Persecution Rising
Persecution for my faith? I think the closest thing to persecution I encounter for my faith is attending church on a miserable, cold MinneFROZEta Sunday morning while 'Old Man Winter' mocks me for leaving my warm home to worship with the frozen faithful.
Or maybe the fact that I am a Green Bay Packer fan living in the state of Minnesota, with Vikings fans. Besides that, no Christians are being fed to literal lions in my neighborhood, at least that I have noticed.
Persecution 2000 years ago looked much different. After the first Christian movement begins at Pentecost in Acts 2, the church grows. In response, the religious establishment of the day becomes unhinged and fights them for the next 26 chapters of Acts.
Peter and John are imprisoned for what could only be described as 'inciting a revival',
Stephen is stoned to death as the first Martyr for the Christian Faith.
Then Paul enters the scene and is blinded, beaten, stoned, snake bit, shipwrecked, and logs more jail time than Otis from the old Andy Griffith show.
Not recorded in Acts, but the fate of Jesus' disciples according to historical records, early Christian traditions, and some speculation did not describe fair-weather faith as persecution of Christianity ramped up.
Simon (Peter): Crucified upside-down, Andrew: Crucified on an X-shaped cross, James, son of Zebedee: Beheaded, John, son of Zebedee: Likely died of old age, exiled to Patmos. Philip: Crucified or stoned, Bartholomew (Nathanael): Flayed alive and beheaded, Thomas: Speared to death, Matthew (Levi): Likely martyred, possibly by sword or spear, James, son of Alphaeus: Possibly stoned or clubbed to death, Thaddeus (Jude, son of James): Martyred, likely by arrows or an axe, Simon the Zealot: Crucified or sawed in half, and The Apostle Paul: Beheaded by sword
These Persecutions of Christians were in the Roman Empire. They continued through the reigns of Nero through Diocletian until Constantine’s Conversion in 313 CE and the Edict of Milan (313 CE), which legalized Christianity, effectively ending state persecution.
So, moral of the story? Stop wishing for the good ol’ days?
Now, fast forward to TODAY, is Persecution for my Christian Faith on the rise? While it by no means is the early church in Rome, Persecution, especially around the world, is very alive and… deadly.
Persecution Around the World:
In April 2025, an 18-wheel truck intentionally plowed into an Easter parade in Billiri, Gombe State, Nigeria, killing and injuring Christians celebrating the holiday.
In April 2025, Christian students in Syria were beaten, had their heads shaved, and were humiliated on camera by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces,
In early 2025, over 70 Christians were found beheaded in a church in the DRC (Congo), attributed to Islamist insurgents.
Global Scale: According to Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, 365 million Christians (1 in 7 globally) face high levels of persecution or discrimination, with 4,998 killed for their faith in 2023. Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are the most dangerous regions.
Persecution in America: Christians across our nation are experiencing increasing hardship, targeting, and persecution because of the stand they take for biblical principles.
In Oregon, a small bakery was forced to shut down because its biblical beliefs did not allow it to make a cake for a lesbian couple.
In Indiana, a small-town pizzeria owned by a Christian family closed its doors after receiving death and firebombing threats after the owner said in a TV interview that he would not cater a gay wedding.
In New Mexico, the state Supreme Court ruled that a photographer could not refuse to shoot gay ceremonies, because her faith forbade her in a context that seemed to endorse same-sex marriage.
In Washington state, a florist was sued because she could not in good conscience create custom arrangements for a same-sex ceremony.
“I believe we’re going to see persecution in this country,” Franklin Graham said. “We’ve already seen many laws that have been passed that restrict our freedom as Christians. I believe it will get worse a little bit every day.”
Now back, close to Home: I have first-hand evidence of this. A Christian friend worked in a significant position for the Minnesota Department of Health. He was forced to resign a year before he was eligible to retire, after an anonymous complaint was made against him for not using preferred pronouns. He was told he must resign or he would be fired, and was not allowed to face his accuser.
Think of it. We live in a society that believes
the CHOICE of Abortion is more important than the LIFE of the preborn.
A minor can choose their gender.
A man believing he is a woman can compete in women’s sports.
Gay Marriage is the law of the land, and…
Gay couples can adopt children.
Of course, we can avoid all this potential persecution if we just stay silent.
But if we believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. John 14:6, and believe morality for our society should be based on Bible truths, then WE SHOULD NOT BE SILENT, even if society labels us the religious alt-right hate group of the month.
I write this as a reminder to not back down, and do not be afraid of what the world (our culture) may say or do to you. Real persecution is… REAL, and more than what this Minnesota Christian faces in the winter months.
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the inner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:12-19
Ok, reality check here. I am 67 years old, and I feel (complete with my aches and pains) like much of my fighting days are in my rearview. But may God find me faithful in words and deeds with what is in front of me. Praise God for the blessings of this life that are from Him. I owe Him everything, and I pray my life is lived in a way that is a natural and intentional witness of my Faith in Him, and unflinching in the face of a culture that wants me to blink, flinch, grimace, and/or submit to the ways of this world that does not recognize Jesus as Savior. May I seek the praise of Jesus and not man all the days of my life… even if I find Persecution is Rising.
May God find us faithful to Him and full of His Love in everything we do, even in the face of persecution, great or small.
To God be the Glory!
Blessings,
Jeff (Chick-fil-A eating) Larson
