It is a chaotic time in which we are living. A high-profile police shooting of a young man, which has caused much racial unrest nationwide. A high-profile suicide of a favorite Hollywood actor. Daily news about religious minorities, mostly Christians, being victimized by terrorists. Children beheaded. Women raped and killed. Men hanged. Yes, this is happening on the other side of the world and far from us in the West. It is terrible that it is going on. Yet we all have out own lives, our own families and our own troubles. What does it all have to do with me and mine?
It is no secret that there has always been much turmoil in the Middle East. There are nonprofits and causes called Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and Stand with Israel. Many in the Christian community believe that what goes on in the Middle East is strategic to what goes on in the rest of the world, including where we live. We probably know that the ongoing conflict is one over the Palestinians' fight for statehood and the Israelis' defense of their territory. We may know that radical Islamists are fueling this conflict, as they fuel many other conflicts throughout the world. These radical Islamists are also driving the current genocide of religious minorities, mostly Christians. This genocide is happening to those in Iraq but also to those in Syria. In Iraq, the nation is being completely Islamized. People are being ordered, Convert to Islam or die!" Many Christians and other religious minorities, not wanting to convert to Islam, fled Iraq. Others, religious minorities and mostly Christians, were unable to flee because of disabilities or old age. They were forced to convert to Islam. We may know of these things and think it is all sad. We feel sorry and agree that it is not right. But we may wonder what all this has to do with us?
Yes, I know how you may stand on this. Most of my life, I was not concerned about what went on in the Middle East. What did it have to do with my life, my family or my causes? I also was not concerned about radical Islam for these reasons. Also, I naively believed that Islam was a religion of peace, just like Christianity. Now we need to be clear about Muslims. Many Muslims are moderate Muslims and are just as horrified as the rest of us, about what radical Islamists are doing to viciously persecuted religious minorities, mainly Christians. These moderate Muslims are not the problem. They, too, if they live in Muslim countries, are victims of regimes that will not permit them any freedom of thought or religion. If they are exposed as converts to other religions, especially Christianity, they may face harassment, attacks, and in many countries, imprisonment or death. The Muslims we need to concern ourselves with are radical Islamists. They are gaining more and more power and influence, and have emptied much of Iraq of Christians and other religious minorities. And guess what?
It may be the last thing on our minds, but have you considered that radical Islam can affect the West? How is that? A few recent articles have been warning that radical Islamists will target the West next. An article warned that terrorists were planning to target girls in certain European nations, into online human trafficking. I have heard it on the news that threats were made by Muslim terrorists (often called ISIS) to attack US interests. I have read a book by Raymond Ibrahim, a Coptic Christian and raised by Egyptian parents, who is an expert on Middle Eastern issues. He warns that if we fail to educate ourselves about radical Islam's war on Christians and other religious minorities, that we will not only enable the suffering of these persecuted believers. We will also enable radical Islam to take over the West and Islamize us, too. Do you want us to become a nation where we, our children, or our children's children will be forced to convert to Islam or die?
It is time to educate ourselves. It is time to speak up.
To educate yourself, visit Raymond Ibrahim.com.
To help victims of persecution, visit International Christian Concern.
No comments:
Post a Comment