Shroro:

Reflecting on Iraqi Syriac Orthodox Church Bombings

by Mike Wingert

We in the Diaspora often take for granted what Syriac Orthodox Christians in Iraq have endured for centuries, and sadly continue to endure to this day. For those of us who have been born in secular nations, the idea of being persecuted for one’s faith seems like a barbaric notion relegated to the history books of a pre-enlightened age. Nevertheless, it has been a living reality for Christians in the Near East for many ages, continuing to this day.

What could motivate another human being to set off a bomb near a Christian church? It has always amazed me how hated Christianity has been through the various periods of world history; that hatred it seems, always tends to be reflective of someone finding the idea of Christianity threatening to his own power. The early persecution of the Christians by the Jews and Pagan Romans is a clear example of Christ’s Way being seen as both a local and imperial wide threat to power. Countless other examples can be seen throughout the ages, lasting with us to this very day.

These power struggles over the years have resulted in the creation of different groupings, which historically bear with them the grudges of yesteryear. In Iraq, Christians and Muslims have coexisted for many years, certain times being better than others. Yet in the midst of the Iraq War, extremist Muslims have come to believe that now is their only opportunity for theocratic rule. Because Christianity is one of the many things that is not their radical form of Islam, to those extremists, Christianity is a threat.

Though we in the Diaspora are not suffering kidnappings as in Near East or Egypt, nor are we suffering physical violence and extortion as many of our brethren in the old countries face, we are facing the attempted eradication of Christian morality in Western Secular nations. Christianity is the answer to hedonism that might otherwise take over our internal-selves, that is to say, our souls (nafshothan). Christianity provides a moral standard, and without that standard in place, individuals can then justify any dissolute act they commit.

For all these groups struggling for power, a great irony exists: Christianity is about being selfless and loving one’s fellow human being, no matter who that person is or what creed he belongs to. Moreover, an essential point of Christian morality consists of being a good citizen in the government to which one belongs. Perhaps that is where the real threat lies. Since Christianity is an internal art for individuals, it cannot be a threat to the state, but only a threat to the persecutors themselves, as Christianity is indeed the living conscience of a society.

The Christmas season is a commemoration of the birth of the Messiah, who is the reality of our faith. Similarly, let us not be deceived by any false senses of security, or distract ourselves with worldly vices, but be reminded of the reality of what being a Christian really is: a living testimony of love. Our Lord said, that “ 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you;” (John 15:20). We must be mindful of persecution, but also approach it, as with every other facet of our lives, with joy. Nothing anyone does to us can break us, for our kingdom is not of this world. Glory to the newborn King.