The Hardest Place in the World to be a Christian

We had an election in the United States this week and Christian believers here bemoan the decline of Christian culture and values in our country. There are reasons for concern but is life difficult for Christians in America? Not compared to many countries in the rest of the world. What are the toughest places to be a Christian?

Open Doors is a Christian organization founded by Brother Andrew. They monitor persecution throughout the world and have what they call a persecution index ranking the worst countries in the world for their hostility to Christianity. The very worst? Afghanistan. No surprise there. It has been a horrible place to be a Christian and for everyone else as well. Number two is North Korea. Again, no surprise. Of the top 25, 20 are predominately Muslim countries. Nigeria has become the world’s sixth largest nation by population and is 7^th on Open Doors’ list because of its radical Muslim population in the north of the country. That’s the home of Boko Haram, the radical Islamic group that routinely kidnaps Christian children and sells them into slavery, and burns down churches and murders Christian leaders. So it deserves its place high on the list.

China is 17^th and that is of particular concern to me since my daughter and her family live there. In fact, of the top 25 countries on Open Doors’ list the ones that aren’t Islamic are Marxist. So the communists continue to oppress Christians wherever they have enough power. That would include college campuses in the West. So the two biggest persecutors of Christians in the world are Muslims, many of whom have a very strong belief in the existence of God; and Marxists, who deny the existence of God. Strange irony.

Jesus made it very clear that His followers would experience persecution. He said, “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he’s doing God a service.” The Apostle John said, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you.” Paul said, “All those who are godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” And Peter said, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you as though some strange things is happening to you.”

So every Christian is going to suffer for his faith. It may be social ostracism, rejection by loved ones and friends, hostility at work, or imprisonment and death. It varies from time to time and place to place. Some of our brothers and sisters have it much worse than others. But in every era of history our fellow believers have risen up and glorified Jesus Christ wherever they found themselves. I read this week the reports of several Christians in countries that are high on Open Doors’ list. 

A brother in Pakistan, 8^th on the list, praised God for the successful ministries of their churches and seminaries in expanding Christ’s Kingdom, and for the appearance of new young pastors and evangelists.

From India, 10^th on the list, and who recently passed a law forbidding religious conversion, comes praise for the hundreds of new believers in Christ in recent days, for 350 new workers trained to plant churches.

From Iraq, 14^th on the list, comes praise to Christ Jesus for the ability to feed many of the poor of that nation. Feeding the poor. Just Christians being Christians.

From Mali, 24^th on the list, comes praise for the church’s powerful witness in the midst of political chaos and breakdown.

And so it goes. I am not denying that there is persecution in America and that many of you are suffering for your faith, often in subtle ways. But in general, our conditions are pretty good. I remember when I was being fired by my university for the offense of being a Christian, I was walking across the quad. I stopped and looked up toward heaven and told the Lord, “I’ll bet my brothers and sisters in North Korean concentration camps are impressed with my level of suffering.” Don’t get me wrong, I was being made miserable, but all that happened after my dismissal was I got a better job. Many of our brothers and sisters who suffer in this world find their next stop is not a better job but heaven. When we ponder the last election and the state of American Christianity let’s give glory to God for our situation and the opportunities that abound to us. And let’s pray every day for the persecuted church.

Thanks for listening. May our God protect you this day with His mighty hand.

More: Open Doors persecution index: https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/

A report from the persecuted church: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/november-web-only/pray-praise-persecution-church-india-egypt-iraq-mali-china.html?utm_source=CT+Daily+Briefing+Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=722630&utm_content=11305&utm_campaign=email

Many of you have asked me about my termination at the University of Colorado. Here is the transcript of my interview with Bill O’Reilly on Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/story/will-the-univ-of-colo-fire-an-evangelical-christian-professor