Listening to the Current Reality
Religious freedom and radical politics are impacting the global church. Failure to check power in government and the church has often led to violent hostility and restrictions on the church and posed hurdles for the kingdom of God to be experienced.
Social hostilities are on the rise as identity politics continues to fuel tensions and deepen divisions, especially where religious identities become tools for power and control. Geopolitical conflicts and territorial disputes put pressure on precious resources, further exacerbating religious persecution, often leading to displacement and targeted violence, especially against religious minorities. The dynamic landscape of religious persecution intertwines with the ongoing struggles for gender equality. Women and marginalised communities often bear the brunt of discriminatory practices rooted in religious traditions, even as they are targeted for their faith.
Across the globe, governments increasingly adopt laws and policies that restrict religious practices, limit religious institutions’ engagement, and curtail religious freedom. Additionally, the balancing protection of religious freedom and enforcing censorship is fueling debates about the limits of expression and the protection of vulnerable communities. Furthermore, as data security concerns escalate, the gathering and surveillance of religious information can pose serious threats to individual privacy and religious freedom. The rising legal restrictions and the erosion of various human rights protections cast a shadow on the future of religious freedom.
The church’s failure to engage with society through the government and legal processes due to a lack of theological understanding or awareness also contributes to the problem. Corruption and a lack of integrity within the church can also fuel the divisions we see in the church and society. Lack of awareness, teaching, and cooperation also results in fewer people on the ground to respond to these critical and complex issues.
Furthermore, there is a shift in social focus that has come at the price of economic and class issues, as radicalism reduces ethical questions to questions of power and equates victimhood with moral superiority. There is a fresh emphasis on equality of outcome with a willingness to use force while relying solely on ideology as a moral guide.
Imagining a Preferred Reality
True collaboration would make the kingdom of God more visible to those most vulnerable and marginalized. A future is imagined where the church engages with society, standing and thriving together, grounded by leadership that understands public theology and service. Christian leadership is built and exercised for the common good.
Faith communities are curious about each other and have learnt to work together to address complex social problems by building religious literacy and respect for the dignity of the other, even if their religious views differ from ours. Where a culture of dialogue and respectful opposition is nurtured so the truth can be discerned.
A society with equitable laws would protect all people’s fundamental human rights and dignity. A society where the government cares for those who are poor and vulnerable would create mechanisms for people who partner and collaborate with them to serve all people and care for the environment. Where young and old, men and women, and people from different ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds can stand together to celebrate each other’s talents and gifts. A society where past hurts and fears are addressed with openness, care and respectful dialogue.
Collaboration is fostered across various sectors so that holistic solutions can be found. Believers serving in politics, science, media, and the marketplace stand alongside church leaders, committed to seeing every person—young and old, rich and poor, from every tribe and tongue—flourish as God intended.
And yet, we know this is not the end of the story. We remain a people in waiting. The true and final shalom is still ahead of us. But even now, by God’s grace, we have seen glimpses. The Kingdom has become visible in our communities, workplaces, and the lives of ordinary men and women who chose to walk the narrow way of Jesus. And we press on—until Jesus returns.
Creating a Way to Close the Gap
Realizing the vision of 2050 articulated above will demand deliberate and courageous action.
Declare the Gospel Courageously and Publicly: It starts with a renewed commitment to declare the gospel openly and without fear. The whole Church must be discipled to engage society with integrity, courage, and wisdom, willing to give of themselves sacrificially. We need to make space for fervent prayer, seeking a prophetic voice for the Church, a voice that speaks truth with clarity and compassion in a confused and fearful world. This prophetic witness will be sustained by fostering spaces for dialogue and dissent, where disagreement is not a threat but an opportunity for deeper understanding. Building relational wisdom and unity across traditions, cultures, and perspectives is essential if we are to move forward together.
Lack of Awareness and Capacity: There is also an urgent need to address the lack of awareness and capacity that often limits our response. We must recover and teach Bible-based theology that embraces suffering, resilience, peacebuilding, and faithful resistance. Without this, we risk becoming either passive or reactive in the face of injustice. We are called to be neither. As followers of Christ, we are called to stand firm in the face of injustice and suffering—not as victims, but as faithful witnesses of hope and restoration. At the same time, we need to harness new platforms and mediums to communicate clearly and widely. Storytelling, media, and technology must be used not only to share information but also to build understanding and effect real change. Part of this task involves shaping new narratives—countering misinformation and the distortions often surrounding the Church, especially in places where Christians are vulnerable. This will require deliberate investment in awareness and capacity-building for a broad range of people: local communities, professionals, political leaders, and anyone in a position to influence the common good.
Holding Governments and Institutions Accountable: To sustain this work, we need structures that hold governments and institutions to account. Collaboration across civil society is vital. Faith leaders, women and men, young people, and professionals—working together with a shared commitment to justice and human dignity—can bring weight and credibility to this task. We must establish think tanks and centers for research and advocacy that provide reliable data and rigorous analysis. These spaces will ensure that our engagement with lawmakers and political leaders is grounded in truth and guided by wisdom. Relationships with those in power must be strengthened, not for influence alone but to ensure policies that reflect justice, protect human dignity, and serve the vulnerable.
None of this will happen by accident. It requires intention, courage, and perseverance. But if the Church commits itself to this path, grounded in prayer and shaped by a vision of God’s Kingdom, we may see a future marked by the gospel’s power to transform every life and every part of society.
Communicating a Prayerful Proposal
Based on the discussions at the gathering, several participants articulated the need to collaborate on the following opportunities:
Build awareness:
- Develop training material for lawyers, civil society leaders, and church leaders to build capacity for supporting victims of targeted violence.
- Organise training opportunities in the global south for lawyers and church leaders.
- Create opportunities within our networks to pray for the persecuted church and to raise the next generation of leaders.
Inter-faith Dialogue:
- Create opportunities for dialogue and learning.
- Identify the person of peace within communities.
Hold Government and institutions accountable:
- Facilitate advocacy in national parliaments and international institutions.
Increase Collaboration:
- Organise information sharing through WhatsApp groups and the Lausanne Action Hub.
Acknowledgements
None of these incredible conversations would have taken place without the input from Dr. Jack Sara (Content Specialist), Siju Thomas and Daniel Raju, who served as our facilitators, and Dr. Frank Ole Thoresen, Andrea Strum-Lauter, Joel Twix, Madhu Karyamsetty, who served as Affinity hosts and our amazing volunteers- Min Soon Kim and Ms. You, at the Congress.
Author
Tehmina Arora
Tehmina served as a content specialist for this gap report. She works as the Director of Advocacy, Asia with ADF International, specialising in constitutional law and human rights. Tehmina can be contacted at tarora@adfinternational.org