Argument Over Persecution Part 1

2 Tim. 3:12
    Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

dioko, dee-o'-ko; a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of Greek 1169 (deilos) and Greek 1249 (diakonos)); to pursue (literal or figurative); by implication to persecute :- ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute (-ion), press forward.

I want to look into this in a different light that some people either try to take for granted, or take it to extreme opposite side of the argument.  Some scholars are teaching that persecution is always on the physical variety, such as what Apostle Paul went through.  When I look at the Greek word used for this translation, I cannot see where it needs to imply physical confrontation.  Let's use some definitions in replacement and see if it follows with what Paul is saying.
If we use pursue or press forward, we can assume that those who are godly will be pursued or "pressed forward." According the the NAS New Testament Lexicon, a good definition is to "drive away."  In these references, this verse can be phrased better that the godly will be pressed forward, pursued to be driven away.  It seems it doesn't have to be physical, I believe it can be mental, social, and very much political...I will also add religiously can be in the mix.
America is getting deluged by persecution on a daily basis and every corner of this once great country.  Once the seeds were planted for separation of church and state became the doctrine of government and Christianity, it was only a matter of time before the increase on the rights and beliefs would come to fruition. 
Abraham Lincoln said (paraphrasing) that America is too great to be defeated from the outside, but once the liberties start to erode is when we are no longer great.  What great way to begin this trek is to go after ONE religious belief system.
The beginning was in 1962, when the indoctrination began with the removal of prayer, the Bible and teaching from government and all public schools.  Even today, teachers and students cannot even BRING a Bible or anything related to Jesus unto school grounds.  Military cemeteries are being told to remove crosses from the premises, Ten Commandment plaques no longer shown in front of judicial and governmental buildings, in fear of those who may feel "convicted" in their lifestyle.  And this week, the Pentagon looks to enforce that anyone who promotes Christianity can face court martial.  I believe this will eventually lead to expulsion of chaplains and Christians from the military, thus building an army that will lead to martial law and its enforcement.
My curiosity is why isn't the church fighting back?  Does it have the power, does it care, or maybe a combination of both?  Many Christians are either satisfied to keep their faith in the churches wall and home, while some are still enjoying spiritual milk and haven't desired to put on the armor of God.  Most won't even raise an eyebrow, as long as the enemy doesn't pick on them.  Let me tell you something - if the enemy isn't bothering you, maybe you are not a threat to his kingdom. 
Persecution is everywhere in America concerning Christianity.  Hobby Lobby facing fines while it fights against Obamacare and the stranglehold it demands against their views.  Rhode Island just voted today (May 2, 2013) to legalize gay marriage, becoming the tenth state to do so.  To see how far we have went from the beginnings of America to now, Most of the New England states were very conservative and religious.  Does public school teach on this? 
Many of the current Ivy Leagues schools brought forth pastors and the knowledge of the Bible was a requirement for enrollment.  Not anymore.  Atheists fought to remove Greg Laurie from speaking during the National Day of Prayer.  Some Lutheran, Methodists and Presbyterian branches are now endorsing homosexuality at the pulpit, while claiming to uphold the moral values of the Bible.  When true believing Christians speak up against these views, they are labelled as legalistic by the same ones who are demanding tolerance, because "God loves us all, no matter how we were created."  Let me say this:
1.  Nowhere in the Bible does God's love condone sinful behavior.
2.  It is not how we start the race, because ALL of us could not win it on our own.  It is how we finish, and since God made the rules, it is by His ways that it can be won.
I hope to make my point clear.  America is NOT exempt from the world persecuting God's children.  Look around, if I had the time, you could see it happening at your workplace, public places, even IN your church.  Ironic that people can smoke pot legally in public against the law, and a Christian family faces deportation when it wants to uphold Biblical values and having fines and possibly their children taken away.  We say nothing of Islamic countries burning churches and brutalizing Coptic Christians, and America claims "tolerance." 
I truly believe the worst is coming in the next two years.  With a military possibly devoid of any believers, Congress and local and state lawmakers no longer willing to protect Christians rights within the First Amendment, it is only a matter of time where the freedom we should have to evangelize will no longer exists.  The economy has to collapse someday, this will give the government every right to install martial law and keep the military at home.  No nation will need to attack, they have already done their job internally.  Fear will run rampant, Bibles will be confiscated, churches will either be locked down in fear of retaliations in numbers.  Guns will be taken away, socialism will begin to take hold, and many will depend on the government and to keep you and your family alive by a hair.  God's hand will be totally lifted from this once great nation, and the only thing left to wait for is the Rapture.
Keep this in mind with what is being taught in a way that it becomes unbiblical.  Christians are being told that God will protect them in every way - monetary, physically, emotionally, even socially.  If these people truly read the last few verses of Hebrews 11 (the "faith" chapter), they would see that these people did NOT receive the promises.  These went through the worst of persecutions, the torture type, and don't forget for one minute that won't be possible in America.  The devil HATES Jesus, and he uses mankind against the very thing that can save them. 
I believe the church will be sent underground, because the church has become selfish that the power of godliness it should show to the world it doesn't have.  It is very rarely taught discernment, holiness and how to use repentance for the glory of God.  Believers seek prophetic words to tickle their ears, some yearn for the supernatural manifestations that assumes it is from God, it ignores the full ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the enemy continues to gain ground to the ultimate point where there is nothing left to stand for.
It will increase, it won't necessarily means physically.  It is occurring in America today in workplaces, where people can be passed over for promotions, companies being attacked because their owners and CEO's stand by their faith and called intolerant, atheist groups like "Freedom From Religion" using its clout and size to attack EVERYTHING that has a cross, regardless if it is governmental or not. 
The roses will soon be eradicated, obliterated and the Great Tribulation will begin soon, and the world will start its exclamation that it does not need God to proclaim its dominance, only to bring about its own destruction. 
I fear for my children, and hopes I will have time to train them for this, whether Jesus is more important than their own life.  If anyone needs to be in prayer and for a solid reason, read Revelations and see the damage mankind will do when it does not have God for any guidance.  Jesus said unless the days be shortened...mankind would kill each other off because all it thinks of is themselves, and the devil laughs at the church standing by not having a care for the world around it.
When we are being herded off, when a gun is held to your head, and you wonder why Jesus isn't there to save you, with you stand on your faith or your life?  Will you then look back when you had the chance to take back what ground the church lost, or will you blame others in hope God will see you holier? 
Parting words:
Hebrews 11:36-40
    And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: [37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; [38] (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. [39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: [40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Maybe it is time to stop looking at "one promise," and look for the "better thing."  So far I believe Apostle Paul obtained a better report, for his faith kept him through all he went through.  There is nothing you earned that you can take to heaven.  What will you have left to stand on? 
Understand this, America is the last thing standing before the final battles against Israel.  When Christians and God are removed from the United States, it will have the massive effect of the enemy running rampant, God's hand of protection will be gone.  Will your faith be enough to stand in front of a gun if this scenario plays out?  It is happening elsewhere in the world, what makes America different in the near future? 
Is you faith truly worth fighting?  Is Jesus worth your life?

Jeremiah 6:16