Lasting Joy That Cannot Be Taken Away

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2: 10-11).

The birth and revelation of Christ is the cause of this great joy to all people. It is a great joy because it is manifested by Christ for peace among humanity, bringing down the walls of estrangement and hostility between nations, reconciling them to one another and, most importantly, to God (Colossians 1: 20) and establishing them as the church, a united community, to proclaim the everlasting joy of reconciliation to all the corners of the earth.

The Bible says also that this joy is for all people. In other words, no one is excluded from it. People of every race, every color, nationality and language are troubled by various kinds of personal, racial, cultural or ideological dogmas that hinder them from relationships characterised by peace with others. This joy is the joy of deliverance from a life of self-centeredness and an inexplicable joy in the  midst of hostility, trouble, danger and darkness. It is the joy of deliverance from the spiritual death that separates one from others and God. Therefore, there will always be a perfect reason for everyone to join Christ and rejoice in His freedom;  He is always ready to redeem and His unchanging Love, Counsel, Governance, promises and fellowship are always available and freely given.

The joy of being reconciled to God and to one another, and the joy of freedom from uncertainty and disharmony is a gift that must be expressed with loud voice and charisma to the world, especially in our time when terrorism, persecution, political correctness and self-centeredness are highly vocal, creating more fear and uncertainty in the world.

If we experienced the bitterness of clashes in the Middle-East, forced labor camps in communist countries, discrimination and humiliation over race and ideologies, we would want to stand on the roof of our houses, in the corner of streets, in public places and shout the joy of our freedom. The joy of freedom in Christ surpasses every other worldly joy since it is absolute, stems from the depth of our heart, flourishes into every dimension of our life and captures our entire being. It becomes our inseparable identity, with us in every circumstance, in abundance or in poverty, in acceptance or in rejection, in freedom or in prison, in loss or in gain. We therefore become its messengers to all, friends and foes alike.

Let us rejoice in Christ in all circumstances and be the heralds of His surpassing joy to the nations of the world.

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4: 4)

Fellowship with Christ Necessitates Courage

What is courage in Christ, the founder of our faith? The definition for courage must be closely relevant to the unconditional love and the absolute truth which are the bottom lines of faith in Christ. Unconditional love, because Jesus has no human enemy to hate. He wants everyone to take a step of courage, reside in His truth, and sacrificially overcome personal and external obstacles that separate us from one another and from God. Courage can therefore be defined as willingness to come out of one’s comfort zone, overcome ignorance, passivity, indifference, hardship, hostility, intimidation, threat, danger, persecution, and further speak and act in favor of truth no matter how severe the pressures and pains from oppositions may be. This courage does not allow us to hate our intimidators and persecutors, but creates in us sympathy towards them who put themselves in miserable situations by investing their money and time to persecute us and others. We, rather, return good against their evil, pray and hope that our kindness may move them to question their hostility and allow Christ to change them. There is, therefore, nothing that can hold back Christians from courage unless they decide to turn their eyes from Jesus and follow a different leader.

Jesus said:

In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. (John 16:33b)

Jesus is saying that we must expect to be humiliated and persecuted in the world that is characterized by hate but should not respond to hatred with hatred. Hatred cannot be overcome by hatred. Hatred creates more hatred. Love is the only solution for hatred. Love is the fruit of heaven, but hatred is the fruit of hell and Satan. Love leads hearts to reconciliation but hatred leads to war and bloodshed. If we hate people, it means that we are in the service of Satan who is the prince of separation, but with loving attitudes we prove that we belong to God who loves reconciliation. Love in nature and deed is victorious but hatred is a channel for loss.

This is why Jesus says that He has overcome the world. He demonstrated His love on the Cross against Satan, the prince of hatred, in order to win people for his kingdom. He became victorious, because His love raised Him from the dead. Satan lost as he could not hold Him in the kingdom of death. Jesus rose from the dead and became victorious.

So, our Lord and Savior is telling us that since our eyes are open to the fact that only love can destroy self-centeredness and the separating walls among people, we therefore need to live in accord with His values, have compassion towards others, take sacrificial steps, make our voices louder and proclaim that the only solution for the world is His love and truth.

Satan, the defeated enemy of Christ rises from time to time in order to claim a false victory through nations, groups, leaders, prime ministers and presidents, but the followers of Christ are sent to act as His salt and light, raise their voices and proclaim the victory of Christ enthusiastically even if it may cost their denial, ex-communication, demonization, deprivation, persecution or loss of life. Churches, elders and ministers, youth, seniors, parents, children, and the entire community of Christ are called to take courage in all circumstances and cheer the victory of Christ boldly. Our courage matters in our relationship with Christ in every matter of life.

Some Politicians and minority groups in the West have been imposing non-Christian policies on majority Christians for decades because many Christians were not vocal about the values of Christ, instead voting in favor of those who saw Him as insignificant or just gave lip service in favor of Christ. This in turn encouraged more politicians and leaders to progressively be bold against Christ, favor the capricious values of this world very openly over the truth of Christ and even see themselves qualified to pass laws against Christian practices.

Christians who do not care or choose to stay quiet for Christ are, consciously or unconsciously, following a different gospel which is different to the Gospel of Christ. In His Gospel, Christ says:

Then everyone who shall confess Me before men, I will confess him before My Father who is in Heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in Heaven. (Matthew 10: 32-33)

Jesus has not called us to stay indifferent, keep quiet and die with the world; we are called to be courageous, commend our faith to the consciences of people (2 Corinthians 4:2) so that they have a chance to compare, see life in Jesus and come to Him. People need to know that Jesus came to this world in order to take justice to victory so that people could put their trust in Him (Matthew 12: 18-21). If we do not show courage and live victorious, how will people, leaders, prime ministers and presidents put their trust in Jesus without seeing us as good examples for Him?

Proclaiming the victory of Christ and defending our faith in Him are the only ways to correct people’s views about life in Christ. People’s minds are corrupted about Christ and many leaders take this as an opportunity to impose themselves on Christians. Keeping quiet against the ungodly verdicts of politicians that belittle our faith cannot be interpreted as the love of Christ. Christ never ignores people’s sin, no matter who they are, politicians or not. He gave His life to destroy the sin in people’s lives, how can He then show indifference towards sin? It was His absolute opposition to sin that made His disciples so courageous in flourishing His manifold wisdom among their own people and others (Ephesians 3:10). They were aware that the message of Christ was going to cost them highly, but they had also comprehended that the children of truth could not compromise evil but overcome it. This was the motivation behind their courage and zeal in preaching the Gospel to their own nation and to the world, to friends and foes. This courage made them triumphant:

And they overcame him (the Devil) because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death. (Revelation 12: 11).

