By Briana Bass – Christian Romance and Romantasy Author

For most of my life, I’ve believed deeply in the separation of church and state. I still believe in freedom of religion—not freedom for one group, but freedom for all. I believe that the government should never dictate how a person worships, whom they worship, or whether they worship at all. These convictions have shaped how I see the world, how I vote, and how I engage with my community. And for a long time, those same convictions led me to believe that Christians in America were not being discriminated against.

To me, “persecution” meant what our brothers and sisters in places like Nigeria face—churches burned, pastors kidnapped, believers killed for their faith. That is persecution in its most brutal, heartbreaking form. Compared to that, American Christians seemed safe, privileged even. I didn’t want to cheapen the suffering of believers around the world by using the same word to describe anything happening here.

But over the past few years, something in me has shifted. The evidence became too consistent—and too concerning—to ignore. It wasn’t one headline or one viral video. It was a slow accumulation of moments, from public spaces where Christian symbols were dismissed as inherently oppressive to a cultural tone that increasingly frames Christianity as a problem to be managed. None of this looks like the violent persecution happening overseas, and it shouldn’t be equated with it. But it is a form of discrimination.

The True Core of the Christian Faith

What I once dismissed as “overreaction” or “culture war rhetoric” began to look different when I paid closer attention. I started noticing patterns of Christians being mocked or dismissed as unintelligent, bigoted, or dangerous simply for holding traditional beliefs. People of faith were being excluded from conversations, leadership roles, or opportunities because their convictions were deemed “too religious.” Public expressions of Christianity were treated as inherently suspicious or harmful, while other belief systems were welcomed without question. Policies and cultural norms were shifting in ways that subtly pressured Christians to hide their faith to avoid backlash.

Christianity is a way of life shaped by the person of Jesus—His teachings, His character, His sacrificial love. It is a faith built on humility, repentance, forgiveness, and the belief that every human being bears the image of God. It calls believers to love their enemies, care for the vulnerable, and seek justice not out of superiority, but out of gratitude.

And that matters in this conversation, because much of the discrimination Christians face today stems from a distorted understanding of what Christianity actually is. When our faith is reduced to stereotypes it becomes easy to dismiss or marginalize the people who practice it. But those caricatures ignore the millions of believers quietly living out their faith with integrity, kindness, and conviction.

Naming What Hurts Without Losing Hope

I still believe in separation of church and state and in freedom of religion for everyone. I still believe we must protect the rights of people who disagree with us. But I also now believe that Christians in America are facing a growing, measurable form of discrimination.

This isn’t about losing cultural dominance or longing for a bygone era. It’s recognizing that the climate has shifted in ways that make it harder for ordinary believers to practice their faith. If we want a society where everyone is free to worship—or not worship—without fear, then we must be willing to name discrimination wherever it appears, even when it’s directed at the majority faith. Freedom is fragile. It erodes quietly before it collapses loudly.

Religious freedom is a foundational right, and foundational rights must be protected early—before the cracks become fractures. Christians should not have to hide their faith to keep their jobs, maintain friendships, or participate in public life. A society that requires silence from one group will eventually demand silence from others. Discrimination, even in its softer forms, harms communities, silences voices, and reshapes culture in ways that ultimately threaten everyone’s freedom. Naming what’s happening isn’t about claiming victimhood—it’s about safeguarding the shared freedoms that allow a diverse society to flourish.

Learning to Speak Up with Wisdom and Grace

My eyes have been opened, and I can’t unsee what I’ve seen. But I also refuse to respond with fear, anger, or hostility. That’s not who Jesus calls us to be. Instead, I want to respond with clarity about what’s happening, courage to speak truth with grace, compassion for those who disagree, and a commitment to protecting freedom for all people, not just my own group.

If we truly believe in religious liberty, then we must defend it consistently—even when the conversation is uncomfortable, even when the discrimination is subtle, and even when the culture insists it isn’t happening. My hope is that by sharing my own shift in perspective, others who feel this tension will know they’re not alone. And maybe, just maybe, we can begin building a healthier, more honest conversation about faith, freedom, and the future of religious life in America.