_|_ | C O P | N E T Youth Group Discussion Series PERSECUTION Azer Bestavros Introduction ------------ Perhaps the greatest glory of the Coptic Church is its Cross. Copts take pride in the persecution they have sustained as early as May 8, 68 A.D., when their Patron St. Mark was slain on Easter Monday after being dragged from his feet by Roman soldiers all over Alexandria's streets and alleys. To emphasize their pride in their cross, Copts adopted a calendar, called the Calendar of the Martyrs, which begins its era on August 29, 284 A.D., in commemoration of those who died for their faith during the rule of Diocletian the Roman Emperor. The Copts have been persecuted by almost every ruler of Egypt. Their Clergymen have been tortured and exiled even by their Christian brothers after the schism of Chalcedon in 451 A.D., and continues even till this day. As an immigrant Church, it is often very painful for us to "witness" the pain that our Mother Church in Egypt has to sustain. The news from Egypt bombards us with many stories of pain and suffering. Copts are singled out by the extreme elements of our society who are trying to de-stabilize the government. Dozens of Copts are martyred in the crossfire between the government and extremist Islamic groups; Copts are harrassed on the streets and in the workplace solely because of their faith; and thousands of them are denied good job opportunities because their names start or end with names such as "Mary", "Boulos", "Botros", "Morcos", and "Mina". Given such stories we often wonder, "why does God allow such persecutions?", "what should we do?", "what can we do?" Before we dwell in trying to discuss these questions and hopefully develop an answer, let us first establish a number of facts. Persecution is a "Hallmark" of Christianity -------------------------------------------- The Lord Christ Jesus explained to His disciples "why" they should expect to be executed. The keyword in John's gospel chapter 15, verse 19 is that WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD. Jesus said: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. [John 15:18-21] This is even made clearer in Matthew's gospel, when Christ makes it clear that Christians will be persecuted because of the name they carry---that of Christ: "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." [Matthew 10:22] Christians have an evangelical mission, and the Lord make it clear that it is not an easy mission: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves." [Matthew 10:16] Knowing that persecutions must follow Christians no matter where they go, the Lord wants to assure us of the rewards. He said: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." [Matthew 5:10-12] "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." [Revelation 2:8-11] The Church of Smyrna symbolizes the persecuted church: The era of Martyrdom, whether it is during the reign of Nero the Emperor, or today's persecution by Muslim extremist, or future persecutions (because these persecutions will come). In Revelations, the message to that church is: "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." [Revelation 2:8-11] Unlike many of the other churchs, The Lord does not reproach this church with even one word. This is the church of Martyrs; the church of Love upto DEATH. It has many good WORKS, but is undergoing TRIBULATIONS, and material POVERTY (but is RICH in faith). It is enduring the BLASPHAMY of non-christians in all patience. He tells them not to fear the suffering to come from the DEVIL (or his followers). The message is clear: "BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH" (martyrdom). And why? Because "I WILL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF LIFE". "HE WHO OVERCOMES SHALL NOT BE HURT BY THE SECOND DEATH": A martyr looses his earthly life, but gains eternal life. Is not this the actual situation with our Mother church? YES! It is the church of Symrna, and we should rejoice in that! Other forms of Persecution -------------------------- The persecution of Copts in Egypt is but one form of suffering for the sake of Christ's Name. Anywhere the teachings of Christians are heard, Satan will work hard to fight the light and pollute the "salt of the earth". Let's hear the message of the Lord to the Church of Pegamos that was at the risk of falling into the trap of "comfort". "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth." [Revelation 2:14-16]. The Church of Pergamos symbolizes the Era of "Marriage of Church and State" (Pergamy = marriage). In such an era, a church would be in a state of rest from "apparent forms of persecution", which may lead to this spiritual coolness, which lead to weakness of faith, which lead to heresies, which lead to corruption, which leads to Satan being enthroned. Since Satan couldn't attack from outside (persecution), he attacks it from the inside. It's a corruption that is so bad that Christ is willing to come and "FIGHT AGAINST THEM WITH THE SWORD OF (HIS) MOUTH". Lord Have Mercy! The Church of Pergamos was persecuted through the complacency of its people. It is a church, whose members are "Christians name only". How true of the world we live in today here in a country that prides itself as "under God" and "In God we Trust", but which in truth is letting Satan be enthroned in its Media, Arts, Sciences, and even in its Churches! What do we do? ------------- So the Lord Christ told us that we will have tribulations on earth. Should we sit here silently and take a beating? What should we do? How should we react? Let's see what Christ did when He was persecuted. He indeed defended himself when the servant of the High Priest slapped Him, but that was not to defend His own "self", but rather to defend the word of God, for He told him: "...If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?'' [John 18:23]. If Christ meant by this to defend Himself, why did He allow the Romans to scourge Him and beat Him, and place a crown of thorns on His head, etc. ? Of course, Christ was able to command His angels to stop this suffering, but He didn't. We should not be afraid: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" [Matthew 10:28]. We should be wise and harmless: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." [Matthew 10:16] We should accept to "drink from the cup" as exemplified by Jesus: "Then Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" [John 18:11]. We should never use or rely on force to combat persecution---not our force, and not anybody else's. In Gethemanee, Christ rebuked Peter for drawing his sword to fight the injustices brought by the Jews through Judah. He said: "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" [Matthew 26:52]. There is a very meaningful story from our recent history of a British general who offered to "protect" the Christian minority in Egypt by declaring them "protege's". This offer was made to the Pope of Alexandria, who then responded: "Well, before accepting, I'd better ask you to tell me how many soldiers could your Kingdom offer to protect us?" The General recounted the magnificient might of the British empire, and after a very impressive account, the Pope replied: "Well, is that all?" The General was quite puzzled by this illogical question. "What more than that could you even dream of?" The Pope replied that He has a better deal, a stronger protector, "God who can afford a guardian angel for each one of his sons and daughters!". We should love and pray: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [Matthew 5:44-45]. Not only we should love our enemies, but also "be good to those who hate us": "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. [Luke 6:27-29] "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me" [Matthew 10:38]. Discussion ---------- 1. How could we lend a helping hand to Copts under physical persecution? 2. What are new forms of persecutions in this land of "Christianity by name"? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _|_ This article is one of many more articles about the Coptic Orthodox | Church, the Christian Apostolic Church of Egypt. These articles can be | obtained electronically from Copt-Net Repository, using anonymous FTP COP|NET from pharos.bu.edu:CN. Please mail inquiries to CN-request@cs.bu.edu. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------