They prevailed, because their plan was the plan of victory and they implemented it joyfully and courageously everywhere. As the Apostle Paul said:

Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and He revealing through us the odor of the knowledge of Him in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

In every place?! Yes, a follower of Christ is a follower of Christ in every place and with everybody; in a prison or in a palace, with a king, emperor, prime minister, president or with a less powerful member of the universe. The everlasting victory we have is with us always and in all places. It is a remedy for everyone and involves the total destruction of all evil schemes in the life and mission of every individual or group of people in the world. It works well and produces pleasing fruits for Christ, if we become courageous. No tribulation, policy or law can hold us back from this courage if we align ourselves with the mind, heart and plan of Christ. That’s why Paul says:

But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 37-39)

Courage is the DNA of Christian faith. It opens the door for God to come down and live among His creatures, ascend and take His people with Him to heaven. John the Baptist paved the way for God with courage 2000 years ago and God came down and revealed Himself in Jesus. It is again the courage of His followers that will pave the way for His return. Indifference, silence or compromise is not going to pave the way for the return of Christ but courage will. Be courageous for the sake of your life, others’ lives and for the sake of Christ.

Islamic Divisions and Endless Wars

Among Muslims, Islam is the cause of every religious division and thereby the cause of every political chaos that bursts into coercion and violent war. This is because the oppositions (opposing sects or factions within Islam) of rulers do not have the right to express themselves. They therefore have no choice but to group themselves, establish their own political religious group, and fight for dominance since dominance is the only way to obtain your right. This is the cycle of life that continues in Islam. Pagans of ancient Saudi Arabia did not allow Muhammad to practice his religion in Mecca. He fled to Medina and established his religious army and then invaded and changed the religion of Mecca so that he could be heard and oppositions be silenced. This has always been the principle in Saudi Arabian leadership style, which means bloodshed if oppositions stand to practice their beliefs with full rights. Oppositions have a secondary right.  Minority Sunnis are secondary for dominant Shias, and in the same way minority Shias are secondary in Sunni dominant countries. Minority Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and others are always ranked secondary by either Islamic group.

This is what many people in the West, especially politicians, do not understand as the real reason behind violence in the Middle East. They often rationalize it with the western inclinations or ideological motives and therefore expose our societies to Islamic ferocity anytime they decide to support an Islamic group against the other.

No political or social order in any Islamic country is determined without the leadership values of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. His values are the major running forces in every affair of life in Islamic countries. The Quran says that Muhammad is the only role model that humanity must follow:

Obey Allah and the messenger . . . . that you may receive mercy. (Quran 24:54, 56)

He who obeys the Apostle, obeys Allah . . . (Quran 4.80)

. . . for he [Muhammad] commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good and prohibits them from what is bad . . . (Quran 7.157)

It is not for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and his apostle to have any option about their decision: If any one disobeys Allah and his apostle, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path. (Quran 33:36)

It is astonishing to compare the model of Muhammad with the model of Jesus Christ. Muhammad did not claim to be God; he was just a man with limitations but imposed himself on people unlimitedly. Jesus called himself God but washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:4-5) and said that he came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28) This is the leadership model of Jesus Christ contrary to the leadership model of Muhammad. The Gospel of Jesus teaches people to follow his example and love their enemies:

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

The western culture is highly influenced by the values of Christ who teaches us to treat people equally and even respect the rights of our enemies. This is a condition in Christ for becoming free. We will not be able to truly have freedom if we limit freedom to ourselves only. Our freedom depends on the level of freedom we wish for others. If we exclude others from having freedom it means that we have closed the door of reconciliation to people, and are therefore ourselves obstacles. It is vital for us to pave the ground for the freedom of others if we want to prove that we are free and freedom lovers.

Unlike the culture of Christ, the prerequisite to becoming a leader in Muhammad’s culture is that you have to slaughter many people:

No prophet has been enabled to take captives until he had made great slaughter in the earth.  You desire the passing fruitions of this world, but Allah desires the next life for you. And Allah is Mighty, Wise. (Quran 8:67)

This is in sharp contrast to what the Gospel of Christ teaches. That is why sects in Islam cannot attain power unless they make great slaughters. Such a tyrannical attitude is strange to the western culture. It is for this reason that millions of Muslims became tired of discriminations and bloodsheds in their own countries and have been fleeing from their own motherlands to the West in the last and present centuries. They have found out that western countries tolerate a variety of beliefs and provide equal opportunity for people of all races, nationalities and beliefs.

So, it is vital for the western countries to understand the motivations behind the clashes in the Islamic countries, especially the ones among fundamental Islamic groups of Sunnis and Shias.  They both have their reasons from the Quran. It will therefore be unwise if we stand behind one sect against another sect or sects. Every group that comes to power will follow similar principles which were around for 1400 years since the rise of Islam and are tyrannical in nature. Even the group we decide to support will blame us later for being aliens or infidels if we ask them to tolerate others. It will accuse us of preventing them to establish an Islamic government based on Islamic principles, a.k.a. Sharia. This is what American and western armies experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan and lost many soldiers by the attacks of those who were once supported.

Every sect in Islam holds the view that the beliefs in other sects are not from Allah, their followers are infidels, and must be fought against according to the Quran until there is no disbelief in the world. Such intolerance has even been creating factions in a single sect, bitter rivalry, and bloodshed. A very good example of this is the hostility between the Palestinian groups of Hamas and Fatah, who are both Sunnis and enemies of Israel, but hate each other. Hamas has slaughtered many of Fatah’s followers viciously and has Quranic reasons for its ferocious acts. All Muslim leaders, when they speak against other sects, use Quranic references to legitimize their discrimination or war against them. Committed Sunnis and Shias have been killing each other in Iraq and Syria with the same logic. They have no record of honoring each other or living in peace with one another in the entire history of Islam. The political philosophy of each sect stems from the Quran which says that the party of Allah must triumph over others. (Quran 5:56) What is the distinguishing factor in being the party of Allah but not others? It is the power of force that pulls the most dreadful group to the top or keeps it fighting to the end until it dominates and proves that it is the only party of Allah. So, war and intolerance are the pathways to the establishment of Islamic rule, no matter which Islamic sect is involved.

Let us pray that the people and leaders in the West would understand the nature of clashes in the Middle East properly and find out that the only solution for any crisis is Jesus Christ. Otherwise, every other initiative will fuel the war among Muslims. Let us also pray that our Prince of Peace, Jesus, continues to reveal himself to many Muslims and bring down the wall of hostility among them:

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. (Ephesians 2:14). 

Political Maturity Is Diminishing in the West

One of the distinguishing marks of the third millennia AD in the West, right from its beginning, is the obvious war of many politicians against Christianity, either because of ideology or of political correctness. Some of these politicians call themselves Christians and even go further by calling themselves conservatives, but no doubt that their superficial link to Christianity has been for the destruction of Christianity. Their relativistic approach to life is a clear indication of their hostility to the absolute truth of Christ. Though they were born into a Christian environment, they remained oblivious about the truth of faith in Christ and are now caught in the cloves of relativism.

There are some politicians who love to care for their country but become nervous when their enemies raise their voices and receive the favor of leftists. Rather than being courageous and fighting for the rights of their nation they slyly hand over control to their enemies and abandon their own people who put their trust in them. Sadly, this has become the trend of some politicians because of the dominance of political correctness.

