American Christian Persecution?

The American political kingdom has been in a tizzy as of late over contraception, Planned Parenthood, and all other phrases related to female unmentionables. The debate itself is certainly important, but it's too complicated and personal for me to throw my two cents in. What I do want to comment on is the debate within the debate: Are Christians persecuted in America?

The amusing (but also infuriating) thing about this debate is that its answer isn't particularly interesting. No, what's interesting is that this is even a debate. As this writer points out:

"They claimed Christians were being persecuted for their beliefs. This idea is ridiculous. Persecution is the government of Sudan bombing a Christian school full of children; persecution is the murder of a Christian pastor in Pakistan. Asking an employer to pay for contraceptive services for their female employees is not persecution."

Now, as I said in my first paragraph, I'm not taking a side on any specific controversy. Enough voices are yelling loud enough already, and I currently have nothing new to add.

What I'm saying is, regardless of how many liberties are granted by the American government that may or may not be banned in Scripture, these liberties are not by any stretch of the imagination comparable to the persecution the early Church felt under Nero, when Christians were literally used as torches to light roads at night.

Not that being fed to lions is the only form of persecution around. If the government were requiring pastors to tailor their doctrine and practices after popular secular opinion, I'd understand. However, removing two words from the Pledge of Allegiance that weren't even originally there doesn't fit the bill. Neither does gay marriage ruin marriage for the rest of us.

Even if these issues (and non-issues) qualified as persecution, though, I recall Jesus Christ telling His followers that the same people who hated Him will hate us, too. This same chapter also says He came to bring a sword between brothers, not peace on earth. So, why do some Christians get so angry about this perceived persecution? Doesn't it kind of come with the territory? Yes, it does.

For my fellow believers out there reading this, the next time you feel oppressed, you have two options: (1) realize it's not actually a big deal and move on, or (2) celebrate carrying our Savior's cross and move on. Either way, quit whining.