A Tribute to Egypt's Coptic Christians: "A city set on a hill cannot be hidden"

Following the ouster of President Morsi and his government, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists have mounted a horrendous violent campaign against the Coptic Christians in Egypt. Churches have been burnt, property has been destroyed, and people have been attacked and killed, and more. Observer Mark Movsesian called this "the worst persecution Copts have suffered in 700 years."
 

But the Coptic Christians have stood strong in the face of brutal persecution. Mary H. Sarkis, a Copt, expresses this beautifully in a Facebook post:

IT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY the grace, love, self-control, and patriotism that Copts have demonstrated in this chapter of Egypt's history. Persecution is not new to Copts (as is the case with many minorities), but I have never been more proud to be a Copt! Not because Copts are persecuted but because of the way Copts have responded and what I've seen of the reaction of Moslems to the behavior of Egypt's Christians. When 50-70 churches, Christian schools/orphanages/ monasteries (some ancient) were attacked this last week, ALL eyes were on Copts to see their reaction. Moslem-Egyptian media figures / authors like Amr Adeeb, Ibrahim 3eesa, Youssef el Hussaini, Fatma Naoout, Tarek Heggy, to name a few, all testified to the Copts' endurance and loyalty to their country regardless of the horrific abuses that they've suffered, not just now but throughout history. Here's a sample quote from talk show host Youssef El Husseini... "These Copts are a phenomenon that needs to be studied in history. Regardless of how they are used, abused, dismissed, scapegoated by their government and the enemies of their religion, they never retaliate. They are always consistent in their character and their patriotism."

In a nation where everyone is suffering the consequences of the evil distortion of religion, Egypt's Christians have become a model for what true faith is supposed to be and look like. Egyptians have appreciated that while Islamists cried foul to the world for the break-up of their ARMED sit-ins (after 47 days and numerous warnings) and asked for US/UN military intervention in Egypt, in contrast Copts have for ages endured violence and injustice, and when attacked for purely peaceful protests (like Maspero) they never asked the world to retaliate against their country. Don't think for a minute that any of this was done out of weakness or helplessness! The Coptic community outside of Egypt is large and has a loud voice. In Egypt, the number of Copts is larger than the number of Radical Islamists. If Copts were not peaceful, a civil war would have broken out a long time ago like in Lebanon. But Copts have NEVER used violence or force (not even in self-defense).

I want to leave you with some beautiful gestures from Egypt's Christians that have touched me during this crisis:

• When the attacks against churches began last Wednesday, Egyptian leaders asked for people to go out and protect the churches. The response of Christians and of Bishop Makarious ([one] the of the hardest hit area[s] "El Minya") repeatedly refused and went on record saying "My dear Moslem brother, please don't go risking your life to protect our churches. Buildings can be rebuilt, and we will rebuild them together. But your blood is priceless and your life cannot be replaced!" 

• Pope Tawadros on day 1 of attacks: "They think that by burning our churches they are retaliating against Egypt. In reality it is a redemptive offering that we offer for Egypt's sake and we offier it with love." 

• Bishop Mikhail of Assiut (probably the second hardest hit city): "Our churches today are like a burning censer with fire coming out of it. We pray that God inhales its sweet aroma and has mercy on our beloved land." 

• Pope Tawadros on Day 3: "As an Indian poet once said, "Love is like incense. It gives out its beautiful fragrance only when thrown in the fire."

Please don't forget that churches were not the only thing under attack, heartbreaking stories include the man (in Giza) who was killed for not taking down St. Mary's picture from his shop, the taxi driver (in Alexandria) attacked and killed by a mob for having a cross in his car, the boys whose orphanage was torched and had to be displaced, the nuns who were paraded around town like prisoners of war and sexually harrassed, the 60 yr-old man who was killed in El [Minya], tied and dragged around [town] by Islamists to make an example out of him, the 10 yr-old girl who was shot leaving sunday school, the young priest who was killed in Sinai, the hundreds of Christian homes and businesses that were torched. In addition to the devastating losses the Coptic community has suffered, Egypt's Christians are also suffering with all Egyptians: Mourning the loss of their country as they knew it, the policemen and soldiers who were killed doing their job, the kids who were thrown off the rooftop, the victims of the [Muslim Brotherhood] sit-ins who were tortured and killed by and as a result of their leaders' lust for power and Jihadist ideology, and parents all around who are wailing for their lost children. Copts are mourning with those who mourn all around them.

Thank you to Egypt's Copts for showing the world a rare example of true Christianity in the 21st century! You ARE the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden! May God give you the grace to keep enduring, keep loving, keep shining. You are a blessing to Egypt and to Copts everywhere.

Early Christians paid a heavy price for their faith
In a country like Singapore, it is easy to take the peace and freedom with which we live for granted. We are tempted to think that persecution is a thing of the past, or at best, a phenomenon in some isolated place somewhere else in the world.

Yet we forget that early Christians paid a heavy price for their faith. We read in the Book of Hebrews:

Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated — the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and in holes in the ground. (Hebrews 11:35b-38)

Roman senator and historian Tacitus wrote the following in his Annals about the persecution suffered by early Christians under Emperor Nero, whom Nero had falsely accused of burning Rome:

Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace... Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.

This puts references to "suffering" in the New Testament in context, doesn't it?

A City on a Hill Cannot be Hidden
Yet the early Christians endured their suffering in faith. James wrote in his Epistle, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (James 1:2-3) The writer of Hebrews taught that this was God's discipline:

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline) then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 11:7-11)

And neither were the Christians taught to retaliate against their enemies, but to respond to them with love. Jesus taught His disciples, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

For Jesus taught:

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Therefore, I echo Sarkis in saying, "Thank you to Egypt's Copts for showing the world a rare example of true Christianity in the 21st century!" You have set an example of true Christianity which Christians everywhere ought to follow, especially here in Singapore when our God-given peace and prosperity has so quickly and surely robbed us of true Christian faith and love. 

Here's a tribute to Egypt's Copts. We pray that the Lord will deliver you swiftly from your oppressors.

May the Lord bless you and keep you in His grace. Amen.