Is it true that the "blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church"? In this episode, Alex and Scott challenge the popular belief that persecution is inherently good for the church. Drawing from Ronald Boyd-MacMillan’s article Does Persecution Always Bring Growth?, they argue that while persecution can refine believers, history shows it often destroys the local church entirely. They distinguish between short, intense persecution that may spark renewal and long-term systemic persecution that weakens or eliminates the church altogether. Alex and Scott discuss that Christians should not romanticize suffering and realize that persecution is a valuable tool that Satan uses against God's people. They stress the importance of religious freedom, both for evangelism and human dignity, urging Christians to defend it globally, and ultimately, they conclude that while God can bring good from persecution, it should never be desired or celebrated. Key Topics Misconceptions about persecution as beneficial for church growth Historical examples where persecution led to church extinction (e.g., Uyghur, Arabic, and Mongol eras) Distinction between short-term vs. long-term persecution effects The role of religious freedom in advancing the gospel Biblical and historical perspectives on persecution and faithfulness Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber! Premium Subscribers get access to: Exclusive bonus content A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts Invite-only webinars A free gift! Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.