Iraqi Christian diaspora

Christmas was marked with more bloodshed in Iraq. Christians were targeted in three powerful bomb blasts that killed 38 people and wounded 52 others. Many of the victims were leaving a church following services. The scene was simply horrific.

Ahmed Edan, a policeman on duty in the area of the attacks, said the sound of the first of the two explosions caused worshippers to leave the church.

"A car parked near the church exploded when the families were hugging each other goodbye before leaving. The blast was powerful," he said.

"Bodies of women, girls and men were lying on the ground covered in blood. Others were screaming and crying while they were trying to save some of their wounded relatives."

My heart goes out to the Christians of Iraq. During the past decade, they have fled their homes, churches, and communities because of growing violence and persecution. It is a morality play worthy of Shakespeare.

After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, his followers dispersed across the Mediterranean basin to spread the good news of God's abiding love for all. The gospel is thought to have spread eastward from Damascus into the plains of Nineveh through the tireless efforts of two of the original disciples - Thomas and Jude.

Ironically, we remember Thomas as the disciple that refused to believe Christ had risen from the dead until he saw and touched the wounds left by the nails. His doubt lead to the encounter recorded in John 20:24-27.

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

All we know of Jude comes from his short letter warning of Christians in name only that treated Eucharist feasts as excuses to eat, drink, and be merry. The brief epistle ends with powerful benediction (Jude 1:24-25).

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

The seeds scattered by these and other disciples grew into a vibrant Christian community that has lived and worshipped together for nearly two thousand years. Never more than about 5% of the population, the strength of their faith allowed them to hold fast to their beliefs.

I stand in awe of Christians in places like Iraq where they are a tiny minority, outnumbered 20 to 1 and no doubt subjected to social pressures to conform to the beliefs and practices of the majority. Saints Thomas and Jude are surely pleased with the faith taken to heart by those that heard their message.

In America, it takes little courage to practice Christianity as it is the overwhelmingly dominant religious belief. We have our sectarian divisions within the body of Christ often leading to unseemly squabbles, but worship free of fear. Sometimes we even get so full of ourselves that we fail to respect people in our communities that have different religious beliefs or none at all. It has even become fashionable for some Christians to disingenuously claim persecution if they are not given dominion over all.

I sometimes if it is a blessing or a curse for Christianity to be the dominant religion. It is probably both. We can practice our faith with ease but it lends itself too easily to lukewarm and lazy practice. But I digress.

Ten years ago, our political leaders engaged in false witness against the people of Iraq. They accused Iraq of harboring weapons of mass destruction and colluding with terrorists to harm America. We now know those were nothing but lies. However, egged on by some prominent Christian leaders, our country bombed, invaded, and occupied Iraq. In the process we squandered nearly two trillion dollars and countless people in Iraq died from violence and the collapse of infrastructure.

Even when the lies, incompetence, corruption, torture, and random acts of extreme cruelty associated with this debacle were exposed, none of the Christian leaders that supported the war repented. In fact, some even mocked those that opposed the war.

One of the bitterest fruits of our arrogance and malice has been the persecution of Christians in Iraq after the war. The persecution has several root causes. One is that the chaos created by the war fostered sectarian violence. Thanks to our ugly mixture of faith and politics, many in Iraq became convinced that the war was part of a "crusade" against Islam. Adding further fuel to the fire, many American evangelical organizations rushed into Iraq after the war to proselytize. They did so over the objection of Iraqi Christians who had a 'live and let live' relationship with their Muslim neighbors.

When the fruit of "evangelism" is the persecution of a Christian community that traces its roots to two of the original twelve disciples of Christ, the tree seems suspect at best. Iraqi Christians with the means to emigrate have fled, finding new homes in Chaldean communities in Syria, Lebanon, and the west. The less fortunate languish in refugee camps. The exodus has decimated this once vibrant body of Christ. Poisonous fruit indeed.

The injustice of this inglorious mess troubling. The Christians of Iraq seem to have paid a terrible price for the hubris of Christians in America. Too many here championed violence instead of peace. They gulped down lies like beer at a college fraternity party. Puffed up in pride, they sold Christ like just another commodity. Their consciences seem bullet-proof against the suffering left in their wake. Reflection and repentance are nowhere in sight. All of these folks claim to have been led by the Holy Spirit, yet the fruits of their actions are anything but good. I find it all hard to fathom.

Lord, I pray for the victims of violence in Iraq, Christians and Muslims alike. Give your peace to all that mourn. Uproot the trees sewn in hatred. Wash away the tears. Heal the broken in body and spirit.