I’ve watched with interest my country’s flip-flopping foreign policy toward Egypt, and I have to say it was a little embarrassing. Now it’s same song second verse with Libya.
I’m sure it looked to the world like we were supporters of Mubarak as long as we thought Mubarak would remain in power and advance our interests in the Middle East.
When it looked like a popular revolution would prevail we were for the people. I’m trying to find the principle that motivated that policy.
As a citizen of the kingdom of God, there are a number of ways to respond to the current crises in Egypt.
There is one way not to respond, and that is to talk about the end times.
You know what I mean, Egypt is going to fall to the Muslim extremists, they will make war on Israel, Russia (or is it China now) will attack from the north with 2,000,000 men and they will all meet at Armageddon, chaos, dogs and cats living together, the rapture, the end . . . and Hal Lindsey promoted to the left hand of the Father.
There are a number of reasons it doesn’t benefit the kingdom of God or you to engage in end-times speculation over what is happening in Egypt. Here are three:
“The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people, driving them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that not one of my people will be separated from their property.”
Yesterday I blogged about the new security measures in U.S. airports that offer the traveler the option of essentially appearing naked to a TSA employee or being groped by one.
I suggested that if Kingdom citizens object to such treatment they do so not only because of its striking similarity to pornography and sexual assault but because it represents an erosion of our freedom, and Christians should be the champions of freedom.
Besides, there is an alternative.
Some history may be helpful here. You may recall, Islamic terrorists used box cutters to hijack planes on 9/11, so we prohibited fingernail clippers and butter knives on planes. Continue reading “Rage Against The Machine – Part II”
The new security measures in U.S. airports offer the traveler the option of a full body scan that presents a naked picture of the traveler to the TSA employee paid to gawk (see image). And yes, if you are a guy, they can see your junk, and in remarkable detail.
If you choose not to appear naked before strangers, you have the option of being groped by the government.
This gawk or grope strategy is the latest from the government for catching Islamic terrorists.
Christians are right to be offended by gawk and grope but not just because it is smells like pornography and sexual assault. In fact, I apologize if the image on this blog post offends you. I debated whether to use it but decided that people being informed on this issue outweighed any offense.
Still, the larger issue here is one of freedom and at what point one is willing to trade it for security.
I would like to offer Kingdom citizens some perspective, a view from 35,000 feet, and suggest a better reason for Christians to be offended.
I’ve heard many say, “If it means I can fly without worrying about the plane being blown up I’m fine with it.” So, what happens when Islamic terrorists start putting bombs in their anuses where they are shielded from the new scanners? Will we then submit to full body cavity searches? If it meant flying safely would you be willing to do it?
People prefer freedom to tyranny. There is no surprise there. But throughout history people have made the choice to give away their freedom. The choice is usually not between freedom and tyranny, but between a little less freedom and a little more tyranny in exchange for a little more safety or security. That is the trade being offered right now.
To those who hope only in this life, the trade seems a reasonable one. If death is the end, then trade all to avoid it, even one’s freedom.
Christians should not suffer from such shortsightedness. Their hope is not in this world only. Christians therefore should be the quickest to draw the line against tyranny, the staunchest defenders of freedom, even if it means incurring a greater risk to their safety.
When Christians are willing to do that, they will begin to wear the mantle of freedom intended for every citizen of the Kingdom of God, and they will be seen by the world as protectors of freedom.
I’m not suggesting where you should be willing to draw that line, but I do want to suggest why you should be willing to draw it. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm…” (Galatians 5:1). GS
