Egyptian Christian's goal: restrictions lifted on Gospel

Baptist Press ^ | Feb 14, 2011 | Erin Roach

[wmfights]

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--The transfer of power in Egypt has the potential to be "even more dramatic than the fall of the Berlin Wall," a Southern Baptist observer said after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down Feb. 11.

"In these uncertain times, I am sure that God is drawing Egyptians to Himself in Jesus Christ. That is of primary importance, but He is also seeking to give all people a government in which our God-given personhood can excel," Mike Edens, professor of Islamic studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, told Baptist Press.

"In such environments, freedom of speech and freedom of conscience flourish. Egypt and most of the world has not experienced that. For God to give that gift to Egyptians, an extraordinary period of free discussion by Egyptians of Egyptian concerns, hopes and dreams needs to occur. What has happened in these past days is unique in the Arab and Muslim worlds but it is also rare within the human family.

"This can be an event even more dramatic than the fall of the Berlin Wall," Edens said. "It is a great time for us to pray for God to be glorified in the course of His choosing in Egypt, to pray for followers of Jesus Christ living in Egypt and among Egyptians to be bold and effective in living out and sharing the Gospel."

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"I see this as a good door opened for us to help and serve our neighbors. We have been living together for hundreds of years through which the gap has increased. We see the crisis as a bridge for us to reach them."

[ConorMacNessa]

When the MB comes into power you can forget about tolerance of Christians.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Paisan]

“This can be an event even more dramatic than the fall of the Berlin Wall,”

Forget the Muslim Brotherhood. If they were the powerful force in the Mid-East that everyone says they are, they would already BE in power. They’re not.

We are witnessing a change in the Mid-East that most people are blind to, much like the collapse of the Soviet Union.

What is going on here is the start of the Peace, spoken of in Ezekiel 39.

THEN, the SHTF...

[wmfights]

When the MB comes into power you can forget about tolerance of Christians.

I fear this as well. My hope is the military will establish freedom of religion in the new constitution and establish a Republic and not a democracy. I know I'm hoping for a lot, but the alternative is not good.

[Twinkie]

Well, it seemed to me when I read Ezekiel 38 & 39 that 39 couldn’t happen until after 38 happened. As far as I know, 38 hasn’t happened yet - unless I missed something?

[pallis]

I pray the Christians can get out when the Islamists take over.

[Paisan]

You’re correct. I meant Ezek. 38:

I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

This hasn’t happened yet. The Security Walls are still up. But, they are there and I believe there is a Sea Change occuring in the Mideast right now, that will lull Israel into a false sense of security and the walls will come down. This is, I believe, the start of that process.

[Twinkie]

Well, it sure doesn’t look too good for those countries that attack Israel in Ezekiel 38. It specifically names Iran (Persia) and others that have already drawn their battle lines for all intents and purposes. It’s not that I take any pleasure in it, but Bible prophecy is pretty clear what will happen when they do that. Of course, their book is the Koran, and they don’t set any store by that “other book” or us “people of the book” - the Saturday people and the Sunday people.