Category: Life in Christ

Please Pray for Syrian Christians – World Watch List #11

Persecuted Church in Syria – World Watch List #11 (Open Doors UK)

Syrian Orthodox Christians attend Easter Mass on April 15 in Damascus, Syria.
Syrian Orthodox Christians attend Easter Mass on April 15 in Damascus, Syria.

Leader: President Bashar al-Assad
Population: 21.1 million (1.7 million Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
World Watch List Rank: 11
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Before the civil war, although meetings were monitored, Christians were respected in society, but this is rapidly changing. Muslim-background believers face opposition from family and friends, and also now from foreign extremist fighters and mercenaries.

Previously, Christians were persecuted for supporting the government, or not taking sides. Now a clear religious motive has been added by the influx of these foreign radicals. Many Christians have been abducted, physically harmed and killed, churches damaged or destroyed, and tens of thousands of Christians have fled.

Please Pray:

  • For Christians who’ve had to flee their homes
  • For the emergency relief and trauma counselling that Open Doors is able to offer
  • Give thanks that, despite the challenges, the Syrian church is reaching out to others.

Persecution dynamics

Syrian-ChristiansViolence and protests against the government have lasted for almost two years, and the situation in Syria can best be described as extremely chaotic. The recognised church of Syria is not a hidden or secret church. It is respected in society, although every Christian meeting is monitored by the secret police. As long as Christians did not disturb communal harmony or pose a threat to the government, they were tolerated and had freedom of worship. However, this is rapidly changing.

damascus_syria_refugees_0907
The Silent Exodus of Syria’s Christians

During the second part of 2012, there was a clear increase in the number of foreign jihadists entering the country. We have received reports of many Christians being abducted, physically harmed and killed. Many churches have been damaged or destroyed. The central government is losing its grip on the situation and tens of thousands of Christians have fled the country.

Though it is hard to predict how events will unfold, a change of government is expected to lead to a situation of anarchy and struggle for power. If extremist Muslims obtain more power, they might seek revenge from the overall Christian silence and peaceful stand in the country. Should that happen, Christians will either be isolated or driven from the country en masse – a situation comparable to the one in Iraq.

Morning Reading: Luke 14:25-35 NLT – all in

Reading: Luke 14:25-35 NLT

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

poker all in“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I go all in for you. Amen.

Spiritual Songs: “Jesus All for Jesus” – Robin Mark (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 14.16-24 (NLT) – guest invitations

Reading: Luke 14.16-24 NLT

Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”

"The poor invited to the feast"jesusmafa (1973) Cameroon
“The poor invited to the feast”
Jesus MAFA (1973) Cameroon

Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’

“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – excuses, excuses, excuses… and you are having none of it. Help me to live each day with the end in mind – a banqueting table in the Kingdom of God. May I keep my eye on the prize… and be ready to drop everything when the invitation comes. To you be all honor and glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “The Kingdom of God” – Paul Baloche

Palm Sunday: Philippians 2:5-11 ESV – make yourself nothing

Reading: Philippians 2:5-11 ESV

made himself nothing
Erik Hall, “Immanuel”
Digital painting – Gicleé on canvas

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – you made yourself nothing so that we could become something… a holy people… a people belonging to God… a people who have received God’s mercy. As we approach this Holy Week of Passion, may we walk with you from the Mount of Olives to the Upper Room… on to Gethsemane and through the Court system… then along the Via Dolorosa to the Cross… and finally to the Empty Tomb. May we empty ourselves of all pride and privilege – even the basic instinct of self-preservation – and make ourselves nothing so that we might join the heavenly throng proclaiming “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Above All” – Lenny LeBlanc