Sadly, many in the American church have bought into this notion that their worldly success is proof they're doing well by God's eyes. Jesus spoke of such a condition, in his parable on the four soils, or types of believers. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. We are not of this world anymore, and there are those in the world who'd rather attack than repent when their consciences start acting up. As Christians, we're not guaranteed heaven on earth, but just heaven while in heaven.
Persecution can also appear in many other forms.
I have heard of some leaving the Church because they didn't like what was said during a sermon or two. Or, a pastor who didn't have enough coffee in them to warmly greet them. Or, a rattle in the air vents that bugged them. These are all examples of this second soil, where there's no roots to get past the scorching heat of adversity. But, it's the third group of soils that is the most dangerous.