Egypt and the Beatitudes

Ruins of a Coptic Church Razed in Egypt's Protests

Sunday last, as our parish reflected upon the challenges and blessings of life in the Kingdom of God -- living as resident aliens amidst the rebellious earthly kingdoms (cf Ps. 2) -- as described in the Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-12), our rector pointed toward our Christian brothers and sisters in Egypt as examples of those persecuted for righteousness' sake -- reviled and persecuted and spoken evil of falsely. We joined with them in the solidarity of prayer and in the communion of saints at the Table of our Lord. And all this is good and right and our bounden duty. And yet.

This morning -- two days later -- a local newspaper featured a photograph of Egyptian Coptic Christians in Nashville, TN protesting the coup d'etat that ousted President Morsi. Both the photograph and article's headline were disturbing. The caption of the photograph read in part: "Egyptian Christians from Coptic Churches demonstrate Monday in Nashville to show their support of the Egyptian military and denounce violence against Christians." The most prominent sign held by any protestor read: WE SUPPORT EGYPTIAN MILITARY. The headline of the article declared: Egyptian Christians hold Nashville Protest.

 My mind returned to Sunday and to the Beatitudes. How, I wonder, does this response of Nashville's Coptic Christians fit with the Beatitudes?

Blessed are those who protest, for the loudest voice will be heard.

Blessed are those who support the military, for God's kingdom comes with tanks and bombs.

Blessed are those who look to the rulers of the earth to usher in the Kingdom, for the means of man accomplish the ends of God.

The truth of the matter -- the hard truth of the matter -- is that the Beatitudes paint a picture of life in the Kingdom of God -- here and now -- as a life salted with poverty of spirit (and the powerlessness that goes with it), sorrow, meekness (and not demonstrations), mercy, purity, peacemaking (not dependence on or support of the military and its violent means), persecution, and suffering. To the extent that the newspaper article and photograph reflect the reality in Egypt -- and not just in Nashville -- the actions of these our brothers and sisters seem bound up more in the politics of the world than of the Kingdom. And while it is right that we pray for an end to all persecution, while it is right that we show solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters through prayer, worship, and material support, we dare not accept their actions uncritically as representative of the ethics of the Kingdom. We all are, and must be, challenged by Christ's most basic message: "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Of course, I write all this from the safety of a land in which, for the moment, Christians are not violently persecuted based either upon faith or politics; what I write can be dismissed -- and perhaps justly so -- on just that basis. Were our churches being razed and my family being harmed, I can only pray that I would cling to the truth of Jesus' vision and to the hope of God's Kingdom already but not yet here. I pray, but I also wonder. Lord, have mercy upon our persecuted brothers and sisters and bring them peace. Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner.