Over the past few days the media on-line and on TV (Cable news in particular), has been reporting non-stop on the up-rising in Egypt. And as usual, it didn’t take long before the talking-heads were given center stage in order to “offer us insight” and “help” us (ignorant masses) figure out what it all ‘really’ means. NOT what it means for the Egyptians…but what it means for ‘us’. Frankly, I reached a point when listening to and/or reading all the spin became disgusting. This is why I chose not to post anything about the story over the weekend and why I’m not saying much now.
Our first concern when seeing any nation in the midst of turmoil like Egypt today, (as was Iran last year, and Gaza the year before) should always be for our brothers and sisters in Christ living in the regions. Its our duty as followers of Christ to lift them up in prayer–to intercede on their behalf,
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ….In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Galatians 6:2, Romans 8:26)
not to give heed to those who love to pontificate, speculate, and are only able to see any event through the self serving lens of ‘how it could affect me!’
Just musing…
very true!
While I agree with your assessment of the insulting secular infotainment pundits flailing and failing with clockwork imprecision, I personally can’t wait to see which enterprising young charismatics & ’7 Mountain’ movers are going to chime in. Certainly (since this is Egypt we’re talking about) there MUST be some prophetic anecdote now being fulfilled proving some or another group’s pet theory about America’s role in the Eschaton! When are these Watchmen going to blow their trumpets?
In other words: Brace yourselves for a run of OT prophetic writings ripped mercilessly out of context plus a number of interpretive triple-somersaults to make them work for our times if you squint in just the right light. And forgive me if I sound just a little jaded but I’m old enough to remember similar melodies from years’ past. The reams of prophecy parsing PROVING the role of Communist Russia in Daniel & The Revelation seem almost charming with their breathless inaccuracy…
I’m sure they’re all preparing to ‘proclaim’ something. I’ll put my money on Joyner (in his weekly message) and Kim Clement, to be the first of many…
K.L.,
Your comment had me laughing out loud. “…interpretive triple-somersaults to make them work for our times if you squint in just the right light.” That sounds about right.
Well, it looks like Cindy Jacobs has chimed in. She has an “open letter to the Arabic-speaking Christians as well as the Church worldwide” that has to do with the situation in Egypt. I don’t know if she has an audience with Arabic-speaking believers, but she seems to believe she does:
http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/9553
The title of the message, from Steve Schultz’ standpoint is “Pray Against WWIII.”
PJ or anyone else, have you heard how Egyptian believers are being affected by what’s going on? I have not.
And now another contributor to The Elijah List has piped in. Avner Boskey, who I’m not too familiar with, has Isaiah 19 about to be fulfilled through modern Egypt, even though verse 21 says that evidence of Egypt’s change of heart would include “worship with sacrifices and grain offerings” (a key New Covenant practice, right?):
http://elijahlist.com/words/display_word/9555
very wise.
Well, I don’t know about prophecy fulfillment, but what I am concerned about is what will happen if Mubarak is pushed out? What if radical Islam comes in to take over — I worry about what these people expecting better will get much, much worse.
Robin, the protests in Egypt do not appear to be an ‘Islamic Revolution’.
“Our first concern when seeing any nation in the midst of turmoil like Egypt today, (as was Iran last year, and Gaza the year before) should always be for our brothers and sisters in Christ living in the regions. Its our duty as followers of Christ to lift them up in prayer–to intercede on their behalf”
True, but not our only concern. We should be equally concerned for those who are not in Christ, given the cited example of even more oppressive regimes such as Iran.
Adam i’ve read conflicting reports, but none have reported attacks on Egyptian Christians. Joel posted something a few days back,
More signs of Religious Unity in Egypt – and police brutality
other reports claim Christians are staying indoors and praying in small groups for God’s will to be done.
If you hear anything more, let us know…
PJ,
That’s good to hear, about the absence of attacks on believers since this crisis began, and also about believers gathering in groups for prayer. Thanks for the update. Yes, if I hear any more related news, I’ll mention it here.
Today one of my Facebook friends posted this link to an update from an Egyptian pastor associated with the ministry, “Open Doors”:
http://www.opendoorsusa.org/pray/weekly-prayer-alert/2011/February/Violence-in-Egypt-Forcing-Believers-to-Pray-in-Homes
Here is some news about the current situation from the pastor of a large church in Cairo:
http://scriptureunion.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/egypt/
Thank you Gordon!
Your link is really helpful!!