Does Rising Persecution Mean an End to the Christian Faith and Its Impact? by FRANKLIN T. BURROUGHSÂ for Charisma News
Hostility toward and ill treatment of Christians because of their religious beliefs and practices can be historically traced from the first century of the Christian or Common Era to the present. Even a brief review of the ill treatment of Christians by non-Christians, officials and even fellow Christians through the centuries clearly reveals the tenacious resistance and resilience of Jesus’ followers and their dedication to the Son of God.
During His personal ministry on earth, Jesus taught His chosen apostles and other followers they should expect persecution and suffering. He acknowledged He was sending them out as sheep among wolves, but He also promised help in time of trouble (see Matt. 10:16-23).
Jesus’ predictions of ill-treatment quickly materialized. Chapter 12 of the book of Acts reveals King Herod Agrippa’s murder by the sword of the apostle James and the imprisonment of the apostle Peter.
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Despite the ill-treatment of early Christians, the religion grew rapidly. By the beginning of the fourth century, Christianity had penetrated most regions of the Roman Empire. An estimated 7 million individuals had become Christians by A.D. 324 despite the martyrdom of some 2 million believers.
The last or Great Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire took place under several emperors in the early fourth century. The emperors issued decrees repealing Christians’ legal rights and ordering that they respect traditional religious practices, particularly sacrificing to the Roman gods. The Christian clergy became special targets, but the Edict of Milan and the rise of a new emperor in the eastern part of the Empire in A.D. 313 offered a relatively comprehensive acceptance of Christianity and much less persecution.
Despite periods of confusion, persecution and uncertainty, Christianity increased its influence in the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine the Great converted to Christianity and legalized the religion throughout the empire in A.D. 313. Ten years later Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Since the Roman Empire, Christianity has continued to grow into the world’s largest religion. In the World Christian Encyclopedia in 2001, Dr. David B. Barrett and George Thomas Kurian estimated some 2.7 million individuals were converting to Christianity annually. Some 2.38 billion, approximately one-third of the world’s total population, currently profess to be Christian. In the United States, 75% of the residents identified as Christians in 2011, but in 2021, only 63% claimed to be Christian, a decrease of 12%. KQED reporter Becky Sullivan has suggested the shrinkage of white Christians in America ceased the same year.
The growth of Christianity throughout the globe has not prevented the persecution of Christians even in the 21st century. According to Wikipedia, current Christian persecution includes maltreatment of Christians by other Christians, persecution by terrorist groups and maltreatment by countries which favor their state religions.