Our contemporaries are quick to learn the methods of destruction, rather than methods of building and preserving. This is because they have lost the appetite to search, evaluate and make the right decision. They have left the field open for the opportunist leaders and politicians who take advantage of people’s unwillingness, unawareness and blind obedience. Many politicians find it too costly to wake their people up for a conscious decision-making which is the only way to have a healthy and free society. In a free society, leaders will not be able to put their own personal feelings and interests at the center of their leadership but rather the self-sacrifice that protects the interest of their communities.

Awareness indeed is a bridge to freedom. This is what Christ taught:

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32 MKJV).

The opposite is true too; the lack of knowledge strips people of the truth and enslaves them to every kind of untruth that leads to all sorts of bondage. It is such a bondage that has subjugated the minds of many of our politicians and leaders to accept what should be unacceptable.

Almost all kings and rulers in history did not know or were not concerned with human rights. The common practice among them was, more or less, dictatorship, which put their and their immediate families’ desires at the center of everything. Internationally also, they were always searching for opportunities to expand their kingdom in order to attain more tax payers, therefore guaranteeing a lengthy kingdom for their family line. They deprived or destroyed any group of people whom they felt threatened by or disliked. None of these kings and rulers desired to be economically dependent on their enemies or to unite with the worst enemies of their nations and cultures. Despite their dictatorship, they were able to understand that the enemy was always the enemy until it changed and integrated.

Many of our so-called civilized contemporary politicians, who have sworn to protect the rights and interests of their people everywhere, do not understand that their job is to guard their nations against their enemies’ threats.

America, who is indebted to Christianity for its freedom, borrowed money from one of its worst enemies, China, which has chosen communism to fight American freedom. Now, America owes trillions of dollars to China and not only is it unable to pay it back but the interest rate is escalating the full debt to economic enslavement. Some communist leaders said in the past that they won’t be able to fight the West via bullets but via their schemes. This is one of those schemes that is being progressively implemented.

Committed Muslims and many non-practicing Muslims believe that the West, in particular America, is their enemy. At the forefront of committed and fanatic Muslim minds it is imbedded that their war, either cultural or physical, will not end until democracy is demolished and people are yoked into Islamic Sharia. The continuous terrorist attacks in the last decades are clear evidence of committed Muslims’ commitment to jihad, the holy Islamic war, against the West.

Against this very obvious Islamists’ war, our politicians supported Mujahidin in Afghanistan, Al-Qaida in Bosnia and Libya, and now in Syria in the name of democracy. The White House even paved the way for the Muslim Brotherhood, a leading spiritual father for almost all Islamic terrorist groups in the world, to reach to presidency in Egypt. Thanks to Egyptian moderates who woke up quickly and ousted president Morsi, who was responsible for the death of a thousand Egyptians, including Christians, and for the destruction of many Christian churches and homes in the short span of his presidency. Now we understand that another one of his vicious plans was to arm the members of the Muslim Brotherhood so that they could kill the oppositions in the future and protect his presidency to implement every inch of Sharia in Egypt.

Our politicians could instead choose to stand behind democracy lovers in the M. East, who are hated by committed Muslims, and make a positive change in Islamic countries, but since many of our educational institutions hate Christian values and have made it fashionable to listen to and defend radical Muslims, it would be costly for our politicians to ignore Islamists.

For the convenience of Islamists, our politicians have also been imposing limitations on Christians in the West but opening doors for committed Muslims to important offices in in the name of democracy, which is indeed for the destruction of the democracy. Our contemporary Prime Ministers and Presidents came to power with the oath of ridding people from the existing problems caused by previous politicians, instead they have added many more problems. Now many of the Western embassies are closed in Islamic countries because of extremist Muslims who received the support of our politicians in the name of democracy.

At the heart of our politicians’ political philosophy is this problematic ideal: they think they are following the tenets of democracy by permitting radical Muslims to have the freedom to attain political power even if their aim is to yoke people to Islamic Sharia. In other words, in a democratic society the wolves need to have access to people and tear them into pieces. They do not see that a leader must be as a mother or a father to his/her nation and is responsible to try opening the eyes of the nation to terrorist ideologies that aim at nothing but destruction. They are immature and do not understand that democracy should not shelter terrorists and there cannot be a lasting unity between them and the enemies of their countries. The enemy will get rid of them in the first opportune moment.

Renowned Iranian Communists who were pro-Russian Communism, called Toudeyiha (pro-people group), joined the Ayatollah Khomeini campaign against the Shah of Iran. They advised their communist followers to do the same. After the Revolution of 1979, they continued their support of the Ayatollah even against his new revolutionary opposition groups. This was possibly a calculation according to a dialectic theory in Communism which compelled them to do so. No matter what they were thinking they did not know that Islamists’ toleration was simply a preparation for absolute dominance. In a few years’ time after the Ayatollah reached the culmination of his power, he put all of these friendly Communists in prison, except those who were able to escape, and killed some. This will happen in the West if our pro-Islamist politicians and professors do not wake up but insist on giving more rights to Islamists rather than freedom lovers.

M. Eastern political philosophy allows the sharing of power with other groups or oppositions only if the ruling leader does not have strong roots among the people. This has been the trend of leadership since the rise of Islam. Ruling leaders show themselves to be friendly toward the opposition until they establish themselves stronger than the oppositions for absolute dominance. Depending on circumstances, their plans may take a short time or it may be years but they will be patient until it is their turn. Then there will be no tolerance, only destruction and bloodshed.

The secular humanist mindset has paralyzed many of our politicians from pausing a little while to learn a good lesson from history, think big and strategic, and take steps beyond their personal feelings. This is why we see that their domestic and foreign policies so often do not reflect the reality of the life of their fellow citizens and the long standing war we are facing with Islamists. It is no wonder then that they think Israel is a threat but the Muslim Brotherhood, Libyan and Syrian Al-Qaida rebels are friends! This is why the majority of democracy lovers in Iran and Egypt have the right to blame our politicians for supporting their enemies. The West is paying a high price for the immaturity of its politicians.

Nothing but the mind of Christ can help us and our politicians to wake up to the threats of those who come to us as sheep but inwardly are wolves:

Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7: 15-16 MKJV).

Who Is Ready to Help Egypt?

Millions of Egyptians, including many of those who voted for the ex-president Muhammad Morsi, a Muslim extremist, flooded the streets of Cairo and caused his presidency to come to end. They did not want their country to fall into a calamity similar to what has befallen Iran by the extremist mullahs.

Morsi was chasing the footsteps of the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan, who has aimed to put the Turkish military in chains and initiate a progressive coup d’état against the democratic values of Ataturk (Kemalist Ideology), disarming the freedom lovers of his country and establishing a tyrannical Islamic imperialism.

It is awe-inspiring that Egyptians were not as apathetic as Iranians were in the time of the Ayatollah Khomeini, but marched ahead in order to guard their future from the rule of Sharia, the Islamic law. The Ayatollah disarmed the mighty army of Iran with the help of President Jimmy Carter, similar to what has been transpiring between Morsi and Obama, the current president of America.

