Abandoning the Culture Wars? Prepare for Persecution.
3. It’s better for Christians to not have their heads sawed off than it is to have their heads sawed off. In July a 60-year-old Christian merchant, Magdy Habashi, was abducted from the town of Sheikh Zweid and murdered by “militants.” Egyptian authorities discovered his decapitated body in a cemetery with his head placed upon his chest. The blood of martyrs may be the seed of the church but I’d really rather not be beheaded by jihadists.
On August 6th, 10-year-old Egyptian Jessi Boulus was shot and killed on her way home from Bible class. Her parents, along with anyone using common sense, believe she was targeted because of her religion. Jessi’s father stated, “I’m telling you in the West that your taxes and government money go towards supporting the killing here – by funding Islamist political parties.”
If I live an exemplary life as the most pious man in my city, will that have any effect on my lifeblood in the form of taxes being used to support Islamists in Egypt? Is it possible to be totally committed to Gospel-proclamation while also involving myself in efforts to call for the cessation of U.S. funding of foreign extremists?
Christians all across America had no problem speaking loud and clear when a 17-year-old was shot and killed on his way home from a convenience store. Are we wasting time fighting a culture war if we speak out just as loudly and clearly when a 10-year-old girl is shot and killed on her way home from a Bible study?
Yes, this world is not our home. We’re merely exiles passing through. So, do Christians have a vested interest in whether or not the American experiment continues? We still have many freedoms in America but that may not always be the case. Do we really believe that what’s happening in Egypt could never happen here?
In order to preserve our liberties, we have to understand them and be prepared to defend them but, practically speaking, that’s fighting the “culture war.” Jesus taught us that we are blessed when others persecute us on his account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). Persecution may ultimately come for us all but we don’t have to hasten it’s arrival by leaving “politics” to those who have no regard for liberty.
