June 23, 2007

The Middle East: Praying for an Arab awakening

For decades 'secular' Arab nationalist dictators have bred a culture of hatred and violence through local mosques, education and media, primarily to motivate the Arab masses against Israel. The fundamentalist Islamic indoctrination used has had a direct part in radicalising a generation of Muslims. The Arab dictators are now finding the Islamised masses are prepared to bite the hand that fed them.

For decades, Yassir Arafat's Fatah-led Palestinian Authority fostered hatred and violence amongst the Arab Muslims of the Palestinian Territories. Ultimately in January 2006 Islamic Hamas was democratically elected. With Hamas openly committed to jihad to destroy Israel and establish an Islamic state this was the first death notice for 'secular' Arab nationalism. All Middle East Arab dictators are living in dread of Islamic coups.

Crippling sanctions eventually forced Hamas to join with Fatah in a unity government. That farcical union effectively ended as Hamas militants launched a military coup against Fatah in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday 12 June, completing a takeover by late Thursday 14 June. While taking Fatah institutions in Gaza City, Hamas militants also stormed the Rosary Sisters School using rocket propelled grenades. Once inside they looted and rampaged, destroying all crosses and burning Bibles. They also torched the nearby Roman Catholic Church. The Jerusal! em Post reports: 'Leaders of the Christian community in th e [Gaza] Strip expressed deep concern over the fate of the Christians living under Hamas. They said most of them wanted to leave the Gaza out of fear for their lives. An estimated 2,500 Christians live in Gaza City.' Furthermore al-Qaeda has infiltrated the Gaza Strip and is specifically targeting Christian properties.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, Fatah staged its own coup expelling Hamas from the unity government. Whether Fatah has enough popular support in the West Bank to retain power is doubtful though, with many observers expecting civil conflict to spread there too.

Liberal Egyptian author Kamal Gabriel recently described the fratricidal violence in Gaza as the 'natural result of the predominant discourse of hostility and incitement . . . adopted by Palestinians of all persuasions and in all the factions - religious, pan-Arab revolutionary and leftist. It is a discourse whose aim was sowing hatred, having recourse to violence, and enjoying spilling blood.'! According to Gabriel this psychopathy - which having take n root has become uncontrollable - is found throughout the Greater Middle East, but nowhere is it as severe as in the Palestinian Territories. Noting its 'catastrophic rate' of increase, Gabriel concludes: '. . . this is the fruit that we are harvesting because we sowed thorns for over half a century.'

Qatari reformist Dr Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari recently also stated, '. . . terrorism is the outcome of a culture of hatred in the Arab countries, and in order to eliminate it, the culture of hate must be eliminated. . . . We need a culture that will restore the importance of life and the value of the individual and will make young people love the arts and the humanities . . . ' But Gabriel asks '. . . can this come about when the fires of hatred have already broken out [everywhere]?'

We who have witnessed the transforming power of the gospel and the Spirit, with eyes firmly fixed on the God of the Bible and with hearts encouraged by his promises and his faithfulness,! answer 'Yes'. An d so we pray.

[ The foregoing quotes are via MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute)  http://www.memri.org/  ]

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT:

• God will preserve his Church in the Palestinian Territories, particularly in chaotic, dangerous Gaza; may he send his angels to protect his children and minister to their needs and may the Holy Spirit fill their hearts with faith and inexplicable peace.

'Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?' (Hebrews 1:14 NIV)

• the sovereign and merciful God, who graciously throughout the ages has generously poured out his Holy Spirit bringing awakening and revival that has transformed communities and nations, will bring a great awakening to the Arab nations.

'. . . we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God who is! rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we wer e dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.' (Ephesians 2:3b-5 NIV) '. . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!' (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

• lies will be exposed and eyes set to judge others will be turned to examine self and see reality; may consciences be stirred; may wisdom rise up and truth be recognised and embraced, for peace and the Kingdom and glory of God.