When Faith Becomes a Target

I’ve spent the last few years watching a disturbing pattern unfold—and it’s become impossible to ignore. More and more, Christians are being treated like villains in a culture that once valued religious freedom. The moment we stand by Scripture, we’re labeled bigots. The moment we gather to worship, we’re seen as threats. We’re told our beliefs are outdated, even dangerous. And now, in some cases, we’re being shut out of public spaces altogether.

This isn’t about paranoia. This is about facts.

Zoning Out the Gospel: The Christ Church Case in Idaho

Let’s talk about the latest example—because it’s a big one.

In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Troy, Idaho, for religious discrimination. The target? Christ Church, an evangelical Christian congregation based in nearby Moscow. The church applied to use a vacant former bank building for Sunday worship. But the city denied their permit—despite allowing clubs, libraries, and art galleries to operate in the same area with no special approval.

Why the double standard?

The DOJ believes the denial was based on bias against the church’s beliefs, not zoning logic. Community members voiced opposition during public hearings—not because of noise or traffic concerns, but because they didn’t agree with what the church teaches. According to the DOJ, that violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which protects churches from being treated worse than secular organizations in zoning decisions.

I’m glad the DOJ stepped in. But I’m also troubled by what this case reveals: when a town tells a church “you’re not welcome here” because of its theology, that’s not neutrality. That’s discrimination.

It’s Not Just Idaho: Other Churches Under Fire

Sadly, this isn’t an isolated case. In North Carolina, Summit Church faced nearly the same thing.

They applied to build a new church campus in Chatham County, but their rezoning request was denied—while other secular projects in the same zone had been approved. After exhausting local appeals, they filed a federal lawsuit, also under RLUIPA. Like Christ Church, they argued they were treated unfairly simply because they were a religious institution.

This kind of thing is becoming a trend—and it should concern every Christian in America.

What Happened During COVID Was Just the Beginning

If you think this started recently, think again. During the COVID pandemic, we saw government overreach like never before—and churches were among the first to get hit.

Remember how liquor stores, casinos, and big box stores were allowed to stay open while churches were forced to shut down?

In Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, the Supreme Court ruled that New York had violated the First Amendment by imposing stricter limits on religious gatherings than on secular ones. And in Harvest Rock Church v. Newsom, California’s total ban on indoor worship was struck down, too. The court said loud and clear: you can’t treat churches like second-class citizens.

And yet, those bans happened. Churches across the country were padlocked or fined for trying to hold drive-in services—while fast food drive-thrus kept operating without issue.

Let’s be honest: the pandemic didn’t create anti-Christian bias. It just revealed how ready some officials were to use crisis as cover for targeting faith.

When Believing the Bible Makes You the Enemy

This goes deeper than zoning permits or emergency rules. At the heart of this trend is a cultural shift that now sees biblical Christianity as offensive.

If you believe in a biblical view of marriage, you’re labeled hateful.
If you believe Jesus is the only way to God, you’re called intolerant.
If you believe men and women were created with distinct roles, you’re branded dangerous.

In other words, if you take Scripture seriously, you’re a problem.

This is exactly what I mean by Christian discrimination. It’s not just legal—it’s social. We’ve moved from “freedom of religion” to “freedom from religion.” And that shift has real consequences.

Here’s the truth: Christians aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for equal protection—the same right to believe, assemble, and speak freely that every other group enjoys.

The Deeper Danger: Silencing the Gospel

What scares me most is that many Christians are starting to self-censor. They don’t want to be labeled hateful or get banned online or lose their jobs. So they stay silent. They stop sharing truth. They back off from conversations that matter.

That’s exactly what the enemy wants.

Because if Satan can’t destroy the Church from the outside, he’ll do it by convincing us to retreat from the inside.

I’m not writing this blog to stir up fear—I’m writing it to call for courage.

We have to wake up and recognize what’s happening: our beliefs are under attack, not because they’re wrong, but because they’re right. The gospel offends—it always has. Jesus Himself warned us that the world would hate us because it first hated Him (John 15:18).

But that’s not a reason to back down. It’s a reason to stand firm.

What We Can Do About It

1. Pray for boldness. Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith, even when it’s uncomfortable.
2. Support churches in legal battles. Groups like Alliance Defending Freedom and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty are on the front lines.
3. Stay informed. Don’t just rely on mainstream media. Follow trusted sources that actually report on Christian persecution in the West.
4. Get involved locally. Sometimes the most effective stand you can take is at a city council meeting, zoning board hearing, or school board election.
5. Speak the truth in love. Don’t compromise on Scripture—but don’t communicate with cruelty either. Truth and grace go together.

Final Thought

Christianity has always been countercultural. The early church was persecuted not because it was violent, but because it was bold. They preached a risen Savior and refused to bow to Caesar. Today, we may not face lions in the Colosseum—but we’re facing lawsuits, cancelation, and silencing.

Still, we press on.

Because Jesus is worth it.

—
Arch Kennedy
Where Faith Meets Culture — Bold, Unfiltered, and Unafraid