Are Iraqi Christians to Flee the Country?

Following the attack on Sayidat al-Nejat church in Baghdad last week, Athanasios Dawood, Archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church, has called upon all Christians to flee Iraq.

According to a CNN report (Bharati Naik, 8 Nov 2010), Father Saad Sirop Hanna of Saint Joseph's Church Baghdad commented: "I can understand this bishop. I agree with him from a certain point of view, but I disagree with him from another."

Persecution is a reality which has been faced by Christians throughout the last two thousand years, and today more believers than ever before are facing harassment and even violence as a result of their faith. Jesus said:

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you... Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me (John 15:18-21 NKJV).

The decision to stay or leave is difficult. Jesus sometimes allows his followers to flee persecution:

When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. (Matt. 10:23 NKJV)

But there are other times when believers are called upon to stand firm in their faith and not be afraid of the enemy. They may take our lives but not our souls.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt. 10:28 NKJV)

To a persecuted church in first century Asia Minor, Jesus sent this message:

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10 NKJV)

No doubt some will, for the sake of their families and other reasons, choose to leave Iraq, and will do so in the will of God. Others will stand firm, continuing to worship God and to give a Christian witness to the people of a country which, although torn by war and rent by religious and sectarian differences, is still dear to them.

The tragic events of last week reminds all Christians of their responsibility to pray for Christians in Iraq, and for persecuted believers everywhere.

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Are Iraqi Christians to Flee the Country?

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