Not Just Called “Christian”: What It Truly Means to Follow Jesus in a World of Persecution

When many people say they are Christian, they often mean something cultural, comfortable, and familiar, a set of beliefs they might hold, a church they attend, or perhaps a set of moral values they try to live by. 

But when you listen to the stories of believers around the world who face imprisonment, loss of family, and even death because of their faith, you realize that Christianity is far more than just a cultural label. It’s a concrete relationship with Jesus that also embraces a lifetime of surrender.

For Nik and Ruth Ripken, following Jesus wasn’t a concept learned in a classroom. It was lived out in the most difficult places on earth. After the sudden death of their son while serving as missionaries, they could have asked, “Is Jesus worth it?” - with the implication that maybe He simply wasn’t worth the immense pain and suffering.

Instead, that question became the fuel for a global journey among believers in persecution and the very foundation of their ministry.

When Persecution Answers the Question “Is He Worth It?”

In parts of the world where simply worshiping Jesus can cost you your livelihood, safety, or family, believers consistently answer in an unexpected way: Yes! Jesus is worth it. 

They don’t cling to a cultural Christianity, nor do they treat faith as a comfortable identity. They live it out, moment by moment, choice by choice, even when every cost rises high.

One of the most striking lessons those who have walked with the persecuted church learn is that persecution isn’t the exception, it’s a normal part of discipleship. In the Bible, persecution is normal!

Nik Ripken shares that persecution in the Bible is something Jesus Himself prepared His followers for (John 15:20). Followers of Jesus in hostile places don’t ask for ease or escape, but for faithfulness and courage to continue proclaiming Christ no matter the cost.

When believers under threat are asked, “How can we pray for you?” their answer doesn’t usually focus on safety. Instead, they ask for strength to stand firm, for boldness in witnessing, and for the courage to love their persecutors in the same way Jesus does.

Understanding True Discipleship Through Their Stories

These stories reveal a truth that Western Christianity often misses: Christianity is not ultimately about comfort, influence, or personal advancement. It’s about following Jesus where He leads, even when that path is steep and painful.

In Revelation 2:10, Jesus tells His followers to “be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” In almost all of the first 20 interviews that Nik conducted, Revelation 2:10 was their life’s verse. In much of the West, that phrase can feel poetic or symbolic, something for the distant past or those with dramatic callings. But for many believers in hostile nations, that call is literal and it shapes everything they do.

One pastor imprisoned for over a decade told Nik Ripken that obedience never looked successful in the world’s eyes. But it was precisely that obedience that anchored his faith. His witness continued quietly behind bars, shaping lives and testimony long after his own freedom was taken.

These enduring believers don’t define faith in terms of escape from hardship but in terms of remaining faithful through hardship. Victory, in their context, doesn’t always look like deliverance. Sometimes it looks like standing firm when no one else would, trusting God when circumstances offer no relief.

What This Teaches the Church in “Freedom”

So what does this mean for believers in places of freedom? First, it invites us to wrestle with what following Jesus actually costs. Are we willing to surrender comfort, reputation, control, or popularity if Jesus calls us to something harder? Are we prepared to stand firm when our faith is tested - not for show, not for praise, but for the glory of God?

Western believers often have unique privileges: freedom to worship without harassment, access to Scripture, safety from threat. But these privileges can sometimes breed a faith that is comfortable rather than courageous, cultural rather than committed. 

This is why Nik and Ruth’s work with believers in persecution isn’t just eyewitness reporting; it’s a challenge to every follower of Jesus to ask the hard question: Am I truly following Christ or am I just calling myself Christian?

Believers in hostile contexts show us that discipleship isn’t about how we feel or how safe we are. It’s about how we live, day after day, even when following Jesus costs something real. Their stories remind us that faith isn’t measured by comfort but by courage, obedience, and surrender—and that Jesus, in fact, is worth it.

Walk With Their Stories, Grow in Your Faith

If you want to dive deeper into these testimonies and let the global church shape your walk with Christ, we invite you to explore resources like:

• The Insanity of God is the true story that launched a ministry focused on learning from the persecuted church.
• Insanity Unleashed is a teaching series designed to equip believers to live boldly wherever God places them.
• The Witness & Persecution Podcast offers lessons from the frontlines of faith.

Our prayer is that these stories will challenge, convict, and encourage you—not just to say you follow Jesus, but to truly be His follower in every season of life.