Persecution has been a dominant theme in the history of Christianity since its inception. According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ himself was persecuted by local Roman authorities, and members of the religion were persecuted throughout the Roman Empire for centuries until it became a publicly dominant religion. Colonial immigration to North America was driven in part by certain denominations seeking relief from persecution, even within the faith. Today, race is a driving factor in the persecution of Christians in many parts of the world where they aren’t the dominant religion of the regions they are in.
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Alarming Statistics
Around the world, one out of every seven minority Christians around the world is under threat of persecution in some form or fashion. Every single day, there are 13 Christians killed around the world just because of their faith. Another 12 are imprisoned or arrested unjustly, and five get abducted against their will. Christian buildings and churches are also victims of these crimes, as a dozen of them get attacked every 24 hours.
The persecution of Christians often has a racial element to it, and it’s very widespread. Of the top 50 nations identified for Christian persecution, almost half are in Africa, but there are actually more across the Middle East and Asia. The remainders are in Latin America.
Across these nations, the primary religion varies. Islamic nations contribute the most to the persecution of Christian minorities, but there is also discrimination in several countries where the dominant faith is Hinduism or Buddhism. Two countries are oriented towards agnosticism and atheism. Perhaps most troubling is that more than 10 countries where Christianity is the dominant faith still persecute Christian minorities.
Different Reasons for the Persecution
Many people immediately assume that persecution of Christians in different countries happens because of other religions. Islamic oppression is certainly a strong trend across the Middle East and Africa. However, persecution from non-Islamic religions has been known to happen in some countries, such as India.
Clan oppression is a dominant form of racial persecution against Christians in multiple countries. Afghanistan is often considered one of the worst places for Christian persecution, and it is obviously a Muslim nation. However, the persecution of Christians in that country often happens at a clan level focused on ethnic antagonism. In fact, clan oppression against Christians happens in countries that are actually majority Christian in their population. These include Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, and Mozambique. Denominational protectionism happens in both Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Dictatorial paranoia is a common problem when an autocrat or ruling class is suspicious about ethnicities or faiths they don’t have anything in common with. This has been known to happen due to Hindu nationalists in some parts of India but also Buddhist nationalists in Bhutan and Myanmar. Communist oppression is still a problem in China and North Korea, and post-communist oppression lingers in Vietnam.
Corruption and organized crime are sometimes sources of Christian persecution that can take on a disturbing racial component. This is the primary threat against certain Christian populations in places such as Mexico and Colombia.
Can Anything Be Done?
While millions around the world face persecution for both being minorities and disciples of Christ, there are ways the followers of the faith in free nations can help. Certain organizations provide international aid in many different ways, such as Global Christian Relief. Their mission outreach happens in many different ways. They put serious effort into visionary projects and work with partners at home and abroad to create a long-lasting impact in the international Christian community. They also offer access to the nations that prove most hazardous to practice the faith, as they can relay stories from locals that help contributors know what it’s like to worship and believe where they are; these communications help worshippers in both nations grow their personal faith.
Helping to fight the persecution of Christians around the world isn’t just about sticking up for one religion. In many cases, it’s about helping oppressed populations who are also minority ethnicities in their respective nations. Also, in many places where Christians are discriminated against, other faiths and religious traditions also face persecution. Anything that can help in these situations helps restore dignity and basic human rights.
Author name: Michael Roy
