Note 24 at Phil. 1:29: Suffering persecution is not just for missionaries in foreign lands. Second Timothy 3:12 says, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Every Christian who lives a godly life will be persecuted. The only Christians who are not persecuted are those who are not living godly lives.

True Christianity is exactly opposite of the whole world system. We are headed in a selfless direction while the world is consumed with self. Jesus teaches us to love while the world is full of hate. We are supposed to turn the other cheek while the world takes this as another opportunity to hurt us. The world and Christianity are in conflict. The only reason a Christian would not suffer persecution is if he is headed in the same direction as the unbelievers. When we go God's way, we will bump into the devil.

Persecution isn't always life threatening or physically abusive. Some of the most subtle persecution is just rejection or mockery (see ref. v at this verse).