SANTA ANA, Calif. (June 25, 2012) – The following two blogs are the latest of six blog accounts from a co-worker in Egypt about the chaotic situation there. The Sunday blog focuses on the confirmation over the weekend that Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi had officially won the presidential election. The blog today focuses on the possible mass fleeing of Christians from Egypt.
June 24
Dr. Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood party member, has won the elections and became officially the first president of Egypt after the revolution.
To talk about who may be winning before the result is announced is something, but to talk about it now is another thing.
Deep sadness and fear has shaken the hearts of many Egyptians, including many Christians as well, who have hoped to have a civil moderate president, not a fanatic Muslim one. The reactions vary from one group to another and from one person to another.
It might seem a bit strange to hear Muslim liberals speaking in anger and rejection against the winning of Morsi. However, it’s quite sad to hear the reactions of many Christians, who are, by now, very devastated, confused and feeling defeated.
I read comments on Facebook and receive telephone calls from Christian friends and family. Most are asking: Then what?
Standing back and watching all the roaring celebrations and fireworks that blasted in many squares in Egypt for the winning president, the question asked is hope and peace still possible for the Egyptian church? Can we put hope in the “sort of” reconciling, shallow speech that Morsi gave shortly after his confirmation as president – a speech he gave with a strong Islamic accent, using a language that showed him off as the new Muslim Khailef (head of Muslim state)? Can we count on the political wisdom of Morsi and his soon-to-be-appointed administration to get Egyptians together from every different ideologies, backgrounds and beliefs? How soon will we Christians see, live and suffer the consequences of having a Muslim Brotherhood president?
Neither I nor any other Christian in Egypt can answer any of those questions now. There are too many uncertainties. But the one great assurance remains in the fact that we love and follow a mighty loving God who has the ultimate authority to put presidents and kings in positions of authority or take them out. This Father is MY Father and He promised never to leave us or forsake us.
It is so devastating to live away from Him in times like these. God, indeed, is our refuge!
June 25: Christians Should Stay in Egypt and Let Their Light Shine
The question that is discussed the most today in Egypt among Christians is should we or should we not leave Egypt after Morsi was announced the new Islamist president of Egypt?
Obviously many Christians have left Egypt over the last 18 months, and if not yet, they are moving on with the process. The picture (of packages piled up for shipment in an otherwise empty room) I received is a true and genuine illustration from the apartment of the Christian couple Wagdi and Amany (not their real names), with their small baby Albert, who packed their stuff and have recently sent it out for a shipping company to move to Europe. This breaks my heart.
I do respect the decision every Christian individual or family has taken to leave the country. Obviously, they have their own reasons, and no one can blame them for such a move. Humanly speaking, it’s never a bad option to move to a new country hoping for a better future for you and your children in time when situation back home stays vague.
However, I believe these are very important and crucial moments and times in the history of the church in Egypt. Christians must stay back and shine the love of Christ to people who need to know Him. The need is much more urgent now than even for Christians to live, not just talk, and reflect the image of Jesus with His genuine redeeming love so hopeless and devastated nominal Christians or even Muslims can see the true life-changing Jesus in us.
As many political parties, religious groups or social organizations talk about their agendas and what they intend to do in Egypt under the reign of the new president, hidden intentions stay unknown. It’s hard to tell who really cares for the well-being of Egypt and who only cares for their own personal interests. This could even apply to Morsi himself.
Yet, Christians of Egypt will continue to be the only genuine group of people who pray and cry out to the Lord to show His goodness to Egypt and protect her from every evil. They will also be the only channel that God will use to bring His love to Egyptians, no matter who they are and what is their background. This is the love that NEVER fails.
Time to stay back and shine!
Publication date: June 25, 2012
