1. How many persecuted Christians are there?

1. 10 million

2. 200 million

3. 1 billion

4. There is no Christian persecution

If you answered “4” you are totally out of touch with reality. Subtract five (5) points!

Most experts suggest there are about 200 million Christians worldwide who suffer persecution for their faith, with another 200 million to 400 million who face discrimination in some form simply for being a Christian. Correct answer: “2” -- 200 million. Quite staggering, isn’t it? Correct answer good for one (1) point.

2. The events of September 11, 2001, had little direct impact on Christian persecution in 2002.

1. True

2. False

Answer: False. Dozens of well-documented cases were reported in 2001 and 2002 where attacks on Christians were made in retaliation for the bombing in Afghanistan or other “atrocities” committed by the West. Muslim fundamentalists often portray Christianity as a Western religion, which puts Christians in Muslim areas in danger. Besides reported cases, it’s likely there are many more that go unreported.

As the polarization between Christianity and Islam increases, Christian persecution will also increase. Christians who are the most vulnerable will suffer the most.

Military action by the West, however, is not the only thing that incites attacks on Christians. A controversial but well-publicized statement by a Western political or religious leader can also have repercussions. Suffering the most, however, is the Christian minority in countries where religious liberty is limited and extremists exercise heightened influence. Extremist anger is often directed at the poor, minority Christian.

3. The military attack on Saddam Hussien's regime in Iraq has caused greater difficulties for Christians living in Muslim-dominated areas.

1. True

2. False

Answer: True -- good for one point (1). If you answered “false,” go back and read the previous section. War by nature brings hardship. But Christians in Muslim areas have suffered even more because they are perceived as having a “Western faith,” and by default would be linked to an attack on a Muslim country by the “Christian West.

4. In 2006, the U.S. State Department designated which one of the following countries as “a country of particular concern” in its annual religious liberty report?

1. Colombia

2. Cuba

3. Vietnam

4. None of the above.

Answer: “4” -- none of the above. One (1) point. But there are serious problems facing Christians in these countries. Also give yourself one (1) point if you answered #3 Vietnam -- See Note below. The four-decade-old civil war in Colombia pits the government’s military, guerrilla groups and drug cartels against each other, and Christians are sometimes targeted because militants who receive Christ swear off violence. The church in Cuba continues to face severe restrictions on worship, evangelism and Bible importation. Nevertheless, it is growing dramatically. In Vietnam, there has been a reduction in the worst forms of persecution – forced renunciations of the faith, imprisonments, and physical abuse – but all three continue to some degree. The country’s 2006 religion legislation does not grant the degree of freedom stipulated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, nor even meet the standards of Article 70 of Vietnam’s own 1992 constitution, and the old anti-religion ideology is still alive as expressed in a 2006 religion training manual for the Northwest Mountainous Region published by the second highest authority on religion in Vietnam, the Central Bureau of Religious Affairs.

[Important Note from Frontline Resources' Director: We do not agree with U.S. State Department's characterization of Vietnam. Why? One word: Politics! Therefore, we do not agree with Compass' "correct answer" above. Why? 1) As stated above "forced renunciations of the faith, imprisonments, and physical abuse all continue to some degree. It is more accurate to say that certain people groups continue to experience forced renunciations of the faith, imprisonments, and physical abuse to a much greater degree than others! While this is suddenly and mysteriously no longer of "particular concern" to the U.S. State Department, rest assured it is of "great concern" to those persecuted, their church family at home and abroad - i.e. us! 2) Compass' own more accurate characterization of Vietnam in #5 below and restated here: Officials in Vietnam continue to exercise strict control over churches and to suppress incidents of religious persecution.]

5. Name the five countries still considered to have communist regimes in power.

Answer: China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea and Vietnam. Score one point (1) for each country you named correctly. A total of five points is possible for this question. While most experts agree that communism as an ideology is all but dead, the power structures in these countries have endured. What’s more, they do not tolerate the growth of any group perceived as a threat to total control. North Korea is probably the most restricted nation in the world. Confessing to being a Christian -- or even suspected of being one -- will result in imprisonment or death. Christians in Laos have been forced under extreme duress to recant their faith. Officials in Vietnam continue to exercise strict control over churches and to suppress incidents of religious persecution.

6. How many Christians are there in China?

1. 10 million

2. 45 million

3. 60-80 million

4. 1.2 billion

This is a trick question, since no one knows for sure how many Christians there are in China. What we do know is that there are many more than 10 million but less than 1.2 billion. Most China watchers would agree that there are at least 45 million Christians but that 60-million-plus is more likely. So if you answered “2” give yourself half a point (0.5). If you answered “3” give yourself one point (1).

7. Is Christian persecution increasing or decreasing in China?

1. Increasing

2. Decreasing

3. Both

4. There is no persecution in China

Answer: “3.” This is the paradox of China. Some areas have seen severe persecution during the last year where church leaders have been beaten and jailed, and a some have been threatened with death. Other areas function in what many would consider almost complete freedom. Generally, however, house church Christians -- those who worship “unofficially,” and the majority of which live in the more rural areas -- continue to face harassment and pressure to join the official church structure. They are also targeted by cults or attacked because the local culture is antagonistic. Sometimes the pressure is extremely harsh.

So, if you answered “3” give yourself one point (1). If you answered “1” or “2” give yourself half a point (0.5). If you answered “4” subtract a point.

8. What is the greatest threat to the continued growth of the Chinese church?

1. Communism

2. Capitalism

3. Cults

4. Compromise

We made them all Cs to Confuse you. A number of leading house church Christians cited “capitalism” (or materialism) as the greatest threat, followed closely by “cults.” The growing economic openness in China is providing more opportunity to gain wealth even among the Christian population, with the potential to undermine the spiritual vitality of the church. Cults are also becoming more aggressive and are strategically targeting stronger house churches for infiltration. With the dearth of well-trained Christian leaders, especially in the rural areas, the potential for error is high. “Compromise” might better be defined as “fear of persecution.” It remains a problem that threatens to immobilize the Chinese church. Ironically, the least threatening is communism. So, if you answered “2” or “3” give yourself a point (1). If you answered “4” give yourself half a point (0.5). If you answered “1” you get nothing. Just be thankful you don’t have to subtract a point. This "Persecution Test, as indicated at the top, was created by "Compass". Given our stand on this issue which, incidentally, is shared with many other China "experts" give yourself One Point if you answered "1".

[Important Note from Frontline Resources' Director: Compass' answer to #8 is very controversial and one with which we do not agree. First of all the rational given for #8 is inconsistent with the explanation provided in #7. For example, "the official church structure" referenced in #7 is officially known at "The Three Self-Patriotic Movement Church" and it is controlled by the Central Communist Chinese government. Furthermore, the reason severe persecution continues, especially in the countryside where most of our work takes place, is because regional, district and local leaders still very much hold to Communist Doctrine. Moreover, it is widely believed that local leaders often carry out the wishes of the highest level leaders! Overall, the essence of Communist ideology is alive and well throughout the government in China!]

9. Christian persecution is increasing in the country of Africa.

1. True

2. False

Answer: Africa is not a country, it’s a continent. Subtract one point (-1) if you even tried to answer this question. Your concentration is obviously starting to lag.

10. How many of Nigeria’s 36 states have implemented sharia, or Islamic law?

1. 0

2. 12

3. 20

4. 36

Answer: “2” -- 12. Nigeria is Africa’s most glaring example of the religious conflict between Christianity and Islam. Christians living in the predominately Muslim north are finding their activities increasingly restricted, and clashes often turn violent. One point (1) if you answered “b.”

Scoring

Maximum Points Possible: 12
Minimum Points Possible: -7

10-12 points: You’re an expert!
6-9 points: You’re getting there.
2-5 points: You’ve got a lot of to learn.
Less than 2 points: You’ve been asleep for the last 20 years. Wake up!

Compass Editor’s Note: This brief exam made some attempts at levity, but it is not meant to trivialize the severe pressures millions of Christians face daily for their faith. On the contrary, it is designed to remind Christians who live in freedom that their experience is not necessarily the norm. We at Frontline Resources hope this reminder will bring a redoubling of effort to come to the aid of the Persecuted Church. Click on the links below for a few ways you can do just that:

Mercy Funds for Imprisoned Pastors and their "Ministry Widows & Orphans"

Sponsor a Persecuted Pastor

Provide Rare Study Bibles for Persecuted Pastors