From My Perspective - - -

Events in the world today are unfolding at almost unprecedented speed. The demonstrations in the Middle East that has led to the change in government leadership is one example. However, when a vacuum or void  is generated, that which fills that vacuum or void is vital. A case in point is an Associated Press Report by Maggie Michael on October 10, 2011 under the Headline: “Christians Under Siege In Post-Revolution Egypt.” Some could easily debate the point in terms of whether or not it is a “post-revolution” climate prevailing there, as well as discussing whether or not any of these events have anything to do with Biblical prophesy as it pertains to the “end times.” We would do well to ponder - why it is occurring; and what it all means!

Maggie Michael’s column states: “Egypt's Coptic Christians have long felt like second-class citizens in their own country.Now many fear that the power vacuum left after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak is giving Muslim extremists free rein to torch churches and attack Coptic homes in the worst violence against the community in decades.An assault Sunday night on Christians protesting over a church attack set off riots that drew in Muslims, Christians and the police. Among the 26 people left killed in the melee, most were Copts…it was evidence that the Christian community in Egypt is vulnerable as never before.In the absence of law, you can understand how demolishing a church goes unpunished. Once a majority in Egypt, Copts now make up about 10 percent of the country's 85 million people. They are the largest Christian community in the Middle East. Their history dates back 19 centuries and the language used in their liturgy can be traced to the speech of Egypt's Pharaohs. Proud of their history and faith, many Copts are identifiable by tattoos of crosses or Jesus Christ on their right wrists, and Coptic women do not wear the veil as the vast majority of Muslim women in Egypt do. Under Mubarak, the problems of Copts festered even if they faced less violence than they do now. Their demands for a law to regulate construction of churches went unanswered and attacks on churches went unpunished. Copts shared in the euphoria of the 18-day revolution that ousted Mubarak and like so many other Egyptians their hopes for change were high - they wanted to be on equal footing with Muslims.”

The rhetoric of our government continues. A summary by David Limbaugh is: “…President Obama believes that only 'big and bold' intervention by the government can get an economy moving…Anyone who disagrees with or opposes him is engaging in partisan politics rather than acting in good faith, on principle and in the best interests of the country…” When push-comes-to-shove, there is always a way out for our leaders – namely – blame someone else for the problem. It is no surprise then the news conference included these words: “… our economic mess was created by George W. Bush, the Japanese tsunami, the two wars, the Republican gamesmanship over the debt ceiling, and Europe's financial instability.”

James 1:19-25 is written as spiritual instruction for the true believer and follower of Jesus Christ. However, there is an obvious application for the secular culture as well. “Know this…let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God…put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness The…Word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror…goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law…of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.” We desperately need people whose behavior and rhetoric would be of help rather than a hindrance. I don’t know about you – but this would be a welcomed format in most of the Churches today. It surely would serve to the benefit of many if it was applied and practiced in the secular culture. It is obvious that such behavior needs to be applied and practiced by the one whose profession is that he/she is a “believer” and a “Christian”! Do the words of James describe you positively or negatively? Consider these things with me!