Article | - 4:03 pm
Persecution Is Not a “Thing of the Past,” and You Are Not Immune to It
The persecution of Christians has existed since the beginning of the Church. Jesus Christ was persecuted and crucified, and His followers would also experience persecution. The Lord Jesus Himself warned His disciples of this when He said, “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well…” (John 15:20).
After Jesus ascended into Heaven, the Gospel spread rapidly in Jerusalem. However, as the Christian community grew, so did the challenges, such as complaints from widows who felt neglected, as documented in chapter 6 of the book of Acts.
The apostles wisely selected seven men of good reputation and filled with the Holy Spirit to address these issues, among whom the young Stephen stood out. Stephen is described in Acts 6:8-15 as a person filled with faith and power, bold in speech, and filled with the Holy Spirit, performing signs and wonders that drew attention.
Through divine wisdom, Stephen’s preaching challenged the religious leaders, who could not counter his arguments. In response, they incited anger among the members of the synagogue and bribed witnesses to accuse him of blasphemy. They resorted to lies to bring him to trial, but despite facing this opposition, Stephen remained calm. All those in the Sanhedrin saw his face as that of an angel.
Stephen was condemned to death on false charges, just as the Lord Jesus had been (Matthew 26:59-61). Before he died, he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He then prayed for his persecutors, asking God not to hold that sin against them (Acts 7:59-60).
It is important to note that Stephen acted very much like the Savior. The essence of being a Christian is to imitate Christ, regardless of circumstances. Just before his death, Stephen looked up to Heaven and saw the Lord Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-56).
Stephen is considered the first Christian martyr—someone who is tortured or murdered for their faith. His death marked the beginning of intense persecution against Christianity, but also contributed to the spread of the Lord Jesus’ message, as Christians fled Jerusalem and continued to preach in different places.
More than two thousand years have passed, and Christians continue to face persecution. In many countries with diverse cultures, believing in the Savior can result in discrimination, violence, imprisonment, loss of rights, and even death. Christians in these regions live out their faith courageously and often secretly, always at constant risk.
The NGO Open Doors, which has been reporting violations against Christians for over 30 years, revealed in its 2025 World Watch List that compared to 2024, there was an increase in persecution in 39 of the 50 monitored countries. According to the organization, an additional 15 million people are suffering from some form of violation. The number of Christians facing high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith has surpassed 380 million. One in seven Christians suffers persecution.
In the USA, the Constitution’s First Amendment protects religious freedom; however, discrimination exists, often manifesting in subtle ways socially and culturally. In this context, Christians experience persecution in several ways, such as negative stereotypes, jokes, and unfavorable portrayals in the media. Additionally, there are significant legal and political disputes regarding religious expression in public life.
One thing is certain: anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus will face persecution. Despite this, cherish your faith, spread the Gospel, and pray for persecuted Christians around the world, as well as for their persecutors, just as our Lord Jesus and His faithful servant Stephen did.
Contributors:
Kelly Lopes (Translated and Adapted From Original)
