ATTACK!
As I was catching up on some tweets this morning, I saw a link to an article that talks about the “trend” of Christians being under attack in the Middle East and Africa (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110104/pl_afp/egyptiraqnigeriachristiansunrestus). I read the article with the appropriate amount of dismay, tsk tsk’ing, shaking my head, and thanking God that I didn’t live in the Middle East or Africa.
But, the more I got to thinking about the article, I began to wonder who was more under “attack”. Is it the Christians in the Middle East and Africa, or is it the Christians right here in the good ‘ol USofA (myself included)? I got to thinking, we can SEE the attacks happening in the Middle East, and so, they get reported on. They make for good news. But, who wants to write the story about the “attack” of the American Christian?
I know, at this point, both of my loyal readers are sitting there thinking, “I’m not under attack”. One of you even went so far as to make sure your door was locked to ward off any “attack”. But, the longer I sat and thought about this article, the more convinced I became that we are under attack. AND, WE DON’T EVEN KNOW IT! That is the worst kind of attack.
What is attacking us? How about apathy? Greed? And self-confidence? And who is leading the charge? Our enemy!
But, he is leading an amazing charge. He has been walking around the ranks and whispering for centuries, and we have started to listen. He whispers things like, “Change the channel. You don’t live over there. That is not your problem.” Or, “Look at the new boat your neighbor has. Why don’t you have a boat like that? You work harder than he does. You DESERVE a bigger boat than he has.”
And, possibly, the most damaging lie of all is whispered the quietest. “You can do this on your own. You are a self-made man. God will just get in the way. He didn’t work all those hours to buy this stuff. He never worked in Corporate America. He doesn’t understand. You are on your own.” Have you heard these whispers? I have.
You see, no one wants to write the story about spiritual attacks. But, does that mean there is no attack? Or, has our enemy been whispering to the media as well. If we see Christians being attacked in the Middle East and Africa, we might begin to believe that is what “attack” looks like. And, since that is not what our lives look like (and some of us thank God at this point), then we must not be under attack.
But, what we seem to forget is that persecution ALWAYS makes the Church grow. I heard a quote the other day from a Romanian Pastor (whose name I didn’t get) that said, “Christians are like nails. The harder you hit them the deeper they go.” You see, persecution and physical attacks drive the Christians in that area into a deeper relationship with God. You can’t destroy Christianity by stomping it out of people. But, I am beginning to wonder if you just might be able to destroy it by giving Christians everything they ever wanted including the ability to change the channel or stop reading the article when they see other Christians being physically attacked for their faith.
Can apathy kill Christianity when tyrant after tyrant has tried and failed?
Father God, break my apathetic heart. Open my eyes so that I see people the way you see people. I know I am not being physically hurt for my faith, but I am, nonetheless, under attack. Father, you know my enemy better than I will ever know my enemy. I pray that you bind him. Keep him far from your Church, God, for I fear his whispering is beginning to greatly affect the troops. Thank you for giving me a glimpse this morning of what you see. Help me to use it to motivate me to change. But, God, I realize that the only change that truly makes a difference is the change you bring. So, change me, God!
Amen
