‘I Never Saw Them as Human Beings’ (by Omar Al-Rikabi)Over the last five years, as I have shared my family’s story in churches and chapel services, I get a very common response: “I never saw them as human beings. I never thought to pray for the Iraqi people.” This disturbs me. Even more disturbing is that many of the people who confess this to me are pastors and missionaries. They champion the need for food, plumbing, and medicine in so many parts of the world, but seem to hit the brakes when it comes to Iraq and the Middle East. I have visited many congregations around the country – Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Non-denominational – and I see a recurring pattern: nine times out of ten the pastor will pray for the safety and success of the (US) troops, but does not offer one prayer for the people and needs of Iraq.
From Sojourners email
One thing we do at Garnett Church is to pray for everyone involved in the conflict. We pray for Iraqis as well as the US troops. Our Lord said, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Americans and Iraqis are not the only ones in the conflict. People from many countries are involved in this war.
Greg, I’m a frustrated Christian that’s tried for a long, long time to figure out who’s right. I also left this comment under your Wineskins article.
I wish the majority of the Churches of Christ would come out and say it: “We think we are the only ones going to heaven and that everyone else is going to hell!”
I’m very frustrated that EVERY Christian denomination out there can “prove” that they are “right” by Scriptures.
It bugs me that I can’t enjoy clapping to the music during worship because I’m afraid I’m breaking a Biblical command.
I’m afraid that one day, someone’s going to rebuke me for giving the grape juice to my son during communion. He’s nine and has autism, and I would rather give him the juice and explain to him why we’re doing it rather than turn communion into a fight every week.
Why are we going to heaven and not people like Hudson Taylor, Corrie ten Boom, Catherine Marshall, and James Dobson–people who honestly love (or loved) God and try to seek His will, but who may not have been baptized?
I want to do what is right but I am scared to death of getting it wrong and going to hell. I am afraid that if I say “black”, I’m going to be told, “no, it’s white”; if I say, “right”, it’ll actually be “left”, and that I won’t find any of this out until it’s too late to do anything about it.
I would love some answers to those questions. You are welcome to drop a line on my blog page.