We are living in an era where no country is immune to the external influences of economic relationships and ideological intimidations. Egypt is one of those countries whose economy is highly dependent on foreign aids and whose future can therefore be shaped by inappropriate interventions of aid-givers, depending on their ideologies. One example of this ideological intervention is the homage the White House has made towards the Muslim Brotherhood, despite the desire of the majority of Egyptians. It was the support of the White House that ousted Hosni Mubarak and brought Muhammad Morsi to power as president. Morsi is ousted now as a result of millions protesting, but the White House sees the cry of freedom fighters as insignificant since its supported president is now out of a job. The White House may suspend their aid if the Egyptians do not release Morsi or leave the door open for the Brotherhood to pursue its own extreme Islamic agenda in the name of democracy.

The other alternative for Egypt if America withdraws its aid is the Saudi Arabian aid money, paid on the condition that the Egyptian government aligns itself with the Saudi Arabian norm, that is, the dominance of Islam at the cost of all beliefs, human rights and freedom.

We see how Egyptians are, and will continue to be, subject to the pressures of foreign powers, and none of these aids will help them to reach democracy and freedom.

What is the solution? Is there any alternative that can help Egyptians to protect themselves against such threats and pressures, and establish a democracy that can enable them peace as a nation?

Yes. Egyptians need to search and discover the root of the problem in their own country, culture and beliefs first. They need to examine their country’s current principles in the context of the world and courageously choose the best values of life and leadership and make them their own. Social and political justice will not be established in a society unless individuals open themselves to the truth, stand for it with the utmost desire, courage, sacrifice and conviction, and thereby resist the strongholds in their own culture and beliefs. Egyptians need twice the courage in this regard since their country is economically dependent on others and lacks an honest leadership. Egyptians need creative and participative leadership principles that value their human dignity, rights, freedom, and raise up humble leaders who can serve their nation sacrificially. This is a long term and the only solution if Egyptians aim to sacrifice and attain it.

It is hard to believe that the centralized Islamic leadership styles in Egypt can change overnight since there is no room for a democratic leadership model in the Islamic Middle-East and since leaders are culturally compelled to honor Islam. If Ataturk’s mighty army was not able to establish freedom in Turkey, if the American Army was not able to establish democracy in Iraq and if the United Nations’ Army was not able to release Afghanistan from the tyranny of Islamic leadership, no one, therefore, will be able to establish freedom in Egypt alongside the dominance of Islamic leadership unless Egyptians open themselves to the leadership values of Christ:

You know that the rulers of the nations exercise dominion over them, and they who are great exercise authority over them. However, it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be chief among you, let him be your servant. (Matthew 20:25-27MKJV) 

There was Islamic oppression in the time of nationalistic president Hosni Mubarak and he lost, and it worsened in the time of Islamist president Morsi who was also overturned. Add to this the ongoing clashes between nationalistic and Islamic leaderships, which only exacerbate the problem. The Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist groups will never give up and will always be ready to fight all other groups and even put their lives aside for the establishment of a despotic Islamic theocracy.

I recall my own experiences before and after the 1979 Revolution in Iran, where the Islamic leadership, both the nominal Islamic leadership of Shah and the hardline Islamic leadership of Khomeini, shut the door to freedom. Egyptians will face similar sorts of problems if they rely on Islamic ethics for the establishment of democracy. What needs to be understood is that it is not the power of the people or army that enables democracy, rather fundamental changes in their culture and beliefs. Even the most powerful army cannot lead a nation to democracy if the people’s beliefs are not compatible with the values of democracy.

Turkey is a great example of this mismatch. For nearly 80 years, the Turkish army had the responsibility of protecting the Kemalist Ideology (a secular democratic state policy). In one instance, a Prime Minister was sentenced to death for his plot to make Turkey a theocratic state and in another instance a Prime Minister was forced to step down for a similar reason. Now, the army has lost its power to an Islamist Prime Minister who subtly influenced and disarmed the army of its power. We have been witnessing how the present Prime Minister, Erdogan, has modified policies, placed influential army generals in prison and paved the way for the establishment of a theocratic Turkey in the future. This is because the nation has always been ready for an Islamic theocracy since Islam is actively present in the life of the majority, and politics and religion are interwoven in Islam. The centralized leadership culture of Islam has the door wide open for the rise of Islamic authoritarianism. In a similar way, the door of democracy will not be open in Egypt unless Egyptians close the door of their hearts to Islam and to its sectarian leadership style, and instead open themselves to the freedom promoting Judeo-Christian values of which the West prospered in every aspect.

Many Iranians have been suffering for thirty years due to the Islamic leadership in Iran. They protested the dictatorship of the Shah and tried to reach democracy under the leadership of Khomeini. After a year, they realized that even the dictatorship of the Shah was far better than the theocracy of Khomeini. However, it was too late for them to solve the problem since the religious army had established itself with power and no longer was there a place for criticism. Then the majority chose to stay quiet; some aligned themselves with the victorious theocrats, and the remaining opponents were imprisoned, killed or escaped. Ever since the rise of Khomeini, life in Iran has continually worsened. Now many, after years of deep dissatisfaction, see the root of all problems in their religion, Islam. They experience everything of Islam but do not see any progress. They are now waking up and opening their hearts to Christ.

Egyptians are also going to experience hardship, though in a slightly different manner, since Islamic culture is the dominant culture in Egypt. Today, there are many Egyptians who are celebrating over the collapse of Morsi’s theocracy and yearning for freedom, but sooner or later their voices will rise again, because many of their expectations will not be met for above reasons.

There is a great responsibility on our shoulders as the follower of Jesus Christ, who gave His life for the Egyptian too, to wake them up so that they do not follow Iran’s or Turkey’s paths. Our question to our fellow followers of Christ throughout the world is this; are we willing to help the Egyptians and reveal the truth to them in any possible way and through any available channel so that they do not experience the hardship Iranians and Turks have been experiencing? Are we ready to show the same courage shown by Iranian and non-Iranian Christians, who have been working faithfully for decades to open the eyes of many to the values of Islam in the light of Christ? Today, Iran is the number one country among all Muslim nations for the total number who have come to Christ. These Christians will never give up until Iran falls into the hand of Jesus Christ and is rid of tyranny.

Egypt is awaiting our help.

Licensed to Criticize, but Never Tolerate Criticism

Often, I encounter an atheist or a Muslim leader from a local neighborhood come to my host church and tell its pastors and elders that I shouldn't have been given the chance to speak, as my sharing about their beliefs may provoke Christians to hate them. This was despite my emphasis on the teaching of the Gospel of Christ which ranks hatred as a sin and commands loving unconditionally. Hatred does not work in the mission of Christ, who gave His life for all, regardless of religious or political affiliation. On the other hand, if I believed in and promoted hatred, why would I leave Islam and limit myself with the teachings of Christ who promoted love and peace?

