I. Blessed are Those Willing to Suffer Persecution

The United States of America has been relatively isolated from religious persecution due to our Bill of Rights. Americans have enjoyed full freedom of religion and speech for over 200 years. In fact, Americans have become so accustomed to living without religious persecution that we have come to take it all for granted. We would think this would have resulted in a vibrant, growing Christianity within our nation. Instead, in most part, it has resulted in an apathetic, pathetic, and pretentious Christianity (if we even dare call it Christianity.) It is too this lethargy of spiritual deadness that Christ addresses an epistle to the Laodicean church of the last day before His Second Coming.