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Advent: For Some, Christmas Comes at Great RiskBELOIT, WI (December 21, 2006) - Editor's note: In preparation for the Christmas observance, Covenant Communications is sharing devotionals that originally appeared in local Covenant church newsletters or other publications and are being published here by permission. The following comes from Pastor Chris Carlson of Redeemer Evangelical Covenant Church. By Chris Carlson Back in 1977 to 1978, I was fortunate to spend a year attending a school for international students in Stockholm, Sweden. There I met a man from a nation I knew nothing about – Iraq. He was in his fifties, and I learned that he wasn’t so interested in studying in Sweden as he was in getting away from his country – a country that he felt persecuted him because he was Christian. But years later, a seminary friend of mine took a class at another seminary wherein a classmate of his was visiting the Roman Catholic bishop from the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad. Clearly not all Christians were persecuted. Opinions differ as to how Christians (largely Assyrians) were treated under Saddam Hussein. Some state that Christians, who made up about three percent of the population before 2002, enjoyed protection. Others claim there was persecution, especially against the Kurds. Regardless of their views before, all observers I’ve read make the claim that the dwindling number of Christians in Iraq now have a difficult time. All Iraqis have it difficult these days, but the Christian sects have witnessed an exodus of their numbers to other countries. Many fear that Islamic fundamentalists will take control of the nation and bring restrictions upon the Christians and make it impossible to openly practice their beliefs. Others feel they have suffered persecutions at the hands of non-Christians who view the military action by the United States and coalition forces as a modern-day religious war, reminiscent of the Crusades. In the last few years, Christians in Iraq have had to limit their display of Christmas celebration. Some churches have been low-key in their observance of Christmas worship, and others have even canceled services for fear of reprisals. This Christmas, we dine at a table of plenty. As we give and receive gifts upon gifts and enjoy worship at church, as we visit our favorite holiday entertainment, let us remember that for some, like Christians in Iraq, celebrating Christmas comes with a risk, even sacrifice. Our Lord never commanded the observance of Christmas. Still it is a time-honored tradition. But for Christians in hostile regions, it is more. For them Christmas is not a routine practice of an age-old tradition. Instead, it is a bold declaration of faith that comes with a price. As I see the hoards of consumers flooding the stores, oblivious to the true meaning of Christmas, I have to wonder how we would value Christmas if we had even so much as a year or two of persecution. Editor’s note: To read previously published devotional in this Advent series, please see: • A Christmas Gift Without a Price Tag • Two Branches That Bore a Tree • God’s Timing Not Like Ours Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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