It is astonishing that the number one enemy for the leftists and number two for Islamists, after Jews and Judaism, is Christianity. Contemporary atheism began with demonizing Christianity as “the opium of the world” and as something that serves Capitalism for exploiting the rights of the working class. It is virtually impossible for them to give Christianity a rest in their daily criticism, so innately  is it linked with its roots as a reaction against it. It is the same for Islamists. Not only does Quranic text speak evil of Christianity, their daily prayers condemn it daily. History has proven that no other belief has created more hatred against Christianity and sanctioned the slaughter of million of Christians other than the beliefs of atheists and Islamists. It is those who embrace such ideologies that are now advising the churches in the West to avoid any discussion or criticism of their beliefs as it may cause hatred! Further, they accuse their critics of hatred, racism and fascism. Isn’t it something? Especially considering the absolute intolerance of churches within areas where such these ideologies hold power.

A few years ago, Pope Benedict recently mentioned another’s criticism against Islam in one of his lectures, but Islamists were not able to tolerate it and therefore burnt several churches and killed Christians, blaming the Pope’s for their own atrocities. ‘If the Pope did not speak ill about Islam, Muslims would not be hostile’, was the logic behind their hostilities. They themselves hate, terrorize, and teach their followers to outrageously ignore and breach the rights of others, but would never tolerate if someone disfavors their beliefs or condemns their attitudes. It is an ideological principle that compels them to blame their critics with evil words and deeds, creating poisonous arguments and clashes, raising up their voices in a bid to receive more attention and pave the way for their own despotism through fear.

Their beliefs have deified the rights of their own followers over the rights of others and licensed them to hate and criticize, yet also fight against the criticism or disapproval of others. But others must keep silent. Islamists have the right to rape Christian girls in Egypt and Pakistan in the name of Islam, but if a Christian boy falls in love with a Muslim girl, the entire Christian community will be under attack. Similar attitudes have been occurring in most of our universities in the West, where there is 100% freedom to belittle Christianity and Christians, but zero tolerance towards those who uncover their irrational and impractical theories and philosophies.

Such “criticism equals hate” mentality hinders creative, open and critical thinking and prevents hearing those who tirelessly work to protect freedom and reciprocal respect. And what is the key ingredient to its success? Ignorance. For this reason, they recognize the great necessity of using every means possible to keep others oblivious, thus ensuring their success. Ayatollah Khomeini used the same game card, as did Lenin and Mao Zedong, establishing their totalitarian regimes and shedding the blood of millions, including those who once trusted them, even going to far as the kill family members who opposed.

Blame games always go hand in hand with ignorance. That’s why the utmost effort of our contemporary leftists and Islamists is to keep our nations uninformed. Now, since people are unaware and thereby unable to challenge them for their irrational accusations, they have gone so far as to blame their critics with terrorism. I have been accused numerous times of terrorism for uncovering beliefs that are an insult to sanity. It amazes me that doctrinal discussions are equated with terrorism when done by those who oppose their ideologies.

This one-way ethic is not only dangerous for Christians but it has also paralyzed the nations who are ruled by Islamists and leftists. There is, therefore, a duty on our shoulders to act as the light and salt of Christ, reveal the dangers of such ethics and call people to follow and experience the Christ who paid a great price for establishing a fair ethic based on mutual love, care and respect.

What We Do Now Will Resonate in Forthcoming Years

We are constantly faced with two life-transforming decisions: to remain silent towards those who seek to destroy our freedom in Christ, or to take a stand for our liberty in Christ, no matter the cost. The choice we make will determine not only our individual paths, but our cultural future.

Every day in the West, famous university professors, newspapers, magazines, organizations, radios and television stations paint our faith in Christ as evil and dangerous, while siding with Islam and Islamists. They believe they are on the right side of the war and must unite with every force they can in the battle against evil evangelical Christians. It is very concerning when armies seek counsel from extreme leftists who call evangelical Christianity evil and monstrous, in an effort to set policies about religion, a kind of secret coup d'etat to oppress Christian soldiers and officers! One very clear example can be found here: http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/39370-religious-freedom-not-served-by-bigot-consulting-for-the-pentagon.

This is happening to Christians in the West in a time when no one in governmental organizations dares to speak such evil things about Islam or Islamists, for fear of losing their jobs and other losses. Beyond this, even the president of America has stepped in, as usual, labeling it “Islamophobic” and apologizing to the Muslim world for such thoughtless words spoken about the so-called peace loving religion, Islam.

It is amazing that these opponents of evangelical Christianity are using the same tactic Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, used against Christians in order to prepare his followers to attack Christians and their interests worldwide:

They say: "God has begotten a son!" Indeed you have put forth a thing most monstrous! At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin. That they should invoke a son for God. (Q.19:88-91)

Marrying little girls (Q.65:4), beating wives (Q:4:34), disregarding the guardianship of fathers (Q.9:23) are not monstrous and disastrous in Islam, but believing Jesus to be the Son of God is! Similarly, killing unborn babies is not disastrous for abortionists in the West but defending their right to lives is. You can see why the adversaries of Christianity prefer Islamists over evangelical Christians, and logic over baseless accusation. They haven’t even attempted to learn/see the logic behind Christian beliefs. They blindly open the door wide for Islamists, formulating excuses for their acts of atrocity so that these Muslims can establish themselves even more strongly against Christians. They are so brainwashed by their philosophies, unaware of their own future and the reality that, if these Muslims take over, they will kill their ungodly counterparts earlier than evangelical Christians, as it is an Islamic policy to kill insider opponents first. Ignorance has quite possibly been with these adversaries right from primary school to university, thus making it difficult for them to see the superior values of life and make it their own. The only thing these dogmatists know now is that Islamists’ strategy works best against Christianity since many Christians do not want to take courage in Christ (John 16:33). Islam calls Christians monstrous, while offering Muslim “victims” ways to penetrate, dominate and slaughter. Additionally, in today’s Western cultures, the same trend is building: Many are calling themselves victims of the Bible’s teachings about the significance of moral values, marriage, life (including the life of unborn babies), modest leadership, equal rights and opportunity, etc. They have therefore planned to penetrate offices, demonize and weaken the defenders of the Bible through their subtle strategies and get themselves established stronger in order to increase their oppressions over evangelical Christians until every sign of so-called evil Christianity is wiped out in each society. On the surface, they confess to hold a reverence for diversity in order to make people feel good, but their actions deny the rights of Christians, the very people who established a prosperous and free West. This is a dangerous signal to the West. The end of Western freedom will come if people in significant roles continue to deny the rights of the followers of Christ.

Wow! How could the West be brought to such a point when many of our fellow citizens prefer blood thirsty Islamists over evangelical Christians whose central belief and preference is to love others as themselves? (Matthew 22:39) Isn’t it shocking that these people love to ignore the Islamic terrorism, which is happening everywhere, and even justify it, but call the life-giving values of Christ monstrous? Shouldn’t these hostilities compel us to deep thinking and challenge us to act like the children of light, revealing the schemes of the darkness?

