Saturday, January 26, 2019

Don't Forget Syria

While our attention has been placed of MAGA hats, and young white boy "confronting" a man of questionable character, and the government shut down it is easy to forget the number of Christians who are still being persecuted by Muslims in Syria.

On several occasions, I have voiced my feelings about the US government involvement in Syria.  I was pleased to hear that President Trump was pulling out of Syria.  The regime change policy of the past administration has not worked to the advantage of the citizens of the countries we have invaded. 

On July 2. 2013, I wrote an open letter to the Christians in Syria here is an excerpt from that letter:

I am ashamed of my country’s leaders and the total disregard they have for the human rights of Christians around the world.  In over 40 nations Christians are being persecuted because of their faith.  Men, women, and children are imprisoned, driven from their homes and murdered.  These people are not criminals but Christians--who for their faith in Jesus Christ are made to suffer unjustly.  What makes this worse is that the American government gives aid and support to many of these nations without protecting the human rights of Christians-- your country is one of those made to suffer.
Why is American fighting Christians in Syria? Because America has turned against God, God no longer blesses America.  What has happened to America is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, “... .although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
The world has turned Topsy-turvy, I am ashamed that lawmakers in Russia are concerned about Christians in Syria and American lawmakers are supporting the jihadist.  Russian lawmakers have been working with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on a report aimed to bring an end to the violence in Syria.  They say, “We, parliamentarians, are very concerned about the development of the crisis in Syria, which is turning into an ethnic and religious conflict. Crimes against representatives of religious minorities have recently become frequent in Syria, and that poses a threat to Christian minorities not only in Syria but also in the Middle-East in general.” I trust their efforts will come quickly to end the war on Christians in Syria.

For years the American Christian has viewed themselves as the supporter of the Christian faith around the world.  We took pride in the fact we were a Christian nation founded upon the principles based on God’s Word.  All of that changed when the US government got into the regime changing business.  There was a total disregard for Christians living in the countries we invaded. 

When the US government got involved in Syria, there were Christians who thought America would give help from the invading rebels.  These Christians believed the US had the power to stop the conflict –if they wanted to.  Back in 2013 Syrian Christians were desperate to convince the US and its allies to stop supporting the rebel forces that were killing Christians.  Our government was so intent on replacing the Syrian government that they increased their support of the rebels that was killing Christians daily. 

The pray of the Syrian Christian was answered not from the “Great Defender of the Faith” America, but a nation the MSM, our government leaders, and religious leaders have despised—Russian.  Russian air power turned the tide, and Syrian government-aligned troops drove the rebels from the area.

Russian intervention on behalf of the Syrian Christians has pricked the conscience of many American evangelicals.  The prophecy experts were at a loss as to how to explain Russia was becoming a defender of the faith and America the persecutor of the righteous.  Russia was to be the end-time boogie man and America the great Deliverer.  Outside of the American MSM, the news that Russian troops are bringing peace to the region is difficult for American Christians to digest.

It is hard for American Christians to accept Putin as a supporter of Christians, yet it was the support of evangelicals that helped to give him the election to be Russia’s president.  Both Evangelicals and Orthodox support Russia’s efforts to protect Christians in the Middle East.  Many Christians outside of America don’t understand the actions and statements being made by American politicians who claim to be Christian.  The Syrian Christians know if it had not been for the intervention of Russia the Syrian Christians would not survive.

What is so confusing to the Russian Christians is the evil intent of the US government toward both Syria and Russia.  Many Russian Christians view the US as their enemy while many American Christian sees Russian as the enemy.  It is not hard to understand the confusion.  While Russia is trying to stop the spread of Islam to keep it from spilling over into their country the US government is supporting the Muslim terrorist and allowing them in the US.

American Christians who are a strong supporter of Israel cannot view Russian as a “defender of the faith” because that will not fit their worldview on prophecy.  For years the American Christian has been taught that Russia will invade Israel before the return of the LORD.  If Russia is viewed as a supporter of Christians, it shatters years of prophetic teaching of the end-times.

Can you imagine the power Christians would have all over the world if they only united in the cause of Christ and not the politics of those who wish to bring about destruction and world domination?
My prayers and support are for the Christians who are paying the ultimate price for their beliefs.  May the LORD protect you and may you find peace and May God forgive America for her crimes against the followers of Jesus Christ in Syria.