Egypt
Watching the news last night and today, my heart is breaking for the people of Egypt. Being there this summer reminded me of my need to pray for them, for the country is really in a mess, a turmoil. High unemployment, great restlessness, a revolution that really failed to produce what was hoped for...and an underlying anger makes the area a pot just waiting to boil over. And, as the news shows last night and today, in both Egypt and Libya, that pot is boiling very hot today.
Yet, I'm mindful this morning of the people we met there. Our guides, Mohamed and H. The many vendors who were just trying to make a living. The merchants who were suffering because their livelihood relies on tourism, and when the country is dangerous, the tourists simply don't come (one merchant told me, as he bargained with me on a price, "You're lucky things are so bad here"). The ordinary people, especially the young men, we saw wandering the streets with no jobs and no purpose. Those who served us so well in the hotel and restaurants.
Cairo was such a contrast to Jerusalem and Tiberias, where we had been previously. Cairo is overcrowded, dirty, busy, and noisy. So was Alexandria, for that matter. There is a great restlessness built into the city, it seems, one that is not even going to be taken care of by attacking an embassy or burning a flag. They are a people in search of peace, and yet they reject the one who is called Prince of Peace. Only 10% of the population of Egypt are Christians, and they are severely curtailed as to what they can do and how they can witness. The nation is dangerous for Christians today, and I would imagine many will leave, which is unfortunate. What will the nation become if there is no Christian witness at all?
This is the nation where Abraham journeyed, where Joseph was a ruler, where the kings of Israel sometimes found military help from. This is the nation that sheltered Jesus when Herod, the king of Jesus' own nation, threatened to kill him. There are deep Judeo-Christian roots in this place.
So pray for the people of Egypt. Don't write them all off as radicals, because they are not. I've talked to them. I've looked into their eyes. I've heard some of their stories, and I've seen where they live. Unfortunately, the radicals, the violent, those who are intent to make Islam the religion of the world by force are the ones who "set the tone" and who publicly represent the rest. But the entire nation is not that way. Pray for the nation of Egypt, and for Libya, and for all those places in our world where there are those who believe violence is the only answer.
And let's pray for the day when the Prince of Peace will reign over all.
Yet, I'm mindful this morning of the people we met there. Our guides, Mohamed and H. The many vendors who were just trying to make a living. The merchants who were suffering because their livelihood relies on tourism, and when the country is dangerous, the tourists simply don't come (one merchant told me, as he bargained with me on a price, "You're lucky things are so bad here"). The ordinary people, especially the young men, we saw wandering the streets with no jobs and no purpose. Those who served us so well in the hotel and restaurants.
Cairo was such a contrast to Jerusalem and Tiberias, where we had been previously. Cairo is overcrowded, dirty, busy, and noisy. So was Alexandria, for that matter. There is a great restlessness built into the city, it seems, one that is not even going to be taken care of by attacking an embassy or burning a flag. They are a people in search of peace, and yet they reject the one who is called Prince of Peace. Only 10% of the population of Egypt are Christians, and they are severely curtailed as to what they can do and how they can witness. The nation is dangerous for Christians today, and I would imagine many will leave, which is unfortunate. What will the nation become if there is no Christian witness at all?
This is the nation where Abraham journeyed, where Joseph was a ruler, where the kings of Israel sometimes found military help from. This is the nation that sheltered Jesus when Herod, the king of Jesus' own nation, threatened to kill him. There are deep Judeo-Christian roots in this place.
So pray for the people of Egypt. Don't write them all off as radicals, because they are not. I've talked to them. I've looked into their eyes. I've heard some of their stories, and I've seen where they live. Unfortunately, the radicals, the violent, those who are intent to make Islam the religion of the world by force are the ones who "set the tone" and who publicly represent the rest. But the entire nation is not that way. Pray for the nation of Egypt, and for Libya, and for all those places in our world where there are those who believe violence is the only answer.
And let's pray for the day when the Prince of Peace will reign over all.
The pieces of information that I read about Islam trouble me. I find it difficult to read about people believing that Jesus is not the son of God. Do you think that this means that I am questioning my faith? I want to do right by God, and so I really want to understand who Mohammed was. The people who practice Islam believe that he is the Messenger, but what do the Christians believe about him?
ReplyDeleteI try to find information about Islam, because I don't really understand what people tell me. Many people just blow my inquiries off. They say, "Muslims disrespect women. I would never respect a religion that does that"
I have a Muslim friend who told me that Islam does not repress women, and that she conceals herself out of modesty.
It scares me that Christians blow off Islam as if they could not care less about what it means to a Christian, because millions of people are Muslim.
How can a person truly believe in their faith if they do not come to a rudimentary understanding of the other faiths?
Please tell me your thoughts. I remain anonymous because I am shameful of my doubts. I believe that, if they were made public, they would worry my family.
For years, I have been dedicated as a Christian. I hope that you can help me come to terms with this horrible uncertainty I've had for the last month.