Discipleship and Suffering: The Christian Response to Persecution

Abstract

Persecution of followers of Jesus Christ is happening around the world today. Sometimes it is hidden, but it is increasingly open, and the response of the international community is muted at best, and blithe indifference at worst. Reports from Open Doors USA, Voice of the Martyrs, the US State Department Annual Religious Liberty Report, and empirical evidence from around the world indicates that those who bear the name of Christ are suffering under increasing levels of hostility and overt persecution. Thus, to talk about a “Coming Storm” is in itself a Western-centric perspective when considering the existing storms raging around the world against Christians. And it is a humbling privilege as Western Christians to be associated with, and to be able to learn lessons from, the Persecuted Church of the 21st Century. However, as this article is written for Western Christians, the majority of whom do not experience overt persecution yet, this will be written from their perspective and for their benefit.