The Start of Western Persecution of Christians - What we can do about it

With over 1 billion active users on Instagram, 2.7 billion active users on Facebook, and 330 million active users on Twitter each month, there is no question as to why these three social media platforms are called "Tech Giants." People have flocked to these platforms left and right to gain friends, sell their content, increase their own popularity, and become more "social."

Yet, these same platforms are known for quieting and censoring Christian voices. Take a look at these five sources out of hundreds:

1. Facebook deletes a conference on Christianity for no apparent reason.

2. Instagram brands Christian worship as "harmful" (There are multiple accounts of this.)

3. Twitter removes Christian and Jewish symbols, calling them "hateful imagery." (However, this has since been "fact checked" and Twitter said they "didn't mean it.")

4. Pinterest blocks Christian websites as pornography (There are several different accounts of this.)

5. Google flags Christian content as Youtube demonetizes Christian videos This is disturbing. Please take the time to watch this video!

These are just five out of multiple accounts of Christian content being blocked, flagged, or just downright deleted off of these social media platforms for absolutely no reason - other than the fact that these tech giants just don't like Christianity. Thousands of Christian voices are being censored and deleted on a daily bases - ones you don't even hear about.

On top of this, certain tech giants have gone so far as to not allow Christians to advertise on their platforms, saying that Christian content is "discriminatory."

* I have had this happen to myself. I often pay for ads on Pinterest, (Pinterest, I feel, is the only social media platform left tolerates Christian content, but even this is fading quickly) and had one removed recently because it "Didn't follow community guidelines." When I checked out community guidelines, religion is labeled as "discriminatory."

Why is this a bad thing?

Because silencing Christian voices is historically the first stepping-stone of severe persecution within Christian communities. If Christians are not allowed to have a voice, are not allowed to spread the gospel, are not allowed to encourage other Christians, are not allowed to preach biblical truth, then that is HISTORICALLY the start of persecution. This is nothing persecuted Christians of old haven't seen before. For example:

- The Pharisees in Acts 4:18 warned Peter and John to never preach Jesus's name again. "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus." When Peter and John didn't comply, severe persecution started within the church, resulting in murder of Christians for decades. (You can read about it in Acts.)

- As Islam rose in the middle east during the 7th century, Christians were targeted very early on. They were "encouraged" to convert to Islam. If they did not comply, they were forced to pay extra taxes. Christian voices were then silenced as Islamist attempted to erase Christian culture. To this day, Christianity is targeted in the middle east, as Christians are killed for their faith regularly. Here's my source.

- After Martin Luther wrote the 95 Thesis on October 31, 1517, the church did their best to silence him. Thus began extreme protestant persecution in Europe for decades. Protestants were labeled as "heretics" for their beliefs and hundreds were burned at the stake. (That's in England alone. Protestants were persecuted and murdered all throughout Europe.)

- In 1790, France passed "La Constitution Civile du Clergé" which silenced all religious practice as a way to "reform the church." Any religious symbols, statues, or artifacts were destroyed. Eventually, all Christian practices were outlawed. It was the most violent anti-clericalism movement in all of history. Those who didn't comply were killed on the spot. This brutality lasted for 12 years. (You can research La Constitution Civile du Clergé on the web and find out all about it.)

- In the USSR in 1918, Lenin implemented a policy of "separation of church and state," (very similar to the policy held in the United States currently) which made all schools atheistic in nature. Christians became discriminated against. The Christian voice was silenced as they started becoming harassed for their faith. Eventually, those who did not comply with atheism were murdered. This lasted for decades. Here's my source.

- Even now, Christians are being silenced all over the world. This century alone has been considered the most brutal in regards to Christian persecution and murder. Some even argue that the murder of Christians is now on genocidal levels. Here's my source.

Now to get to my main point: None of these instances listed above happened quickly. Each account of persecution happened slowly and increased as time went by. However, each instance above started by trying to silence Christian voices. Like I said before, history always repeats itself.

So what can we as Christians do to stop this injustice of these "tech giants" before it gets worse?

1. Hit them where it hurts - their pockets. This means, stop paying them or buying things from them for any reason at all. You save money and are silently protesting at the same time. What's not to like? (This is the reason I refuse to advertise with Facebook-owned platforms. I will not pay them to advertise my content just for them to silence my voice. I am still advertising with Pinterest, but I may stop this soon as well if they keep it up.)

2. Speak up. Stop allowing them to bully you. They may be tech giants, but even David single-handedly defeated a giant with God's help. Call them out when they delete your content for no reason. Call them out for what they are: Anti-Christian. Let everyone know that your voice is being silenced. You have a right to your religion!

3. If you feel strongly enough about this issue, get off their platforms. Get off social media completely, or research other social platforms that are bipartisan and/or Christian. There are actually tons of them. They may not be as popular, but who cares in the long run when it comes to your Christian livelihood?

4. If you want to keep your social media accounts (I get it) then try to stop scrolling as much. Once again, this is hitting them in the pockets. The less active you are, the less money these platforms get. Plus, you might break a bad habit of mindlessly scrolling!

5. Continue to share Christian content, (like this blog post (hint, hint)). Let them know that you are not afraid of being bold for Christ. After all, isn't that what Christians are supposed to do? (I also might argue that if you can share political stuff all the time, then you can share Christian stuff too.)

6. Switch your web browser. I use DuckDuckGo for my information rather than Google. Google is known for silencing articles and posts that don't fit their narrative. This means that a lot of stuff you research on Google is not always correct, especially historical or political information, because it doesn't fall within Google's narrative. Duckduckgo is bipartisan, so there is a lot more information on certain subjects that Google would never show you.

For me, I am planning on keeping a couple of my social media accounts for the sole purpose of spreading my own Christian content and the gospel of Christ.

I want to warn you, my social media accounts are pretty small, but I wouldn't be surprised if this blog post got deleted, shadow-banned, "fact-checked," or flagged from my social media accounts. I have already been shadow-banned on Instagram, just because my content is not what they deem politically correct.

Friends, this is nothing but a ploy to silence my Christian voice and other people like me. Don't fall for it. Continue to share your Christian content. Don't let them bully you any longer! Recognize what they are doing. Use their platforms against them to spread the gospel! It is time for Christians to stand back up and stop allowing these "giants" to silence our voices. We are stronger than them because we have a God who is on our side. If He can help a young boy named David to defeat a giant, then He can certainly help us defeat these modern-day giants!

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:10