Christendom’s Crucible

ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)’ ongoing slaughter of Iraqi Christians, alongside other religious minorities including Mandaeans, Shabaks, Shi’ite Muslims, and Yazidis, is a kind of humanitarian horror not seen since the Armenian Genocide a century ago. This is perhaps the second time in modern history when Christians are being targeted not only as second-class citizens for dhimmitude, but for their complete subjugation and annihilation. What are we Christians in the West to do? What can we actually do to alleviate our fellow Christians’ suffering, and the suffering of so many other innocent religious minorities?

Among all my Christian friends, there is a feeling of overwhelming helplessness, since we cannot ourselves go and physically save the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ. As we continue to read of gruesome beheadings, starvation marches, and the wholesale destruction of ancient Christian communities, how can we keep our resolve and focus, and not give into despair as the human horror stories continue to reach our eyes and ears? Aside from enjoining our political authorities to do all they can to aid Christians and all other persecuted religious minorities, what can we do? Prayer remains the most powerful weapon against evil, and with ISIS, we are dealing with evil of a kind not seen since the last attempted genocide (Rwanda). As ISIS continues to make millions of dollars every day, let us turn in prayer to Him who is our steadfast hope and source of every mercy, that somehow, in His providence, He will cause this madness to end.

One of the few comforting things about this ongoing human horror story is the reality, bittersweet as it is, that so many of those who have faced ISIS’ savage persecution have taken upon themselves the crown of martyrdom. It is tempting in the modern, secular world to ignore this reality, and see only victims of senseless sectarian violence. While these new martyrs are indeed victims of senseless, hate-fueled violence, their suffering for their faith does indeed translate into an extraordinary kind of witness, which is the literal meaning of the word ‘martyr’. How many young, radicalized men in ISIS have themselves been converted by the suffering of those holy inncocents at their hands? I suspect we will never know.

The Orthodox Church often speaks of the Saints as that great “cloud of witnesses”; yet among the living — and dying — Saints of Iraq today, how many great clouds of witnesses are there, living and bearing Christ in their sufferings even unto death? We cannot and must not glory in anyone’s martyrdom, but instead let us marvel at the indomitable faith of so many Christians in Iraq who, rather than choose the much easier path of embracing Islam or paying the humiliating jizya tax, have offered themselves to the hate-filled blades and guns of these insane enemies of God.

It is deeply troubling that, in this time of vicious persecution of religious minorities throughout the world, our governments seem so unable or unwilling to take the necessary steps to protect innocent people of every faith from the savage attacks of these terrorists. When we have the example of so many new martyrs to wonder at, our political leaders’ inability to destroy ISIS stands in profound contrast to ISIS’ victims, who continue to suffer so much for their faith.

Please feel free to use this prayer in your congregational worship, your prayer groups, or your private devotions.

Almighty God and Father of mercies, we beseech Thee in the name of Thy beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to cast Thy protection over Thy suffering people in Iraq, Syria, and wherever they face persecution for Thy sake. Cleave them unto Thyself, O Lord, and shelter them from their enemies who seek their destruction. Confound their persecutors, O Good One, and render impotent their evil works against Thy people. Turn those who do evil to repentance and show them Thy holy face, that they might abandon the sword and take up the Cross of repentance for all the evil they have wrought. Be as a beacon and light to our leaders, O Lord, and strengthen their resolve to protect Thy people in Iraq and throughout the world. Deliver Thy people everywhere from the horrors of war, and restore to all nations that peace which is Thy will for the world. Let not this evil continue unabated, but protect Thy suffering flock who flee to Thee. Receive our supplications at Thy heavenly throne, O Master, and cause this evil to flee from the earth. Hear this our fervent prayer, and protect those innocent people whom we cannot. For Thou art the fount of all mercy and goodness, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

May God have mercy on all those facing persecution for their faith in Iraq, Christian and non-Christian alike, and may our leaders gain the resolve to finally eradicate ISIS.