Are the Lions Coming for the Christians

These days there are many articles on Christian sites that lament its decline. Many advise Christians to read and tell others the literal reading of the Bible. There is the belief that if people in the faith say the same old thing, but say it louder and more often, more will believe it. This has not helped.

Another approach is funded by a wealthy Catholic. He paid for many ads a few years ago, some still appear, aimed at lapsed Catholics. The ads pleaded, "Come home to church." Millions of dollars gone. Numbers are still falling.

Then there is the cheerleader approach of the link. This fellow says that after the Romans sent lions after the Christians in the Roman Colosseum Christian numbers went up. I've read there is no real evidence Christians were ever eaten by lions but the myth this happened lives on. The link plays on the theme of Christians as victims, one of the old standards, but they are so devout the faith rebounds. 

This brings up the question, are Christian numbers falling because of persecution. That is, are today's Christians victims? 

Certainly, it could be argued that victimhood often strengthens resolve and moves victims to retaliate. In my lifetime I have seen black people move from being segregated in the South to being President. Gay people have moved from being scorned and banished to Secretary of Transportation. Women who need abortions have seen the number of abortions rise. 

Christians, at least the most publicized ones, are not victims. They make others into victims. They demonize, or have demonized, black people, gays, women, Jews, Muslims and others. Christians will be unsuccessful at being the victims as long as they make others into victims.