Standing Firm in an Anti-Christian Culture: Why Christians are Hated

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we live in a world that is increasingly hostile to the truth of the Gospel. As Christians, we are witnessing a cultural shift where what is good is labeled as bad and what is evil is celebrated as good. Isaiah 5:20 warns us about this very reality:

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

The threats we face as believers are no longer theoretical. They are tangible and growing. Across North America, Europe, and the rest of the world, laws and societal norms are increasingly being used to suppress Christian expression, restrict our freedoms, and marginalize those who stand for biblical truth.

Let’s take a closer look at these threats and how we are called to respond.

The Threat of Governmental Suppression of Christianity: Targeted Laws and Restrictions

In North America, we see laws and policies emerging that specifically restrict Christian beliefs and practices:

• Canada has passed laws that criminalize counseling against certain sexual lifestyles, including biblical teachings on sexuality and gender. Pastors who preach from Scripture on these topics risk fines or imprisonment.

  
  

• In the United States, Christian business owners have faced lawsuits for refusing to participate in activities that go against their conscience, such as baking cakes for same-sex weddings or providing services that conflict with their faith.

  
  

In Europe, the suppression is even more pronounced:

• In the United Kingdom, individuals have been arrested for silently praying near abortion clinics. A woman in Birmingham was detained for simply standing outside a clinic, silently praying in her mind.

  
  

• In France, the concept of “laïcité” (secularism) has been weaponized to restrict public expressions of faith, including banning Christian symbols like crosses in public schools.

  
  

Around the world, laws targeting Christians are growing:

• In China, underground churches are shut down, pastors are arrested, and the Bible is heavily censored.

  
  

• In India, anti-conversion laws have led to violence against Christians accused of trying to evangelize.

  
  

• In parts of the Middle East and Africa, simply professing faith in Jesus can result in imprisonment or death.

  
  

These restrictions are not random. They are intentional efforts to silence the Gospel and force believers to conform to the world’s standards.

Cultural Persecution: The Pressure to Conform

Even where laws do not outright ban Christian practices, the cultural climate often makes it difficult to live out our faith:

• Media and Entertainment frequently mock Christianity, portraying believers as ignorant, intolerant, or out of touch with reality.

  
  

• Workplaces push diversity and inclusion initiatives that sometimes require Christians to affirm lifestyles or ideologies contrary to Scripture—or risk losing their jobs.

  
  

• Education systems in many Western nations promote secular humanism while actively discouraging Christian beliefs. Children are taught that biblical values are outdated or even harmful.

  
  

This cultural persecution is subtler than outright violence but no less dangerous. It seeks to erode our faith, one compromise at a time, until we no longer stand for the truth.

A Biblical Response: How Do We Stand Firm?

Know the Truth

Ephesians 6:14 says, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” 

In a world of lies, knowing the truth of God’s Word is critical. When governments and cultures contradict Scripture, we must remain anchored in the unchanging truth of God.

Be Bold and Courageous

Acts 5:29 reminds us: “We must obey God rather than human beings.” 

There will be times when obeying God means disobeying unjust laws or cultural expectations. The apostles faced imprisonment, beatings, and death for proclaiming the Gospel, yet they never wavered.

We must pray for boldness like that of Daniel, who continued to pray openly even when it was outlawed (Daniel 6:10). The cost of standing for Christ may be great, but the reward is eternal.

Pray Without Ceasing

The Bible calls us to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is not just a spiritual discipline—it’s a weapon in this battle. Pray for wisdom, courage, and strength. Pray for those in authority, that God would turn their hearts toward righteousness (1 Timothy 2:1-2). And pray for those who persecute us, as Jesus commanded (Matthew 5:44).

Stand United as the Church

Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” 

In times of persecution, the Church must be a refuge and a rallying point. We need each other to stand strong.

Remember Our Eternal Hope

Revelation 21:4 promises: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 

No matter what we face in this life, we have the hope of eternal life with Christ. This hope gives us the strength to endure.

A Sobering Warning and Call to Action

Church, let’s not forget the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:13-14:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

The road we walk as Christians is not an easy one. It’s filled with challenges, persecution, and sacrifice. But it’s the only road that leads to eternal life.

Now is the time to decide where you stand. Will you conform to the world, or will you boldly declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15)?

The World Will Hate You: Jesus Warned Us

Brothers and sisters, it is no surprise that the world resists the Gospel and turns against those who follow Jesus. Our Lord Himself told us to expect it. In John 15:18-19, Jesus said:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

Jesus didn’t sugarcoat the reality of discipleship. He didn’t promise us comfort or applause from the world. Instead, He made it clear: if we align ourselves with Him, we will face rejection, hostility, and even persecution.

Why Does the World Hate Us?

The world hates Christians because we stand for the truth of God, and truth exposes darkness. In John 3:19-20, Jesus explains:

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”

When we live as Christ calls us to live, we become a living testimony against sin. Our presence convicts the world, even when we aren’t trying to. By standing for God’s Word, we challenge the values of a society that celebrates sin and rejects righteousness.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Jesus goes further in Matthew 10:22, saying:

“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

The call to follow Christ is not for the faint of heart. It’s a call to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23), to die to ourselves, and to endure the scorn of a world that does not understand.

In many places around the globe, this hatred is evident in physical persecution—imprisonment, torture, and even death. In North America and Europe, it may look different, but the hostility is just as real:

• Christians are labeled as intolerant or hateful simply for upholding biblical truths.

  
  

• Public figures who express their faith are often ostracized, ridiculed, or canceled.

  
  

• Families are divided as loved ones reject the faith of those who follow Christ.

A Badge of Honor

But here’s the good news: being hated by the world is not a sign of failure—it’s a badge of honor. It means we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus. He said in Matthew 5:11-12:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

If the world hates us, it is evidence that we belong to Christ. It means we are living differently, shining light in the darkness, and staying true to the One who called us out of the world.

Closing Encouragement

Remember, Jesus endured the ultimate hatred of the world when He went to the cross. He bore the scorn, the shame, and the wrath of mankind so that we could be saved. And now, He calls us to follow Him, even when it’s hard, even when the world hates us.

As we face these challenges, let us take heart in the words of John 16:33:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus has already won the victory. No matter what the world throws at us, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

Stand firm. Stand boldly. The world may hate us, but we belong to the One who has overcome it all.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, We live in a world that is increasingly hostile to You and Your truth. We see governments passing laws that silence Your Word and cultures celebrating what You have called evil. Lord, we ask for Your strength to stand firm in our faith. Help us to be bold, like Daniel, unwavering in the face of opposition. Give us wisdom to navigate these times and courage to speak Your truth in love. Unite us as the body of Christ and remind us that our hope is not in this world, but in the eternal kingdom to come. Strengthen the persecuted church around the world, and use their testimony to bring more people to salvation. May we never shrink back in fear but stand boldly as lights in the darkness. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.

Go now, brothers and sisters, with courage and conviction. The battle is fierce, but the victory belongs to the Lord. Stand firm, speak truth, and live boldly for Christ in this anti-Christian culture.