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| Emigration: A Solution for Persecution? |
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Middle East Concern (MEC) has supplied us with an article on the problem of Christian emigration from the Middle East. This problem was clearly stated in an email from a Middle Eastern country, and email of the sort MEC often receives: "We have a young lady who has accepted Christ and really wants to be a good Christian. But she is worried about her own safety as her family is closing in and may discover at any minute. She wants to leave the country before they do so. We can pay for her airline ticket but we can't help beyond that. Do you have any information on agencies that can help or might be able to get her into the U.S. or Canada? The U.S. Government does not consider converting and risking one's life a good reason to grant a visa. If we feel that she is in danger, can we send her to (you) for a few weeks until we find a place for her in the West? We know her family and we are sure that they will kill her if they find out that she has accepted the Lord." I could have quoted many other letters just like this one. For those who come to Christ from a Muslim background, Philippians 1:29 often becomes a reality from the beginning. "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer." When faced with difficulties, one of our reflex reactions is to flee. This is part of our physiological make-up and often seems the right thing to do. The purpose of this paper is to challenge the idea of emigration as a solution for Muslim Background Believers. |