By Michelle Pearse, Australian Christian Lobby CEO
Surely Christians can’t be experiencing discrimination in Australia, right?
After all, Australia has a long Christian heritage.
Churches are found in every community.
Christian schools educate hundreds of thousands of students.
Christian charities care for the vulnerable, feed the hungry and support those in crisis.
COUNTLESS BELIEVERS HESITATE TO EXPRESS THEIR FAITH
Yet many Christians would tell a different story.
Over the past few years, I have spoken with countless believers who feel increasingly hesitant to express their faith openly.
Teachers are unsure what they can say in the classroom.
Healthcare workers worry about the consequences of acting according to their conscience.
Employees feel pressure to keep their beliefs private in the workplace.
Parents are concerned about the values being promoted in schools and public institutions.
WHAT IS WORRYING AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIANS?
We wanted to know, are these isolated incidents, or is something broader happening across Australia?
So, we joined with several partner organisations to produce the first Australian Christian Freedom Index (ACFI), a landmark report examining the legal, cultural, social and institutional pressures facing Christians across our nation.
More than 10,800 Christians participated in a nationwide survey.
An overwhelming 92% said it is riskier today to identify as a Christian than it was five years ago.
WHY MORE AND MORE CHRISTIANS ARE CHOOSING TO BE SILENT
Nearly three-quarters said they feel pressure to keep their beliefs private at work, online or in public.
Most concerningly, 40% reported experiencing hostility, harassment or threats because of their faith.
These results suggest that many Christians are choosing silence because they fear the consequences of expressing them.
SCORES OF NEW LAWS ARE RESTRICTING CHRISTIAN FREEDOM
Researchers identified 74 Acts of Parliament introduced over the past 25 years that place restrictions on Christian freedom, with almost half enacted within the last five years.
The report argues that this trend is contributing to growing pressure on Christians and Christian institutions across a range of sectors, particularly education, healthcare and employment.
Perhaps the most significant finding is not that Christians are facing challenges.
Jesus told us to expect opposition.
MANY BELIEVERS ARE WITHDRAWING FROM PUBLIC LIFE
Rather, it is that many believers are quietly withdrawing from public life.
They are self-censoring, avoiding difficult conversations and feeling uncertain about whether they can live out their faith without repercussions.
That should concern us all.
Freedom of religion is not a special privilege for Christians.
It is a fundamental freedom that allows people of all faiths, and none, to live according to their convictions without fear of punishment or exclusion.
THIS SHOULD BE A WAKE-UP CALL FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN IN AUSTRALIA
The findings of the Australian Christian Freedom Index should be a wake-up call for every Christian in Australia.
If we are to protect the freedoms that allow us to live out our faith, we must first understand what is happening around us.
That is why I encourage you to read the report, share it with others, and help start conversations in your church, community and workplace.
Change does not happen when people remain silent.
It happens when ordinary Australians are informed, engaged and willing to stand for what is right.
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