On Sunday, April 9th, 2017, tragedy struck the beautiful nation of Egypt. More than forty Coptic Orthodox Christians were martyred in the middle of their Palm Sunday services, and more than one hundred more were injured when ISIS waged genocidal attacks on two separate churches. Targeted at the frequently persecuted Christian minority of the nation, one bomb was distinctly placed under a seat in St. George's Church in the city of Tanta, subsequently a suicide bomber struck St. Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria. Let us not also forget the bombing that happened in a Cairo church only months ago in December. These attacks have led to a three-month-long state of emergency being implemented by the Egyptian government, and a mourning of Christians worldwide.
I won't let it go unsaid that these attacks strike a deeply personal note with me. While I am not a Coptic Orthodox Christian, I am a practicing follower of the Eastern Orthodox Church which bears innumerable similarities with the Coptic tradition. At the end of the day, despite slight doctrinal differences, we worship the same God. Despite differences in language, in dress, in hymn, these are my brothers and sisters, and I refuse to accept that they are anything less than.
Through my connection with other Orthodox Christians around the country and around the globe, I have had my eyes opened to the true atrocities and persecution that Christians are forced to face on a day to day basis. Some of my dearest friends make calls in the middle of the night to check on the health of their family left suffering in war-torn Syria. While I scroll through my Facebook feed, I read of friends whose Sunday school teacher was one of the many martyred in the attacks. For me, these aren't faceless victims in a far off land; these are warriors and servants enduring for Christ.
We are lucky to live where we do. We live in a country where we are given the liberty to worship freely, especially those of us who are Christian. As you wear your religion in the form of tee-shirts, coffee mugs, tattoos, and "God Bless America" bumperstickers, there are Christians lighting candles in secrecy. In tears I write this, my heart hurts because I bear on the back of my car a decal of an Orthodox cross bearing the letters IC XC NIKA, signifying the phrase "Jesus Christ Conquers". The only reason that I can do this is because we live in a nation where I am given the right worship a God of my own understanding. Imagine it was your church was bombed in this way. Seeing the pictures from Egypt bearing such similarity to my own place of worship, I know I can imagine the same thing happening to me. Do not take for granted the blessing of liberty.
In light of this, I want to urge two things. Firstly, exercise this right given to you to worship freely. If you are a Christian, live the Word in everything you do. Continue to treat each person you encounter as an icon of Christ; and if they are so willing, invite them to come and see the love of God in the church you are so lucky to be allowed to worship within. More importantly, advocate for and pray for those who do not have this blessing. Pray that the Lord will keep them safe under His watch. Secondly, understand that we live in a country where others are allowed to have different beliefs than you do. Be respectful of their beliefs. Understand that treating them as the enemies makes you no less hateful than those persecuting Christians worldwide.
Lord of the Powers be with us, for in times of distress we have no other help but You.
Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us.
Lord Have Mercy. Ya Rab Burham. Ep Chois Nai Nan.
