Did you know that 2014 was one of the worst years on record for violence against Christians around the world?

According to Open Doors USA, a leading organization that serves the persecuted church around the world, last year marked the most dramatic increase in violence and persecution of Christians around the world in the modern era. And, the group says, the worst may yet be ahead.

Open Doors USA released its 24^th annual World Watch List, documenting the 50 most dangerous countries to live in if you’re a Christian. Not surprising is the fact that most of the top countries are Muslim, the rest are communist or socialist. This highlights the reality that without religious freedom there is only violence and persecution waiting for people.

Open Doors USA defines persecution as “any hostility experienced as a result of one’s identification with Christ.”

An article at The Blaze shares details from the World Watch list report:

“Approximately 100 million Christians are persecuted worldwide, making them one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world. Islamic extremism is the main source of persecution in 40 of the 50 countries on the 2015 World Watch List.”

This reality makes the attempted forced tolerance of Islamic violence by our president and government hard to understand. This group of religious extremists seeks nothing less than the total domination of the world through the use of Sharia law – which would outlaw any other religious belief – and our government seemingly refuses to denounce their violence or even admit that groups like ISIS are Islamic. Instead, there is almost a fear, a cowardice on the part of our government in an attempt to “keep the peace.”

But, as Open Doors USA President David Curry says, the fact that Christians are persecuted worldwide is a story being deliberately overlooked:

“I really feel like the world just doesn’t get it. They don’t understand that the persecution of Christians is a major story, is a major issue. It’s growing, and it’s a lead indicator of where oppression is coming for everyone else. Everywhere you look where there’s a major outbreak in the world today, first it was Christians. That’s what happened in Iraq. For 10 years, they pushed Christians out (even before the rise of the Islamic State). Mark my words: If the world doesn’t wake up to this, it’s going to come their direction.”

The fact that the persecution of Christians is being ignored, or at times even supported, is an alarming trend. Somehow the media and politicians are quick to mourn the loss of life when attacks like the one in Paris last week happens (still refusing to call it a Muslim terrorist attack). And yet they refuse to even report the fact that Boko Haram kills 10 Christians every single day. Why is that?

David Curry once again has a sobering perspective:

“Just to put it in a little bit of perspective, we’re mourning today the loss of 12 lives in France at the satirical magazine, Boko Haram kills 10 Christians every single day. If you average it out last year, every day Boko Haram executed 10 Christians.”

The truth is that these attacks will not only continue, but they will get closer to America and being happening with more frequency in America. We have a president and his administration that doesn’t want to see the violent threat of Islam but instead encourages us all to overlook it. The combination of racial tension and religious persecution is a ticking time bomb in America fostered and encouraged by our president.

The silver lining for us as American citizens is that we are still free to be Christians. Yes, being a Christian in today’s culture is much harder than it was say, 10 years ago. But we are still free to live as Christians and we are certainly free to worship as Christians. But that freedom is under attack and our apathy may be what brings it down. If we are content to simply be Christians in our churches on Sunday then there is no doubt we will see our ability to be Christians in public removed. But if, as our Founder’s yearned, we desired to be Christians every minute of every day we live our lives, decisive action is needed to preserve that founding ideal.

We need to make it a point each day to pray for the persecuted church around the world. If not to be reminded of how blessed we are in America, but to share in their persecution through our prayers. Perhaps if we are willing to be tormented for a few moments in prayer we will see less persecution of our brothers and sisters around the world.

Take a look at this graphic depicting the top most dangerous 50 countries to live in as a Christian.