Christian Persecution Expected To Increase In 2019

[rom826]

You've never had JW's or SDA's or Mormons come knocking on your door?

Sure I have. Keck painted all American Christians, including himself, with the same broad brush. Our scriptures do tell in many different places that we are suppose to share our faith with others and not hide it. I would certainly not classify sharing our faith with others as "jamming our self righteousness down unbelievers throats". As a matter of fact, I do not believe self righteousness is even possible from my reading of the bible. I believe people need to submit themselves to God's righteousness and it is He who delivers people from unrighteousness and makes them righteous. So no I do not agree with JW's, SDA's or Jehovah's Witness's. Neither do I agree that sharing our faith with others is "jamming our self righteousness down their throats".

[rom826]

I'm not minimizing anybody's suffering. I'm simply pointing out that being a religious minority can be dangerous.

Thanks for clarifying that and I apologize that I took your comment the wrong way.

[randyk]

There are 2 kinds of religious persecution here--the kind where cultic groups push their aberrant gospel down our throats, and the kind where religious people are picked on who are only minding their own business. Christian persecution happens not when Christians are abusing others with their gospel, but rather, when they are opposed as a challenge to a corrupt culture.

In my view Christianity may legitimately be aggressive, without being viewed as subversive or "pushy." When Christianity exercises its "free speech," a corrupt culture naturally feels the Christian has stepped "out of line," and feels it can be trashed.

[BrianW]

How things are in America doesn't mitigate the fact that in other countries Christians are persecuted, tortured and even killed because of the faith. Christians in those countries literally put their faith before themselves when they share the gospel or just live their faith as best they can.

There is nothing wrong with reminders of that from time to time. I'd also like to point out that there wasn't any mention of America in the OP or the linked article. Just saying.

How things are in America doesn't mitigate the fact that in other countries Christians are persecuted, tortured and even killed because of the faith. Christians in those countries literally put their faith before themselves when they share the gospel or just live their faith as best they can.

There is nothing wrong with reminders of that from time to time. I'd also like to point out that there wasn't any mention of America in the OP or the linked article. Just saying.

[Jude]

How things are in America doesn't mitigate the fact that in other countries Christians are persecuted, tortured and even killed because of the faith. Christians in those countries literally put their faith before themselves when they share the gospel or just live their faith as best they can.

There is nothing wrong with reminders of that from time to time. I'd also like to point out that there wasn't any mention of America in the OP or the linked article. Just saying.

How things are in America doesn't mitigate the fact that in other countries Christians are persecuted, tortured and even killed because of the faith. Christians in those countries literally put their faith before themselves when they share the gospel or just live their faith as best they can.

There is nothing wrong with reminders of that from time to time. I'd also like to point out that there wasn't any mention of America in the OP or the linked article. Just saying.

i think Leonard Ravenhill summed up America quite nicely when he said..

The early Church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity.

[BrianW]

i think Leonard Ravenhill summed up America quite nicely when he said..

The early Church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity.

Not the one I attend. There are still plenty of great word of God teaching and focus on God churches here. If your home church isn't focused on God and how to better equip us to worship and serve Him then you simply need to find one that does.

[Fenris]

No one in this world knows that better than Jesus Christ..

As a Jew, he certainly knew what it was like to be a religious minority, yes. Do you, as a Christian, living in a Christian majority country? No.

[keck553]

I agree that is not persecution. However, i have to ask, when you witness for Christ to an unbeliever, do you feel you are jamming your self righteousness down their throats? I agree with you that getting mocked for witnessing for Christ is not persecution and as a Christian in America I can't claim that as persecution. However, I would not classify witnessing for Christ as "jamming our self righteousness down unbeliever's throats".

No, i don't, because my witness is by actions, not rhetoric. Most unbelievers correctly sense hypocrisy in the kind of witnessing they are subjected to.

[Fenris]

No, i don't, because my witness is by actions, not rhetoric.

Amen, brother. Lead by example. As they teach in writing class, "show, don't tell".

[keck553]

Not the one I attend. There are still plenty of great word of God teaching and focus on God churches here. If your home church isn't focused on God and how to better equip us to worship and serve Him then you simply need to find one that does.

True. When I attended a Nazarene church, none of what Jude mentioned was practiced

[Brother Mark]

No, i don't, because my witness is by actions, not rhetoric. Most unbelievers correctly sense hypocrisy in the kind of witnessing they are subjected to.

This is why I think it is very important to listen to the Holy Spirit when it comes to witnessing. Sometimes, they are just not going to listen no matter what as evidenced by Jesus and the apostles. However, if we listen, we may find a woman at the well that is ready to hear, or legion, or the jailer, and on and on. I am convinced that Paul and Silas were praying for that jailer when they were in jail rather than praying for deliverance. And all too often, my prayers are wrapped up in me rather than the jailer.

[Brother Mark]

Amen, brother. Lead by example. As they teach in writing class, "show, don't tell".

I have a missionary acquaintence in Africa. They had little to no success evangelizing until a famine came. When the famine came, God instructed them to take food to the tribe they had been preaching too. So they halled a bunch of food into the bush over and over and over again. One day, they asked "Why are you doing this?" And he responded "My God told me to". After hearing this, they told him "tell us more about your God". Now there is a vibrant ministry there and many of the tribe are pastors, teachers, evangelalist, etc. Your point is a good one.

[BrianW]

True. When I attended a Nazarene church, none of what Jude mentioned was practiced

I've been to plenty of great churches around the country in my time. Admittedly I've been to a couple of stinkers as well but it's easy enough to just walk out of the door and move on down the road.
The bottom line is that you cannot judge the true state of The Church in America unless or until you're familiar with enough of them to make a reasonable assessment. And that would be in the tens of thousands seeing how there are well over three hundred thousand Protestant churches in the U.S.

[BrianW]

Grrr. I still can't edit.

I was off on the number of Protestant churches. It's more like 100 to 200 thousand.

[Jude]

No, i don't, because my witness is by actions, not rhetoric. Most unbelievers correctly sense hypocrisy in the kind of witnessing they are subjected to.

Horsefeathers..In saying that you're disobeying the commandment of the Lord..

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.