PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS AND CHRISTIANITY
What Is Christian Persecution?
Persecution is the act of harassing,
oppressing, or killing people because of their difference from
society. Christians are persecuted because of their belief in
Jesus Christ as Savior does not
conform to the godlessness of a sinful world (learnreligions.com). We can add to this list other
forms of persecution such as slapping, hitting, spit upon, cursing, imprisonment, scorn, hatred, ridicule, verbal abuse and argument,
physical abuse, criticism, group rejection, burning, cutting, amputation, skinning alive, blinding, use of acid, murder, painful removal
of fingernails, beheading, and a thousand other forms. Most researchers agree that Christianity is the most persecuted religion
in the world. As of 2024, about 360 million Christians were subjected to extreme levels of persecution worldwide [about 1 in
7]. In 2023, an estimated 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained and interrogated, and another 4,000
or more were kidnapped. Additionally, more than 4,500 churches and Christian facilities worldwide were damaged. For
such opposition, no matter how mild or severe, to be regarded as persecution in the biblical sense, it must be provoked by the believer's
devotion to Jesus Christ and His righteousness (Ligonier Ministries)
Bible Verses about Christian persecution:
"If the world
hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye
are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said
unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my
saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him
that sent me" (John 15:18-21).
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they
the prophets which were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12).
"Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs
shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to
the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake" (Luke 21:10-12).
"Let love be without
dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality: Bless them which persecute you: bless,
and curse not" (Romans 12:9-14).
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great
is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12).
Books On Persecution
Of Christians And Christianity:
Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation And Our
Faith, by Obery M. Hendricks and Obery M. Hendricks, Jr.
Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity, by David Limbaugh
The
Persecution Of Christians Concern Us All, by Thomas Schirrmacher
Tortured For Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand
Christian Martyrs:
Websites:
Ligonier Ministries: What Is Christian Persecution? By Tom Ascol
The Banner: Open Doors 2024 Watch List Highlights Persecution Of Sub-Saharan African Christians
YouTube
Videos:
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
"Be strong and of
a good courage, fear
not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is
that doth go with
thee; he will
not
fail thee, nor
forsake thee”
(Deuteronomy 31:6).
"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God
beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
That they may
know from the rising of the sun, and from
the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD,
and there is none else. I form the
light, and create darkness:
I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let
the skies pour
down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring
forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together;
I
the LORD have created it. Woe unto him that striveth
with his Maker! Let the potsherd Strive with the potsherds
of the earth. Shall
the clay say to him that fashioneth it,
What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?"
(Isaiah 45:5-9).
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that
I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have
kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him
that
sent me”
(John 15:18-21).
“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used
deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes”
(Romans
3:11-18).
FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS
SERVE THEIR OWN BELLY
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine which ye
have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve
not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own
belly; and by
good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts
of the simple”
(Romans 16:17-18).
BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening
wolves. Ye shall know them by their
fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so
every good tree bringeth forth
good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth
forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can
a corrupt tree bring
forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall
know them"
(Matthew 7:15-20).
