The Iraqi Conflict

I'm not sure why this is, but I don't hear a whole lot on the ongoing status concerning the conflict over in the Middle East. Perhaps it is the circles I run in...but still, it is concerning to me. Why is this issue not talked about more? I am a consistent blog reader and I cannot remember this issues being talked about in the last 5 or 6 months on any of the many blogs I read. I read a headline today that said Bomb kills 26 at Iraq Mosque. This situation is getting so bad, yet the people I am around, and myself included, seem to be apathetic and disconnected from the Iraqi conflict.

Well, I am calling attention to this issue! I am certainly no expert, but here are a few things I do know.

1. The Middle East is an incredibly sad area

This is an area where for many, death is a common, even daily reality around them. Can you imagine never knowing, and always wondering, if your church, or grocery store, or school etc. was going to be bombed today or tomorrow with you inside? This is the reality that millions of people deal with every day. Children see their families ripped apart, not by divorce like in America, but by machine gun fire and explosions. I have tears for this geographical area.

2. There is no peace in sight

Let's face it, there is no easy solution out there. Peace is not coming soon, and it will probably get worse before it gets better. Wherever you come down politically on this issue, you must admit that the worldviews in this area are so polar opposite of western worldviews that a year or two (or 10!) of western influence is not sufficient to "civilize" this area. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but don't keep your fingers crossed for white picket fences in Iraq and afternoon tea between Sunnis and Shi'ites.

3. Our Christian brothers and sisters in the middle East need our prayers

When I was doing missions work in Thailand, I had the incredible privelidge of becoming friends with some natives from Iran. These former Muslims were true refugees. Their lives were literally like this: Friday, meet Jesus and convert to Christianity; Saturday, flee their home and country because their lives were in danger because of their conversion. They ended up in Thailand because it was safe. There are Christian missionaries in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia etc. working with situations like this all the time, in addition to their own danger. Our fellow Christians need us to lift them up daily in prayer!!! We cannot imagine what it is they go through on a daily basis.

4. The enemy is laughing all the way to the bank

Our enemy, the Devil, is loving every minute of this conflict...the lives being taken, the families being destroyed, and our apathy as well. Let us not become disconnected Spiritually or emotionally for a second, because the Devil is playing for keeps. It is up to us as free Christians to do everything we can to see that this sector of the world is eventually brought to justice.

Let me know what you think about this, and why this conflict has been basically ignored. Christianity/Islam aside, my heart goes out to the people in this area.