“Do we really need to do something, since God is in control and these things are also expected to happen?” was the question a friend raised in our conversation a few years ago. I started my response by giving an example: “Suppose God is in control, oppositions are in power and the world is also going to end tomorrow. But today a big flood comes and takes your child. She screams and calls for help. What will you do? Do you ignore her call since there will only be one day left to the end of time, or do you rush to help her even though the life on earth is going to be very short?” The conversation became very fruitful as it developed clarity and shed light on the truth that God has sent us as His ambassadors to represent Him among people without fear, to work faithfully in revealing His truth, and to care for our families and societies through every moment of our life, even though God is in control and life is also short.

We were able to see the greatest advantage of our era that many people loved to attach themselves to the truth, in one way or the other, and stand for it. Such a thirst for truth can open a door for a creative dialogue with people in an effort to help them discover what truth is. There were also disadvantages, such as self-centeredness, confusion among ideologies, and the indifference in people who did not see a need for reading the chapters of each other’s lives in order to see what is right or wrong in the context of the world. The most disappointing part of our conversation was about many Christians who were influenced by political correctness, keeping quiet because of fear from oppositions’ hostile reaction without knowing that fear is the gate way of victory for the enemy. Opponents will never win without frightening people. Sadly, many Christians feel nervous to talk about the values of Christ, fearing to hurt people’s feelings or face oppositions.

We owe a duty to God, who has sent us. We are called to devote ourselves wholeheartedly to His causes no matter how short or lengthy, easy or hard life may be. If we do not take our God-given duty seriously, but keep silent and thereby give a green light to the enemy, not only will we not be God’s desired ambassadors but we’ll also be the cause of suffering since we avoid challenging the enemy. It is therefore vital for us to speak out the truth of Christ and act in harmony with His words:

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b)

Nothing should pacify us towards the Commandments of our loving and mighty Leader, Jesus. Most of our contemporary opponents and governments want us to worship them but withdraw from worshipping Christ. The fact is, the liberty we have is given to us by Christ and other forces do not have the right to take it away from us since they haven’t given it to us; we too should not give our rights in Christ over to them.

Consequences of a False Unity

Some of us Christians are too captivated by the contemporary democracy and are unaware or do not want to be aware that the word ‘democracy’ is a dynamic word and can be led by either freedom or self-centeredness. For this reason, the democracy of our present day is different to the democracy of 20 or 30 years ago; the democracy of multi-culturalism is different to the democracy of one culture, so as the democracy of a party  to the democracy of another one. There is also a democracy that can bring us to our knees at the altar of a capricious philosophy, pushing us to compromise our faith in Christ. For this reason, we need to know what kind of democracy we have now, where it is going to take us and what urgent things we need to do in order to get back our freedom. Democracy can lead us to either freedom or despotism, depending on the beliefs of leaders who rule over us.

The leading relativists in our societies have been trying to change the meaning of democracy in order to suit their desires and beliefs. If we look at the relational changes that have occurred in the last decades in the West, we will be able to figure out how the adversaries of Christ grew stronger and became extraordinarily intolerant and offensive towards the followers of Christ. Their foremost method in penetrating offices and strengthening their presence was to promote indifference, silence, compromise and passivity among Christians with the excuse of democracy. It is astonishing to see the level of successes they have made and the percentage of Christians’ votes they have been receiving. The fantasy of these leaders is welcomed as a reality by many Christians. There are Christians who defend these people with the utmost zeal. I have received aggressive comments from some Christians concerning my criticism about some politicians who are advocates of socialism, abortion, same-sex-marriage and radical Muslims. What a brave harmony these Christians have with the politically correct and ungodly politicians! This is happening in a time in the West when many Christians are suffering or losing their jobs because of their strong stance in Christ. Look at just one: http://townhall.com/columnists/mattbarber/2013/04/15/religious-freedom--gay-marriage-cannot-coexist-n1567556/page/full/

The reality is that there can be no unity between godly and ungodly people, unless the unity offered by ungodly people is one with ulterior motives. But, if the unity is false, then there is a secret doctrine behind it. A secret doctrine can only be in the service of a person or a certain group of people who disregard the rights of others. It cannot be in the service of all. The Gospel sees this secret scheme as a preparation for the rise of the anti-Christ (2Thessalonians 2:7). He is the master of secret ideas and false unity with the purpose of destroying the Church. Satan cannot enter and destroy the church unless he makes some Christian friends who are not equipped with the truth and the breath of God but are ready to turn their ears to myths (2Thimothy 4:3-4).

The false unity between these Christians and adversaries of Christ has been and will be very costly to the followers of Christ and to everyone else in our families and societies. It is this false unity that has increased ignorance, forcefulness, and is aiming at violence; the same routine history has repeatedly witnessed in the establishment of dictatorships, from outset to completion. These confused Christians are calling it a genuine unity. A genuine unity must create reciprocal attitudes and shared visions. Is this what we see in our schools and universities? Absolutely not. Are Christians able to teach about Creation similar to what evolutionists have been doing in universities and schools about evolution? No.

The endeavor of the opponents of Christ in creating such a false unity was to prepare the ground and sow the seed of authoritarianism for the rise of an immodest leadership, contrary to the modest leadership of Jesus Christ, in order to progressively rule out Christian values. Even some of them called themselves Christians so that they could penetrate and gain Christians’ favor, but their Christianity later proved to be for the establishment of their ideologies, not for the creation of real harmony.  

The second important step the opponents of Christ took were their political support for each other in order to gain power. In some ways, their doctrines are incompatible with each other, but since Christianity was seen as the major enemy they therefore decided to justify their differences (‘the end justifies the means’), unite and earn the majority votes. In this way, they were able to establish laws for the purpose of limiting the Gospel teachings and practices, and for tyrannizing their opposition against the true followers of Christ. They were aware that the most powerful way to marginalize the values of Christ in a democratic environment was to penetrate and change the characteristics of democracy, from a democracy that protects the rights of everybody to a democracy that only protects the rights of those who rule or whose voices are louder. They succeeded. Now, we have a democracy that is tolerant to everything but Christianity. Churches and Christians are daily forced to give up teachings that contradict their new established anti-Christian laws.

Now the voice of false unity is louder and the anti-Christian laws are established. Only the enemies of God have full rights to talk about God and Christianity. Our children are now learning from them in schools that God has gone too far in giving absolute moral values to families and communities; Christianity is seen as a chauvinistic religion since it introduces Jesus as the only Way. If a student stands up against this, s/he can be suspended or expelled. With their invasive attitudes, they have spread fear everywhere and people are afraid to stand up; all they do is step back. After a while, the silence will shadow over people everywhere, and the West will be exactly what Egypt or Iran or communist countries are now; the violent storms against Christians are everywhere.

If we do not stand up, the enemies of Christ will never give up. They will continue their teachings and restrictions until many more Christians and churches, intentionally or unintentionally, enslave themselves to the norms of these oppositions and accept everything they say or do. As abortion, homosexual marriage and unity with radical Muslims are now ok, all the coming unethical models will also be ok all under the guise of democracy, a good excuse to legitimize every evil.

