Perspective: 5 Ways We Can Make a Difference

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Perspective 5 Ways to make a difference

I’m sitting here trying to think of some catchy blog post that would both with Pinterest-worthy and could go viral. And yet I can’t. I draw a blank. Instead, my thoughts go back to news articles I’ve read recently about the persecution of Christians in Iraq.

Perspective.

Persecution of Christians in Northern Iraq has been going on for a while, we just haven’t heard much about it. But the brutal, horrific happenings in Mosul has been picked up by international news.

It’s heartbreaking.

This is a reality for our international brothers and sisters. Christianity for them isn’t just meeting together on Sunday mornings and being fed spiritual truth but forgetting about it the rest of the week. They put their lives on the line daily for their belief in Jesus.

Maybe you’ve heard the stories and just feel helpless. It’s easy to see the stories and move on, ignoring them. But that’s not going to change the reality that these people are living in. I can not even fathom what it would be like to have my children ripped out of my arms and tortured or murdered in front of me. I don’t want to.

But I have to do something.

I can’t wish it away and hope it gets better just because it’s so horrific. This is genocide.

Whether you are a Christian or not, I’m sure you understand that these are people and no one has the right to murder other people because they don’t believe what you believe. The brutality of the tactics they are using is unreal. My heart just breaks for these families who have lost everything.

We can’t just sit behind our computers in our cozy homes and do nothing.

But what can we do?

Pray. Prayer seems so easy and simple. A cop-out even. But Prayer changes things. God can turn the hearts of the persecutors. Remember Saul in the New Testament? He persecuted Christians until God got a hold of his heart. Paul {formerly Saul} became a great defender of the faith. Pray on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Be their Aaron and Hur {Exodus 17:12}. Stand beside them in prayer and hold up their arms to Heaven when they are tired and weary. If you are physically able, fast and pray.

Spread the word. Talk about what is going on with co-workers and friends. Share stories on social media. Don’t sweep it under the rug and pretend it’s not happening. That won’t make it go away.

Sign a petition. I signed this one earlier tonight. There may be others I am not aware of. I may only have one voice, but if we all stand together, we will be loud and we will be heard.

Give. While we may not be able to go ourselves to help these people, there are people on the ground who can. Our gift, no matter how small, will make a difference. Samaritans Purse is providing emergency food and other supplies to refugees as they flee to neighboring countries. Christian Aid is working with a local ministry to help get these families out of Iraq. Please consider giving to help our brothers and sisters in tangible ways.

Contact your congressman. Call them. Email them. Ask that the US open their doors and allow these refugees to find asylum here. France seemed to take the lead in this. I pray that the US would follow suit. Again, you may only be one person and send one email, but if thousands of people did the same, we could not be ignored.

Let’s not turn a blind eye to this crisis. No matter your religious stance, let’s stand together and support these families who have lost everything. Fleeing their homeland. Some of whom had their children ripped from their arms and murdered in front of them. Let us show them our support any way that we can.

 

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2 Comments

  1. What a beautiful post. I really appreciate the fact that you emphasize that EVERYONE needs to care about this, whether they are Christian, atheist, or even moderate Muslim!

    If you are against MURDER, this is a cause to care about.

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