Agreed, but it’s complex. The state used the greatest tool against the Christians: their compassion. Not wanting to make people sick or be offensive unnecessarily, manipulated them.
I think many of the same Christians that stayed home would have been fed to lions over renouncing Christ.
Emotional strings & guilt are always the primary source of manipulation. Socialists do it. Churches do it. I'm sure the Roman govt did it too. Who would want to offend God by openly supporting a man who disrespected God's day of rest? The rule followers & "nice" people are always actually the worst. Cowards & moochers & looters of all kinds are always emotionally manipulative, & so are a lot of self righteous religious people who attempt to condemn others & sling guilt when people don't go to church or don't see things the way they do. It's not like any of this is new.
Intentions don't really matter.
