A concern I increasingly hear from Christians in this country centers on a perceived fear that they (we) may not or are not as free to practice our faith as we once were. I’ve touched on the issue of freedom before, and my belief that the freedoms our government grants us should better be understood as privileges. I make this point because I think it is critical for Christians to understand that true freedom is something only God can grant and that if the privileges our government extends to us are taken away, we are, in fact, still free! If we no longer have the privilege to express our opinion about matters of faith in public, we are still free in Christ. If the privilege to own firearms is taken away, we are still free to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Underlying this point is the realization that the privileges (the “rights”) we enjoy as Americans are simply good fortunes bestowed on us as citizens, not divinely ordained rights.
I want to be clear that the words I write below are directed to American Christians in 2025. I recognize that there are thousands of Christians in other places around the world today who are being persecuted, that is, Christians who literally put their life at risk for publicly confessing faith in Jesus. We should pray for these bold believers that such persecution would end, even as we recall the examples of countless Christians in the first three millennia of the church, who constantly, yet fervently, remained true to the faith under the Roman Empire while they were literally crucified for their confession.
But this is not the case today in America. Christians are not being persecuted for our faith in this country. Is it more challenging to be a Christian today than 20 years ago, 40 years ago, 100 years ago? Perhaps? Although I don’t think it really matters. I’ve never understood why so many American Christians put such importance on our ability to “freely” practice our faith in a way we imagine we should. I’m not suggesting that I don’t want us to be free to practice our faith as our conscience directs us (I most certainly do!), just that I don’t know why more and more American Christians think that cultural and political changes have any substantive effect on our faith. Moreover, I’ve never been clear on what most Christians who complain about these cultural and political changes really mean. What is it they want to return to? What time in our nation’s history are they so nostalgic for? Honestly, was it ever that much greater?
Again, I ask, are American Christians being persecuted? On any substantive level, the answer is clearly: No. Are there fewer Americans confessing the Christian faith than in the past? Yes. Are some of our cultural norms different from what they once were? Yes. Are our public leaders less committed to Christian principles? I don’t think so, but then again, I don’t really care.
But regardless of what is or what many American Christians perceive to be the case; I am still left wondering why they are so afraid of these changes and why they call these changes persecution? Would the government taking away tax exemptions for churches and clergy really be a type of persecution? If (more) laws were passed that condoned behavior that is contrary to the Word of God, does that mean that Christians are being persecuted for trusting in Jesus as their Savior?
More to the point, though, is this: if Christians are one day to be persecuted, what are we afraid of? Jesus never said that being a disciple of His would be easy. He never even hinted at the idea that the world would accept us or our faith in Him. In fact, He said the exact opposite. Are we not called to take up our cross and follow Him? Follow the One who was ridiculed, beaten, and then crucified? Are we, even amid a culture that is increasingly hostile to our faith, to be examples of Jesus instead of a group pleading to be more accepted? As laws are passed and overturned, do we as Christians find confidence in the politicians and policies that are put in place, or do we find comfort in the One who promised us eternal life with Him? And even if the world were to turn all its forces upon us (as John’s revelation certainly seems to tell us), relentlessly persecuting us – even to the point of death, why should we be afraid? Aren’t we who put our faith in the One who defeated death assured of a paradise with Him?
Fear not, my fellow Christians. It’s not as bad as you think. And even if it was, who cares…Christ is still King. Christ is still the Messiah. Christ and our faith in Him has not and never will change.
