Freedom of Religion - Christian Persecution
Who? = Everyone in the World.
What? = Liberty
Where? = United States of America
When? = On December 15, 1791, the new United States of America ratified the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, confirming the fundamental rights of its citizens. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and peaceful assembly.
Why? = According to The Heritage Foundation: Religious freedom preserves America's diversity, where people of different faiths, world views, and beliefs can peacefully live together without fear of punishment from the government.
Freedom of Religion in America is "the right of all persons to believe, speak, and act—individually and in community with others, in private and in public—in accord with their understanding of ultimate truth." Freedom of religion is protected by the First Amendment through its Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause, which together form the religious liberty clauses of the First Amendment. The first clause prohibits any governmental "establishment of religion" and the second prohibits any governmental interference with "the free exercise thereof".
The American founding fathers recognized that this type of freedom would be essential in building a healthy and diverse society. This protection of the rights of individuals and organizations has led the United States to flourish and become the number one place in the world people want to live. By the numbers: According to the 2020 International Immigration report by the United Nations, The United States of America remained the largest destination, hosting 51 million international migrants in 2020, equal to 18 per cent of the world's total.
Now that we have covered the basics and the importance of religious freedom for humanity, this next section is dedicated to bringing awareness and protection of a specific religion or belief system based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, "Christianity." There are many groups, organizations and faiths that profess to be or fall under the umbrella of Christianity, therefore for the sake of the intent of this website, we will focus on the protection of any individual or group that has a sincere belief in the Savior Jesus Christ and the desire to learn, follow and adhere to the teachings of his gospel.
Information, News and Additional Resources for Christian Persecution
The World Watch List - A list of the top 50 countries where its most difficult to follow Jesus.
Created by Open Doors USA , an organization dedicated to the radical idea that every Christian belongs to one Church and one Family. For more than 60 years, Open Doors has worked toward a simple goal: strengthening Christians, wherever they are threatened for their faith in Jesus.
The Voice of the Martyrs - To provide practical relief and spiritual support to the families of Christian martyrs
The Voice of the Martyrs is a nonprofit, interdenominational missions organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost.
International Christian Concern - Helping Persecuted Christians through magazine email news and reports.
Offers a Free monthly magazine bringing prayer needs, stories, feature articles, and analysis to help you understand persecution and connect with brothers and sisters around the world who suffer for their faith.
The Heritage Foundation - Building an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish.
Heritage's mission is to formulate and promote public policies on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
Bible Verses about Persecution
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:1Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Matthew 13:21Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.
Lamentations 5:5Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark 4:17But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mark 10:30Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Acts 11:19But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
Acts 13:50Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 8:35And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Galatians 5:11So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2 Thessalonians 1:4Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2 Timothy 3:11As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
Galatians 6:12Check back for Article coming in Janurary 2021: Freedom of Religion vs Freedom From Religion