For the Persecuted Christians

This week Paul not only reads from 1 Peter Ch 2:8-22 but he is also preaching for us today as well. In peters first letter , he is looking at how we should respond to the persecution we as Christians are subject to from the risking of their lives in China to this country were is is harder and harder to air our Christian beliefs.Hardly the same as china but could it get that bad here in the west ?