers and kings”, who would interrogate them concerning their preaching and doctrine. They would be hunted, hounded, beaten, and some would even die, for the faith they preached.

As Paul’s own testimony, people will receive this treatment because the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a direct threat to organized religion and to corrupt human government. The Gospel exposes the sin and ungodliness of this corrupt world system. When the system is confronted by the Gospel, the system reacts by seeking to silence the Gospel.