Surely, many westerners will be horrified if they hear about a child-sacrifice that is offered to please a god or a goddess in India. But none of them will blink an eye over the slaughter of hundreds of thousands babies who rest in their mothers’ wombs and like all of us have the right to come to this world and make a history. Why? Because these killings in the West are done through a higher technology and in the name of democracy for the will of their mothers, but those in India are apparently nothing to do with democracy!

See how deception has penetrated into every aspect of our lives, made us self-centered, and led us to call chaos democracy! We would not be able to call this anarchy a democracy unless we lost our freedom in Christ. True democracy should stand for the rights of everybody, including the rights of unborn babies who deserve to be protected from the threat of those who do not own their lives but desire to impose their will on them.

These are the standards offered by the enemies of Christ to those who compromise their faith. They transfer us from loving beings to self-centered-aggressive-killers if we say yes to their standards. Therefore, it is vital for us to take the advice of Jesus seriously:

Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15MKJV)

Let us Christians present our sincere gratitude to Jesus who revealed the true means for the establishment of a true unity and instructed us to know the doctrines of people before putting any confidence in them or uniting with them. And let us fulfill the command of the Gospel that says:

Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6: 11-18MKJV)

Liberty Ensures No Dictators

The words “liberty” or “freedom” are two much abused words today. Even our contemporary dictators call themselves freedom defenders in order to deceive international communities and pacify their own people. Part of their deception is to have their own people turn a blind eye to all failures, twist the truth and talk positively about their leaders. Their masked mobs will always be on alert to invade those who dare speak the truth.

For the past 30 years the Islamic Republic of Iran has been saying that the Sharia (law) of Islam has resulted in true freedom in Iran and that Iranians had never tasted true freedom in the entire history of Iran compared to what the 1979 Revolution has brought about. However, that so-called freedom-loving government has tortured, slaughtered and forced to flee hundreds of thousands of its own citizens who cried for freedom in the span of the last three decades. Oppositions were called ignorant, blinded by the external enemies (such as America or Israel), and incapable of seeing the freedom sourced by the Islamic Sharia. Leaders in Iran have been continually calling themselves freedom lovers but forcing people to surrender to their own way of life that is not compatible with freedom. To them, and for Islam, people are not capable enough to think and decide for their own best interests, thus unable of acting freely. The Quran forbids freedom:

…Accept anything the messenger may give you, and keep away from anything he withholds from you… (Q.59:7)

It is not for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and his apostle to have any option about their decision: If any one disobeys Allah and his apostle, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path. (Q.33:36)

When power qualifies a person or a group to possess every right, it is then obvious that others will only be assigned to carry out duties blindly and avoid asking question. For this reason, the word “why” and the concept of a questioning dialogue are both missing in the Islamic vocabulary. A Muslim leader is free to question everything or anybody he likes, but no one is able to question him. Diversity of thought is a sign of invasion for him and must be fought from the outset. While everybody is expected to be subject to him, he is not accountable to his followers. Here is how the Sharia of Islam affects Islamic families and societies: At the family level, power is centralized in the father or husband; at the state level, in the governor; at the country and international level, in the government (caliphate) in order to dictate their unchangeable orders over their communities. People have to shape themselves wholly in a religious system as slaves in order to accept everything that comes from the mouth of a leader. This is the definition of “freedom” in Islam, giving birth to dictatorship and freeing a dictator to take his people as hostages.

The exercise of superiority over others by a person or a group of people is an ungodly and inhumane method according to the leadership philosophy of Jesus Christ which is founded on justice, servant-hood, meekness, modesty, and unconditional love. For this reason, Jesus says:

You know that the rulers of the nations exercise dominion over them, and they who are great exercise authority over them. However, it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be chief among you, let him be your servant. (Matthew 20:25-27MKJV)

Nothing creates more disruption among people than the desire for power by an individual(s) whose aim is dominance, whereby threatening democracy. A great leader does not thirst for power but shows earnest desire for exercising humility toward others, be they friend or opposition. Such a leader believes that nothing in him can make him greater than those whose presence and consent made him a leader. Since leadership is inherent in life and relationships, Jesus warns His followers and asks them to appoint leaders whose aim is not accumulating power to dominate over others but being in the service of others:

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:11 MKJV)

In a similar way, a husband or father is not a lord and tyrant over his household according to Jesus, but a wise and friendly servant whose job is to be in the service of his family:

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? (Matthew 24:45 MKJV)

No belief or ideology in the world has been able to offer a more caring and friendly leadership than what Jesus has left for humanity. In Jesus’ leadership, relationships are based on unconditional love so that every wall of separation is destroyed, the rights of everyone are preserved, and people can therefore function as members of one body in their communities.

It was the effect of Jesus Christ’s values that helped the western communities to prosper in every aspect of life, including leadership. It is sad that many people in the contemporary West have forgotten their past and turned their backs on Christ and are, intentionally or unintentionally, pushing their societies toward dictatorship. Some democratically elected governments are trying to accumulate more power under the influence of socialism, secular humanism, or environmentalism in order to push the values of Christ back and give weight to man’s power all in the name of defense for liberty.

Liberty is a God-given identity for individuals whereby they can come together in order to build free societies, establish governments to be in their service, and pave the way for them to protect their God-given autonomy. A government with a centralized power and without the active participation of its people will not be able to tolerate the people’s autonomy and liberty. The God-given liberty and autonomy are fragile because of their humble nature and therefore unable to go along with dictatorship or governments with centralized power. As a result, they must be safeguarded. The endeavors of great western men and women over the centuries have proven the truthfulness and necessity of such protection. It is therefore essential for us to wake up our societies to acknowledge that true liberty can flourish in every aspect of life if Jesus is accepted as the true spiritual leader and giver of life, and that vigilance and virtue are needed to preserve our liberty.

Real Champions Needed

What the world needs now are everyday champions. It has proven to be powerless to rescue itself from ongoing wars, bloodshed, hatred, ignorance, intolerance, poverty, and all other destructive instruments which diminish peoples’ freedom, rights, and lives. Under the guise of the world’s new agenda of anything goes, even the ideologies that sanction intolerance, persecution, torture or terrorism are being established as legitimate. People who are oppressed by tyrannical regimes have watched their ambassadors become the lawmakers for the world and even become members of the Human Rights Commission in the United Nations. Dictatorship is now accepted as inevitable and dictators do not need to abandon their cruelty anymore since everything is accepted as “right” by the politically correct politicians and intellectuals in the Western world.

The promise of postmodernism to solve the world’s problem was nothing but a hallucination. Many who trusted the voice of postmodernism and paved the ground for its victory may have considered themselves champions of the world. Nonetheless, their championship didn’t create anything but relativism and political correctness which popularize ignorance and indifference, and further strip people of their responsibility in their relationship with each other. Now the power of political correctness (corruption) is dispersed everywhere like venom, leading mankind into segregation and making it unable to find sufficient means by which to take initiatives for unity.

Is there any hope?

