Violent persecution [of Christians] focuses the mind on the fact that the kingdom of his world is an enemy to the kingdom of God. When there hasn’t been any persecution for a long time – as in our part of the world – many Christians start expecting the world to be a friend. They slip into seeking the world’s approval instead of Gods. When the world denies its approval … they go hollow inside.
This is from the book How to Stay Christian in College by J. Budziszewski – his name is not misspelled, in case you were wondering.