"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so 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:" (2nd Thessalonians 1:3-4)

Paul, who suffered many things for the sake of the gospel, is marveled by the fact that such a young church is holding strong facing the very same persecutors that ran him out of town. He gives glory to God for their courage!

Christians in America should be humbled and thankful that God has protected us from severe persecution for so many years. But I am afraid that we have taken that blessing and turned it into a curse.

American Christians are soft. Now, there are some excellent examples of those who stood in the face of persecution and did not waiver. But those incidents are certainly not the norm, even in the changing culture of today. Unfortunately, many Christians today quickly bow to peer pressure, work restrictions, the entertainment world, and flat out laziness.

I am not sure how much longer we will be able to worship freely according to our conscience as Scripture dictates. Perhaps, we should being fighting these small trials and temptations now so that we are battle ready (with love and steadfastness) when true persecution comes to our home soil.