The hope lies in people who yearn for unity, roll up their sleeves, and give themselves up to hard sacrificial work for the sake of all people everywhere. This can only be achieved by those who seek the heart of Christ and are steadfast despite all hardship. Without Christ our own interests become the center of our actions which can create negligence toward others or turn out to be extremely damaging. It was because of this self-centered approach that many leaders who called themselves public servants became dictators after seizing power.

But the attitude of Christ is different. He cared for others, friend or foe, beginning to the end, eventually giving up His life for all:  

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:17)

Many of His contemporary Jewish scribes who had turned away from the heart of the Scriptures believed that their foes deserved to die, but Jesus corrected them by revealing the heart of God that they needed to love others as themselves (Matthew 22:39). He left the most inspirational standard of morality for humanity to change the world, including enemies:

Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)

In other words, regard your enemies with godly favor so that it may humble them and make them compassionate toward others. Prove to them that your heart is established on the absolute love of God and you cannot hate them. Bless them and help them to understand that a true follower of Christ may hate their attitudes but not their person because it carries the image of God who cares for the salvation of all, including His enemies. For God, it is wonderful when enemies leave their pride and hostility to love others as their own bodies.

It is far more amazing to look at the sacrificial Spirit of Christ socially and culturally which led Him to leave the door of salvation open even to a cruel person, so that s/he may not perish but rather become new in heart and mind in order to value others as God’s precious creatures and have peace with them. Because of His zeal for peace and reconciliation, God chose a fatherly approach to humanity through Jesus and left the door wide open to them for a supreme quality of social life that can extend into eternity as described in these words. For this reason, He is called The Father and gave a great price for the salvation of humanity:

For it pleased the Father that in Him [Jesus] all fullness should dwell. And through Him having made peace through the blood of His cross, it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself through Him, whether the things on earth or the things in Heaven.  And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish, and without charge in His sight. (Colossians 1:19-22)

What the world needs now are everyday champions who follow the model of Christ in order to lead people--friends and foes--to reconciliation with God and with one another. True champions live in Christ and have given themselves--mind, body and soul--to Him who loved the world so much that He gave His life for it. Therefore, let us prove by our actions, time and resources that we are true champions and care for the salvation and unity of people.

Champions of Human Rights and Equality!?

There are people who have been sacrificially rolling up their sleeves and working hard to protect our freedom and rights. They believe that freedom of speech and belief cherishes individual rights, creates openness in our societies and promotes the creativity to search for better values in order to prosper in every aspect of life.  We do not expect tyrannical leaders or governments throughout the world to champion those who fight for human rights, freedom or equality. Sadly, and surprisingly, many western leaders and politicians also reflect this, giving way to those whose voices are more powerful, disregarding their lifestyles and values.

Why? On one hand, the followers of ideological authoritarianism have penetrated many offices and silenced their opposition in various ways. On the other hand, political correctness has conquered many places, established itself, distorted the vision of many and has made them unable to see who the real care-takers of their societies are.

Political correctness has closed the eyes of people to fairness and the nobility of Christian values, seeing the increase in injustice and ungodliness in the West. The West is sadly following a similar foot-step as that which the Soviet Union took a century ago. Anti-Christian agendas or Marxism was taken the key for the success of its people and it accordingly demonized and crushed those who saw success in a biblical lifestyle. This ideological misstep took all the nations under the Soviet Union downfall for seven decades until it was proved wrong, and collapsed. The ideological inconsistencies of the West are chasing a similar pathway, yet only few people are able to anticipate the future downfall of their societies should this lifestyle continue.

Our societies are ready to award Muhammad but not Christ, Yasser Arafat but not Billy Graham. The Gospel of Christ tells us that:

There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

But the Quran expresses that women are inferior to their husbands (Q.2:228), two females’ witness is equal to one man’s witness (Q.2:282); husbands can beat their wives (Q.4:34); non-Muslims are animals or unclean (Q.5:60; 9:28), and Muslims are better than non-Muslims (Q.3:110).

Billy Graham has been a committed follower of Christ and His Gospel for decades, and has touched the hearts of millions with the Message of Peace. Yasser Arafat, a committed follower of Muhammad and his Quran, was involved with high jacking airplanes, killing and terrorism for decades. Both these men were known to politicians and leaders world-wide. Guess which one was named a champion of peace and awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize? Yes, it was Yasser Arafat!

How could people who call themselves intellectuals, ignore logic and prize a violent man as a peaceful man? What kind of philosophy gives more value to a hostile man than a peace-loving one?

Those who prized Yasser Arafat and call the terrorist leaders of Hamas freedom fighters, credit themselves with open-mindedness while their opponents are labeled close-minded and intolerant. They use the words ‘tolerant or open-mindedness’, yet they are just imaginary words, aloof and irrelevant to their relative and random beliefs that do not possess a standard for openness and tolerance. In a similar way, they speak about responsibility, but responsibility flies out the window and becomes irrelevant when it does not match their personal interests or philosophy. This is because responsibility in not intrinsic in their arbitrary beliefs and lifestyle. That is why traditional marriages, strong family bonds, or love for unborn children, are all less relevant in their chosen lifestyle since each necessitates great responsibilities. They only use the word ‘responsibility’ for the sake of those who do not know the deeper layers of their doctrines and are therefore prone to their deception. These elegant words show them as truthful, enhance their propaganda and thereby the number of their voters in order to win and rule.

Speaking in favor of freedom in the West has increased tremendously among leading powers and intellectuals in our contemporary era than any other century prior. However, the practice of negligence of others’ rights has also been more widespread among these groups. For instance, no teacher or scholar can teach Creationism in schools or universities in the West anymore. Damning Christianity is well received, or treated with indifference, but criticizing Communism or Islam is costly and you may lose your job or be taken to court if you do not keep quiet. You can speak positively about every other belief but seldom about Christian values. While zealous Christians are dealt with as strangers in universities, the representatives of the terrorist group Hamas, or Iran’s terrorist supporting president, are given opportunities to speak in American universities about whatever they wish.

The so-called champions of freedom and equality play every game card of human rights, freedom, unity or equality in order to deceive and gain more followers for the establishment of their own authoritarianism, as authoritarianism is the key of success for them. They do not believe in or understand the value of human freedom and rights, since their evolutionary doctrine is not compatible with freedom of choice. With their elegant words they draw people’s attention, luring them to embrace their plans so that they can promote their agendas. No matter how beautifully they speak, their main goal is to establish themselves as the sole authorities at the cost of all opposition. Their attitudes in universities, schools and work-places have proven that they are dictatorial and eager to silence those who do not conform to their way of thinking, but stand firm in their defense for the truth.

Let us pray that churches and Christians are not afraid of the wide-spread political correctness and do not withdraw when attacked, but instead become the voice of the true Champion, Jesus Christ, who fought against discrimination and hostility that threatened reconciliation. Only under His leadership will we be able to cure the unpleasant disunity in our societies and promote the peace of Christ. As the Gospel states:

But now in Christ Jesus you who were once afar off are made near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, He making us both one, and He has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity (the Law of commandments contained in ordinances) so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, making peace between them; and so that He might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity in Himself.  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom every building having been fitly framed together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:13-22).