Egypt Turns Ugly

Yesterday, Mubarak’s government unleashed goon squads riding camels and horses and equipped with knives, sticks, and petrol bombs on peaceful anti-Mubarak demonstrators. The melee that erupted has so far killed six and wounded over eight hundred.

Repressive dictators will resort to anything to stay in power, and the world is full of them, past and present. Life, injury, poverty, or death of their people is simply a tool in the bid to retain control. Reminds me of Satan who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

In fact, Satan and Mubarak have a common interest: knowing their time is limited, they have nothing to lose, and accordingly are the most dangerous. They will lie, cheat, and murder to retain what’s left of their tattered dignity.

Give this some thought. Generally, nations with Christian heritage accord their citizens the greatest rights. Perhaps Japan is an exception, although their record is to copy the west—even China is slowly following suit—imitate freedom of commerce first, and rights must follow!

The current unrest through the Middle East has highlighted the fact that most Muslim countries are dictatorships, frequently using strict Sharia law to control their populations. But those populations clamour for the freedoms of the west, often irrationally hating western countries at the same time!

Of course, millions of Muslims have moved to the relative safety and freedom western countries offer. How do we respond? Do we treat them with the same dignity Christianity has conferred on us? It is illogical to champion their rights in Arab countries, while viewing them with suspicion here.

Their dignity is that Christ died for them “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).They are candidates for the Kingdom just as we are. Do we see them with His eyes?