Why Christians Don’t Care about Christians

on October 25, 2017

(Here are my remarks to In Defense of Christians press conference on October 24, 2017 at National Press Club.  And here’s video.)

Why don’t Christians care about Christians? Or more precisely, why do many American Christians not care about overseas persecuted Christians?

My organization was founded in 1981 in response to USA church elites who ignored or actively apologized for Marxist regimes that persecuted Christians. They did so because they thought Marxism brought liberation for the poor and because they thought detente and peace were more important than freedom and truth.

After the Cold War ended, some of those church groups expressed regret for their silence. But the attitude continues in in new contexts and in even wider circles.

Beyond mundane human apathy, what are the reasons for ongoing silence and indifference about persecuted Christians in the Mideast and around the world?

First, many American Christians equate Christianity with privilege, power, colonialism, and Western Civilization. They conceive of Christians as only the persecutors, never the persecuted. They want to apologize for the Crusades or Western imperialism. Even if they acknowledge there are persecuted Christians around the world they surmise that Christianity is historically too compromised to merit sympathy much less advocacy.

Second, many USA Christians romanticize persecution. Ostensibly it will ennoble the church and will be an effective tool for evangelism. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church they sometimes like to say, ignoring that history is full of cultures whose churches were permanently destroyed by persecution. These Christians who romanticize persecution are of course not themselves exposed to persecution but living in relative privilege and comfort.

Third, some USA Christians equate the cause of religious liberty with the American domestic political right and thereby dismiss it. They also conflate overseas persecuted Christians with domestic USA religious liberty conflicts often involving LGBTQ. They ironically equate religious freedom with prejudice and discrimination. And they prioritize lifestyle freedom and advocacy over religious freedom and advocacy.

Fourth, many USA Christians believe Christians are selfish for prioritizing other Christians. Christians should not advocate specifically for adherents of their own faith. They should only advocate generically and universally for human rights for all people of all faiths or of no faith without distinctions. That Christians are globally the most persecuted religion does not typically register. They also lack any deep theology about the obligation that attaches to membership in the Body of Christ.

What are the obligations for members of the Body of Christ? We are all part of a single spiritual family whose Head is Christ. We are obligated to love and serve each other, sharing in each other’s sacrifices. This special love Christians are to have for each other is not selfish or exclusive of non Christians. Rather the love that Christians are to have for each other is to be a model and gift to the rest of the world, exemplifying the love that Christ has for all.

Some USA Christians are uncomfortable with the idea of special love and particular attachments, whether to church, or to family and marriage, or to nation. They think love can only be abstractly universal. But abstract love is no love at all. It must begin with particulars. Christians are called to love all persons but this universal affection is only possible by starting with the particular affections and regard we are to have, starting with love for our Lord and for His Church, especially for its suffering and persecuted members.

In Defense of Christians incarnates this particular love that we all should have for persecuted members of our family in the Middle East.

Posted by In Defense of Christians on Tuesday, October 24, 2017

  1. Comment by Mark Metcalf on October 25, 2017 at 8:48 am

    I strongly disagree, either your a pretend Christian or a true Christian.
    Christians, as a rule have apathy for whomewhomever, at time of whatever.
    There are many prayer chains in progress and discussion on these matters throughout the world in Christian community’s. We as a whole, want to live in peace with all other religions. Now I agree there are some who think as you have stated, but keeping with the faith, there are those that plant that seed of love and apathy.
    I believe the Church as a whole should not give in to your claims but realize how to strive for unity. The ideal that other Christians don’t have apathy for those persecuted, is ridicules.
    Matt. 22, 37 – 40
    Jesus said unto him, ” Thou shall love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all Thy soul and with all thy mind.
    This is the first and great commandment.
    And the second is like unto it, Love thy neighbor as thyself.
    We Christians are not perfect and in a continued effort to be better, sometimes fail.
    I also believe we were not put here to be passive.
    So go forth and be bold! Don’t be afraid because the Lord Thy God is (With you,) watching!

  2. Comment by David Fischler on October 25, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    Thank you very much for this, Mark. I would add that, because the American media have almost entirely ignored the plight of Middle Eastern Christians, most American Christians are unaware that they have brethren in that region who have been there for 2000 years, but are now in danger of extinction.

    Rev. David Fischler
    Board Chairman, Iraqi Christian Relief Council

  3. Comment by Mike Ward on October 26, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    Great article. I’m particularly upset over #4. And I don’t think many Christians simply fail to prioritize other Christians. They actively prioritize non-Christians. It makes many Christians feel especially Jesusy.

  4. Comment by Faith McDonnell on December 2, 2017 at 11:32 am

    Totally agree with you. And I love the way you phrased it: “especially Jesusy”

  5. Comment by Sardar Feroze Khan on October 27, 2017 at 2:14 pm

    A Christian who does not care other Christians ,may be any thing but not a Christian.

  6. Comment by Alice Naegele on October 30, 2017 at 5:50 pm

    Amen! “They will know we are Christians by our love,” as the song goes.

  7. Comment by Will Putz on October 28, 2017 at 12:10 am

    Thank you for shining a light on this, Mark! Forgive us, Good Lord.

  8. Comment by Naomi Lackey on October 31, 2017 at 1:27 am

    My heart hurts for the persecution of the Christians– the killing of little children, etc. I think our media should be more concerned for the truth of the persecutions– that are going on, all the time. I appreciate being an American, more on this aspect, than any other, But, just because it is not here, now – does not mean it won’t be here. The ‘silence’ about the persecutions certainly helps open the door to apathy.. It is never out of my mind, my prayers. God help us

  9. Comment by Karen on October 31, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    I must be missing something here. The churches I have visited (many of them for months) may put forth a little effort into missions and local ministries, but the real emphasis always ends up on the kitchen renovation, paying off the mortgage, expanding the building for more office space. They don’t see beyond their own lives. Somehow it doesn’t register what that same money could be doing to make drastic changes to improve others’ lives. I don’t see others in the church burdened at all for our persecuted brothers and sisters. And praying for persecuted? Not even that, in spite of requests on prayer cards for corporate prayer to just mention something!

  10. Comment by Anthony Harkin on July 24, 2020 at 2:10 pm

    I’m sick of the self-centered Christianity of the West. They want God’s blessing and help in THEIR time of need, but don’t give a flyin’ flip about anything outside their own circle! For instance, try posting something about the plight of Christians on Facebook and you’ll hear the collective yawn. You’ll see a picture of their kid, wildlife, their outing, but a morsel for the persecuted? Not a chance! I’m so disgusted sometimes I don’t even want to go to church anymore.

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