16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16 NASB)
Western Christians, especially American Christians, are, for the most part, double minded. Materialism, humanism, and liberalism have so contaminated them that they believe that they will never be persecuted for their faith. It is as if the idea that persecution for being a Christian is unthinkable. In many parts of the World persecution is actually becoming worse. It is estimated that over 16,000 Christians are martyred each year. However, in the USA Christians are more concerned about football or TV shows or money or possessions than contending for the faith.
Widespread violent persecution has not yet become commonplace in the USA, however, it is only a matter of time before that will not be so. As I pondered this today I began to wonder about how those nominal Christians, professing Christians who are simply religious, would react if they were threatened with physical abuse or death if they did not recant. Historically, the Church of Jesus Christ is at its healthiest when it is persecuted. Why is this so? There will be no nominal professors if professing Christ can result in a death sentence or a loss of status or rights. No, only genuine regenerate believers will follow Christ even unto death.