Distraction not Persecution

In a recent conversation with a co-worker, the subject of religious persecution and martyrdom came up. My co-worker's thought was that since America has been turning away from the Christian faith now for quite some time, it won't be long before Christians will begin to be openly persecuted and martyred here as well. I agree with him to a point but I think something different is already happening in this regard. In the study of warfare tactics, one comes to understand that different methods of warfare will be more or less successful depending on the circumstances and the nature of your enemy.

The Christian foundations of the United States don't really set the ground for open, direct persecution. I believe we are already seeing (at least for the last 100 years) the more successful demonic tactic of distraction.

I believe it goes something like this. The Protestant Reformation created the mindset of individual freedom and the validity of private interpretation. And then with the formation of the United States, the mentality of rugged individualism set us on our current course, that is, if you don't like your church, go to a different one and if you cannot find one you like, then start your own. This allows for the mentality of focusing your attention upon whatever doctrinal/theological/moral trifle that catches your attention. One generation of adults thinking this way will raise the next generation to take it one step further and apply this thinking to secular life. This second generation will focus their time and attention on those trifles that interest them, whatever they may happen to be.

In this the devil has succeeded to distract an entire generation with pretty lights and sounds, and this under the guise of Christian freedom. When we begin deciding for ourselves which things are important and garner our attention, we have bought the lie that the Church is not an authority and we can make these decisions for ourselves. We have become distracted by things inconsequential and have neglected addressing the things and practicing the things that will aid us in our holiness.

When we become distracted by earthly and temporal things, the devil doesn't have to bother persecuting us, for we are not accomplishing anything of eternal value that will help anyone.

Persecution in America?  We are too distracted to notice if there was.