According to the World Watch List of 2025, more than 380 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination worldwide. One in every seven Christians are persecuted worldwide and 4,476 were killed last year for faith-related reasons. These numbers are hard to fathom for many of us living in countries where very little is at stake in regards to our devotion to Christ.
It is easy to forget that the freedoms we enjoy every day are not normal for millions of believers around the world. We drive to church openly, sing loudly, carry our Bibles in public, and pray without fear. These simple acts—so ordinary to us—are luxuries to many Christians who risk imprisonment, violence, or death simply for following Jesus.
Our freedoms are not accidents of history. James describes them as gifts.
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:17
These are good and perfect gifts and they carry both blessing and responsibility.
American Christians have the incredible privilege of worshiping freely—something unimaginable to much of the global church.
Because of this freedom:
- We can share the gospel boldly.
- We can raise our children to know Jesus.
- We can gather with other believers without fear.
- We can own and read Scripture anytime we want.
- We can speak God’s truth openly in our communities.
These are not small things. They are monumental blessings. And with these blessings comes a calling: to use our freedom well.
Paul reminds us that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Freedom is not just something to enjoy—it is something to steward. We are free so we can serve, bless others, and point people to Jesus without hesitation.
And Jesus Himself said, “To whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). The freedoms God has given American believers are opportunities to live boldly for His kingdom, not comforts to take for granted.
We become so comfortable in our day-to-day living that we begin to forget the enormous blessings and opportunities that we have afforded to us. We need to take inventory of our lives. What would change about our faith life currently if we lost the freedoms that we are currently blessed with? Would our lives even change or are we so complacent and lackadaisical with our faith that it’s not even seen by others? Are we using our freedoms to grow spiritually? Are we sharing our faith with others? Are we using our opportunities to bless others and tell them about Jesus?
Let us use our time and freedoms wisely while we have the opportunity to do so. Let us not overlook all the blessings that have been bestowed upon us. There are millions of Christians across the globe who are being highly persecuted and thousands literally giving their lives for their faith. What will we give?
This blog is written by Amy Carrico.
Last Updated on November 24, 2025
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