This ABC News report gives a perspective of Egypt's response to the killing of at least 28 Coptic Christians, including women and children, traveling on a bus on a pilgrimage to St. Samuel monastery north of Minya. http://tinyurl.com/y87c3zmp
It follows on the heels of two church bombings in April and another church bombing during the Coptic Christmas fast in December.
The extremists have openly stated that the Coptic Christians are their favorite targets. The Coptic Christians respond once again with faith and resolve. They find deep in their reserves of faith the ability to keep trusting Jesus and not abandon him. In the West we are not as used to having to live a brand of Christianity that resembles the first three centuries of church history. Once again people ask, "Are you safe?" A few venture a follow-up question, "Why do you live there?"
I cannot guarantee that I will be safe. Can you? Is that our highest priority in the Christian life--to be safe? The Christian life is not primarily about being safe, it's about being called. Hopefully none of us will face living out our calling against the challenge of violence or death. But maybe we are too comfortable in our fortresses and in our churches where everyone is like us.
Maybe pushing the boundaries of safety can start with reaching out in relationship to those not like you. At a community event, I saw a dark, bearded young man wearing a bright green t-shirt that said, "Don't panic ..." at the top, and "I am Muslim" at the bottom. Maybe pushing your boundaries of feeling safe could be to befriend a Muslim and find that they are not so different from you after all. Jesus' kingdom strategy was not about hate and isolation; it was about love and relationship with your enemies (Matthew 5). As I feebly try to apply this myself, I look to the model of the Coptic Christians in Egypt who are showing me the way!
A few years after arriving in Egypt, we found Healing Grace Ministries, a ministry of a large http://tinyurl.com/ya42apue You can find out more at: http://healinggraceministry.org
Egyptian Evangelical Church. They have set up a child-sponsorship program to provide food, medicine, education support, family counseling, and discipleship for children in villages all over Minya province. Most village programs have an AWANA program where children learn and memorize Scripture. The program is a very similar model to Compassion International (who do not operate in Egypt). In this letter from Healing Grace Ministries, two of the children lost family members in the attack last Friday, May 26.
We will be returning to the US for our annual home leave in a few weeks. We are both pretty tired, so please pray for God to give us rest and renew our strength. We are both a bit concerned about facing the polarization that seems to be more and more defining American society. Jesus' model of "bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (New King James version) would be a fitting response for all of us everywhere!
Steve & Karan
It follows on the heels of two church bombings in April and another church bombing during the Coptic Christmas fast in December.
I cannot guarantee that I will be safe. Can you? Is that our highest priority in the Christian life--to be safe? The Christian life is not primarily about being safe, it's about being called. Hopefully none of us will face living out our calling against the challenge of violence or death. But maybe we are too comfortable in our fortresses and in our churches where everyone is like us.
Maybe pushing the boundaries of safety can start with reaching out in relationship to those not like you. At a community event, I saw a dark, bearded young man wearing a bright green t-shirt that said, "Don't panic ..." at the top, and "I am Muslim" at the bottom. Maybe pushing your boundaries of feeling safe could be to befriend a Muslim and find that they are not so different from you after all. Jesus' kingdom strategy was not about hate and isolation; it was about love and relationship with your enemies (Matthew 5). As I feebly try to apply this myself, I look to the model of the Coptic Christians in Egypt who are showing me the way!
A few years after arriving in Egypt, we found Healing Grace Ministries, a ministry of a large http://tinyurl.com/ya42apue You can find out more at: http://healinggraceministry.org
We will be returning to the US for our annual home leave in a few weeks. We are both pretty tired, so please pray for God to give us rest and renew our strength. We are both a bit concerned about facing the polarization that seems to be more and more defining American society. Jesus' model of "bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (New King James version) would be a fitting response for all of us everywhere!
Steve & Karan
