According to the “World Watch
List” maintained by Open Doors International, worldwide in 2025, “more than 380
million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for
their faith.” They report that “1 in 7
Christians are persecuted worldwide, including: 4,476 murdered, and 4,744 imprisoned,
while 7,679 churches and other Christian properties were attacked.”
Open Doors International has
a map that shows the countries where Christians are persecuted, and they rank
the five countries where persecution is the worst. These countries are: #1 North Korea, #2 Somalia,
#3 Yemen, #4 Libya, and #5 Sudan.
According to Open Doors, Nigeria ranks #7. https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/
The Voice of the Martyrs has
a similar map that shows the countries where Christians are being persecuted all
around the world. https://www.persecution.com/globalprayerguide/?gad_source=5&gad_campaignid=21514348932&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzZbmptf1kAMVQRqtBh1SYQCVEAAYBSACEgJiN_D_BwE
Radical Islamists and
communists are the primary persecutors. However, radical Hindu fundamentalists
in India, guerilla groups and drug cartels in South America, and traditional religions
in Mexico are also a major problem.
Here in the United States
Christians have been increasingly persecuted for their faith in Jesus, and
their desire to follow His teachings. Hundreds
of churches have been vandalized and burned, and leaders have been forced out
of their positions in business and local government. The educational system has
repeatedly disciplined Christian students and undermined their parents. Government regulators and lawsuits have
nearly, (and in some cases completely), driven Christian small business owners out of
business. National leaders have been
mocked in the press. Violent demonstrators have tried to prevent access to
Christian rallies and worship services; most recently at UC Berkley. This anti-Christian hatred has even resulted
in the assassination of the prominent Christian Evangelist, Charlie Kirk.
We thank God that President
Trump has called attention to this problem, and that several members of the US
Congress have taken notice as a result.
We also are grateful that there has been some reporting in the national
broadcast media. All freedom loving
Americans should support freedom of religion.
We are called to contend for
our faith in Jesus Christ, but the Holy Bible is clear that Christians will be
persecuted for it. We need to pray, read the
Bible, and draw on the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we will not falter
when we are put to the test.
Jesus said:
If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The
world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no
longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates
you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the
master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if
they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this
to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. They
would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no
excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. If
I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they
would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they
still hate me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their
Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’
But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will
come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must
also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my
ministry. (John 15:18-27 NLT)
On his missionary journeys,
the apostle Paul traveled from city to city preaching the gospel and planting
churches. He always went to the synagogues first to give the good news to the
Jews. He was favorably received at first. However, the religious establishment always
stirred up opposition to him. When that happened, he carried the message to the
gentiles. At first, the message was received favorably once more. However, the
religious leaders stirred up opposition again. Paul was beaten, jailed, stoned
and left for dead, and run out of town.
Yet, the churches he planted continued. We are beginning to experience same thing now.
Currently, the persecution is not so severe. It will get worse.
Paul said:
I
have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more
severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I
received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was
beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked,
I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the
move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from
my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in
the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have
labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and
thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
(2Corinthians 11:23-27 NIV)
You,
however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith,
patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things
happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet
the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants
to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers
and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
(2Timothy 3:10-13 NIV) (emphasis added)
Peter wrote:
Who
is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should
suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not
be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be
prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the
hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a
clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good
behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if
it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For
Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring
you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
(1Peter 3:13-18 NIV)
The Apostles set an example for us:
And
when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high
priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in
this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you
intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles
answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers
raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him
at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and
forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the
Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When
they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a
Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by
all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little
while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about
to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to
be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was
killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After
him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of
the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were
scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men
and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will
fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You
might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they
had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the
name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the
council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the
name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they
did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (Acts 5:27-42
ESV) (emphasis added) *
* All
Bible verses quoted were copied from: https://biblehub.com/
