‘Open Doors’ is a Christian organisation that monitors the persecution of Christians across the world. In its report issued in January this year it stated that 365 million Christians are subject to, what it describes as, “high levels of persecution and discrimination”. Across the world it claims that one in seven Christians suffer persecution of one kind or another. It has estimated that 4,998 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons last year, with Nigeria having the highest number of deaths. Also, it is estimated that 14,766 churches and Christian properties were attacked.

These are staggering numbers.

Each year the Catholic charity, ‘Aid to the Church in Need’, also surveys the persecution of Christians with a focus on Catholics who suffer for their faith. It notes that persecution has been sharply on the rise in recent years.

In its recent report it included an article from Fr Abayomi. He was an Assistant Priest at St Francis Xavier’s church, Owo, Nigeria. The congregation was attacked during Mass on Pentecost Sunday, 5 June, 2022. The massacre left at least 40 worshippers dead and dozens seriously wounded. He described in graphic terms this organised attack on his congregation by five or six gunmen. He expresses his sense that the world does not know what sufferings are being endured in his own country and other places where persecution is occurring.

Christians face persecution in a variety of forms, from government oppression, to cultural hostility, from extremist attacks, to official religious domination and violations of religious freedom.

It is now a common experience for so many Christians and it is true that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world.

Persecution of Christians is on the rise across the world, and it is finding a place now even in traditionally Christian countries. For example, 85 Catholic churches have been burned down in Canada over the past few years.

Similarly, France has experienced more than 800 anti-Christian incidents in 2021. In 2016, Father Jacques Hamel was killed by supporters of the Islamic State during Mass at the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray in northern France. In August 2021, a Catholic priest, Fr Olivier Maire, was murdered in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre in western France. An Islamist killed three people at the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice in south eastern France in 2020. In December 2021, Catholics taking part in a Marian procession in the western suburbs of Paris were subjected to threats.

As his public ministry progressed we note that hostility towards Jesus intensified, especially among the religious leaders of Israel. This hostility would finally lead to his crucifixion. Jesus himself was aware of the fate that awaited him. He knew too that persecution would be the lot of his followers.

The Lord warned his disciples that they must expect to encounter persecution.

When Jesus instructed his disciples as he was about to send them out on mission he warned them about facing resistance from both the religious and civil authorities. He said, “Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake” (Mt 10:17-18).

At the Last Supper Jesus spoke in a similar way: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world therefore the world hates you” (Jn 15:18-19). The Lord then adds, “if they persecuted me, they will persecute you too” (Jn 15:20).

Similarly, in the light of the persecutions experienced by the early Christians the New Testament writers encouraged Christians in the face of their experience of persecution. St Peter says, “My dear people, you must not think it unaccountable that you should be tested by fire” (I Pet 4:12). He adds, “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (4:16).

As well as warning about having to endure persecution the Lord offered some clear advice on how his followers were to respond to persecution.

Jesus spoke clearly about the need to love one’s enemies and to pray for them (Mt 5:44). Indeed, the Lord encouraged his followers to find cause to rejoice in the midst of persecution: “Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven” (Mt 5:11-12).

As many in our Australian society no longer count themselves as people of faith and as our society distances itself from its Christian roots, there is a growing antagonism towards Christianity and Christians. In the time ahead we can expect to have to bear with various expressions of persecution.

The teachings of Christ and the encouragements offered by the New Testament writers provide a clear guide as to how the Christian is meant to respond to the experience of rejection. As Jesus himself showed, the Christian will accept persecution in a spirit of humility and will show love towards the oppressor. As the Lord has urged his followers, the Christian will pray for their persecutors.

St Paul offers some good advice: “So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak then I am strong” (II Cor 12:19).