NO, SYRIA HAS NOT BEEN LIBERATED: a time for courage
This afternoon, I received a message from a dear friend and close partner, a Church leader in Syria. He went to inspect his church to see if any damage was caused during the hostile take-over by rebels in his city last week. Upon entering the church, he was attacked, beaten, and threatened by a group of people who warned him not to return. He went home, deeply upset and very worried about his family’s safety and the possibility of a subsequent attack on his home. What to do? Where to go? Unanswered questions that will require courage in a time of darkness.
My heart aches for my brothers and sisters in Syria.
No, Syria has not been liberated. Terrorists do not liberate, they enslave.
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which now claims to have liberated Syria, has no history of freedom, no mandate for future democracy and no vision of liberty. Formed by Al Qaeda in 2014, its current leader, Mohammed al-Golani, was branded a terrorist by the USA, with a $10 million bounty on his head.
In his first interview in 2014, al-Golani told Al-Jazeera that his goal was to see Syria ruled under Islamic law and made it clear that there was no room for the country’s Alawite, Shiite, Druze and Christian minorities. Hours after Damascus’ capture on Saturday 7 December, the 42-year-old al-Golani made his first appearance in the city’s landmark Umayyad Mosque, declaring Assad’s fall “a victory for the Islamic nation.”
After Islam, Christianity is the second largest faith in Syria with nearly one out of every 11 people confessing faith in Christ. They need your prayers – urgently. Their mere existence is hanging by a thread. But Christianity in Syria is facing one of its darkest hours, and it seems like the Western World is blinded by the ignorance created by a Western narrative that has little concern for freedom of faith. As long as Bashar Al Asaad has been removed – it seems to be “mission accomplished”.
Let me repeat: Syria has NOT been liberated. Terrorists do not liberate, they enslave.
Syrian Christians need courage, more than ever before. Courage to endure, to persevere and to survive. But as passive bystanders from the outside world, we also need courage, but a different kind of courage (adapted from an article by Cathy J. Lassiter on her blog CORWIN-CONNECT[1])
WE NEED MORAL COURAGE
Moral Courage is the courage to stand up for one’s beliefs in the face of overwhelming opposition. It is a synonym for civil courage. Moral Courage is the outward expression of a Christian’s personal values and core beliefs, and the resulting actions are focused on the greater good.
As Christians, we are not called to pity the Church in Syria but to stand in solidarity. It is time for the Church in the Western world to display moral courage by speaking out and standing up for the body of Christ in Syria. Through moral courage, we move in solidarity, not emotion.
WE NEED INTELLECTUAL COURAGE
The second component, Intellectual Courage, is the courage to challenge old assumptions and understandings and act on new understandings and insights. Jesus had the courage to challenge His followers and told them (John 13:34) “A new commandment I give unto you!”
Theologically that took a lot of courage and inevitably led to Him being crucified.
Our realities are mostly based on our perceptions. Our perceptions are formed by our assumptions. Our assumptions are a direct consequence of our narratives. Our narratives only believe what our minds make them believe. This is why the church in Romans (12:2) is challenged to be transformed by the renewal of the minds.
Syria, Bashar Al Asaad, and the beautiful people of Syria are not what Western media wants us to believe. When we deal with transformed lives we need to start with the intellectual courage to challenge our narratives- the source of our cognitive knowledge- and then be transformed by the renewal of our minds.
Intellectual courage to stand up against narratives that shape our perceptions and realities of others needs to be challenged and addressed.
WE NEED DISCIPLINED COURAGE
The third component, Disciplined Courage, is the courage to be reflective, strategic, and focused in the face of constant distractions and opposition. Christians with this brand of courage have great clarity on their vision and the impact they want to have on those in the community. They are focused on doing the right things, in a thoughtful and purposeful way.
The current situation in Syria is not an unfortunate event on a Chronos timeline. It is a Kairos opportunity for the Church to radiate the love and grace of a forgiving Redeemer. Many Christians have become obsessed with the insignificant, but disciplined courage is needed to focus on the important and significant. We cannot abandon our fellow believers in their time of need simply because of an undisciplined Christianity.
WE NEED EMPATHETIC COURAGE
The final type of everyday courage is Empathetic Courage, or the courage to open and feel deeply for others. This is one of the trademarks of Christianity. It takes humility and courage to put aside your own biases and assumptions and let go of control and certainty for the sake of learning something new. But it is only when you are willing to listen to a different perspective and manage to empathize, that you can be enriched by a new way of thinking.
This is probably where Christians lack the most courage. We feel empathy for those who look, act and believe like us, but find legitimate excuse to reject the rest.
As Christians, we need to have courage. We need to challenge narratives and (Colossians 3:12), as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Prayer List for Syria and the Church:
- Pray for Peace: Ask God to bring peace to Syria, healing the land and ending the violence that has torn the country apart. Pray for the restoration of stability and safety for all its citizens.
- Pray for the Church in Syria: Pray for the strength, courage, and wisdom of Syrian believers who continue to be a light in the darkness. Ask God to protect church leaders and empower them to guide their communities with compassion and faith.
- Pray for Protection: Pray for the protection of all Syrians, especially those who are vulnerable, such as children, the elderly, and the displaced. Ask God to shelter them from harm and provide for their basic needs.
- Pray for the Displaced People: Pray for all those who have been forced to flee their homes. Ask God to provide safe refuge, comfort, and a way forward for those living in camps or in exile, and that they will experience hope and healing.
- Pray for Healing: Pray for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing for all who have suffered from the war. Ask God to restore broken families, mend the wounds of trauma, and bring peace to those who have witnessed or experienced great loss.
- Pray for Wisdom for Leaders: Pray that God grants wisdom to political leaders, humanitarian organizations, and the international community to make decisions that will lead to lasting peace and help to rebuild the nation.
- Pray for Strength Amid Trials: Pray for those who are still living in war zones, that they may find the strength to endure and the hope to move forward. Ask God to comfort them in their fear and uncertainty, giving them a sense of His presence and peace.
- Pray for the Global Church to Support Syria: Pray for Christians worldwide to continue to lift Syria in prayer and provide tangible support, whether through resources, aid, or encouragement, to help those suffering within Syria and among the refugees
Extending Project Hope:
At dia-LOGOS, we have established and nurtured a vast network of Syrian Christian leaders over many years. We believe in empowering local churches and we are extending Project Hope to support to the Syrian Church in this critical time.
They are uniquely positioned to identify and address the immediate needs within their communities. By partnering with the Syrian Church, your contribution will directly support their vital work on the ground. They will use these funds to provide food, essential supplies, and other practical assistance to those most in need.
If you’re moved to help, please click on the link below to join us in supporting the Syrian Church as they serve their communities during this time of crisis.
https://dialogos.co.za/give-now/
[1] https://corwin-connect.com/2017/01/4-types-everyday-courage