Millions of Christians around the world face persecution every day. This sad reality only gets more devastating when we consider that some Christians face persecution at the hands of other Christians. Why do Christians persecute other Christians, and what does it look like? We answer this and other important questions below.
Why Persecution Happens
Unfortunately, Christians have persecuted other Christians for hundreds of years. You may be familiar with the clashes over doctrine before, during, and immediately following the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s. Christians on both sides believed their opponents were heretical and that violence against these heretics was acceptable. Entire countries, often in Europe, fueled this persecution through international wars that lasted for decades.
Doctrinal disagreements continue to fuel most Christian-on-Christian persecution today. For example, many Protestant believers in Ethiopia face persecution from members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, primarily in rural areas. Many Ethiopian Orthodox Christians believe that Protestants are heretical, especially since they don’t honor Orthodox sacraments like the presence of Jesus in communion.
What Persecution Looks Like
Persecution can take many forms, no matter who is instigating or experiencing it. A Christian community may be legal but not socially acceptable. The government doesn’t persecute believers in this situation, but one group of Christians may make it harder for other Christians to own a home, hold a job, get married, raise children, and attend religious services. In some cases, family members can even turn against family members. They may kick a converted family member out of their home, report them to their employer, harass them, or separate them from their children.
Persecution can escalate above this social level as the perpetrators gain influence, especially political influence. With political power they can pass laws against the form of Christianity they believe is wrong. Laws can make it even more difficult for persecuted Christians to own property, operate businesses, freely worship, raise children in their belief system, evangelize, travel, and more. Eventually, it can be legal to torture, jail, rape, and kill persecuted Christians.
The Purpose of Persecution
The purpose of Christian persecution of other Christians is to force the “wrong” type of Christian to convert to the “right” belief system. The perpetuator believes that their type of Christianity is the only way to salvation, and they want the victim to convert and experience true salvation.
Native Missionary Response
True Christians know that Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6 NIV). While Christian tradition can look different in various denominations and branches of Christianity, we are all supposed to be one in Christ (Galatians 3:28 NIV).
Native missionaries know and believe in Christian unity and serve others through this heart for unity. Christian service is unique to each area of persecution. For example, native missionaries in Ethiopia serve persecuted Protestants through establishing house churches and teaching income generation skills. Many also evangelize leaders of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in hopes of promoting unity and seeing better Christian discipleship regardless of denomination.
Sadly, in some places, Christians persecute other Christians because they believe the other side is wrong. True believers know that there is unity in Christ, though, and native missionaries across the world work towards that unity. You can join us in praying for these missionaries and their important unifying work through our free 7 Days of Prayer for Missionaries guide.
