Update on Egypt's Government

Muslim Brotherhood Fully in Power in Egypt
After the citizens of Egypt ousted military ruler Hosni Mubarek from office in the Spring of 2011 the Muslim Brotherhood has stepped into a new role in Egypt. They were legalized as a political party and the people elected the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood into office as President of Egypt. As of Sunday, August 13, 2012,President Mohammed Morsi took over total control of the Egyptian military as well as the government. It was a silent coup with Morsi retiring the defense minister and chief of staff and retaking military powers the generals grabbed from his office days before his June 30 inauguration.

Shortly after Morsi's election, the Senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam el-Erian assured the world that the Muslim Brotherhood plans to work with the world along with the people of Egypt and to take its place in the governing of the country. The election of Mohammed Morsi need not bring fear to the world. President Morsi planned to build unity in the government. "If we can build a wide coalition instead, this would be good," Erian says. "This is our strategy for many reasons: not to frighten others, inside or outside, and also because this is a country destroyed, destroyed by Mubarak and his family – why would the rebuilding task be only for us? It's not our task alone, it's the job of all Egyptians." He adds: "The Muslim Brothers are a special case because we are not seeking power through violent or military means like other Islamic organisations that might be violent. We are a peaceful organisation; we work according to the constitution and the law ("http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/08/egypt-muslim-brotherhood-uncovered)

According to el-Erian, "The Mubarak regime was very skillful at exaggerating the influence of the Brotherhood and painting them as a threat to Egyptian society and to the west," he added. "It was the pretext for Mubarak's rule, and it was a lie. I think that if Egypt held free and fair elections tomorrow the Brotherhood would not get a majority; it would enjoy a significant presence in parliament but the overall makeup of seats would be pluralistic. This is the time for the west to rethink its attitudes to the Muslim Brotherhood. If they don't start assessing the weight of the brotherhood accurately, they will make major miscalculations in the coming days." (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/08/egypt-muslim-brotherhood-uncovered)

I can not say I understand Egyptian politics. It is so complex. I do know that the Muslim Brotherhood is an organization that has its roots as an Islamist religious, political and social movement. The organization was outlawed in Egypt more than once after supporting Nazi Germany during WWII. Since that time they have fought for legitimacy at home and abroad. As an organization they have been community activists and represented in the government of Egypt for years.

It has taken less than two years for the Muslim Brotherhood to become the leading power throughout Egypt. It is important to understand that it is the goal of the party to institute Islamic Shariah law across the country. This will have immediate and heavy consequences for women, the Coptic Christians and other minority groups within Egypt. It also leads to many questions regarding Egypt's support or lack thereof of its neighbor Israel. Israel and Egypt have long held an uneasy alliance in the Middle East and Egypt has helped the smaller Israel by standing at its side through some dangerous times.

I, personally, am watching for the re-emergence of the antisemitism that happened during WWII. The history of the Muslim Brotherhood includes detailed support for Adolf Hitler and his way of governing including the persecution of Jews. The Muslim Brotherhood is viewed with great doubt from other countries as it has been considered a terrorist organization during its history. Christian throughout the world must not let the antisemitism that ruled during Hitler's reign gain momentum and lead to tragic results for the Jewish people or for Israel.

I believe Christians throughout the world must understand that this change in Eygptian leadership is a call to prayer. It is a call to pray for protection of the Jewish people of the world and for the non-Islamic people of Egypt. It is a call to evaluate our understanding of the Jewish state of Israel and how God's plan for his people is playing out in today's world. I think many of us are sitting on the fence in this area. We are choosing to stay oblivious because these things are happening across the ocean. Wake up people! God has us here in this time and in this season for an important reason. We need to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We can not be stagnant Christians, interested only in our daily lives. We must turn our face to the Lord and worship Him, give Him glory and prevail upon Him that in His mercy He bring peace to earth and protect His people.

Guardian Angel

Angels on My Mind

Recently, I have had angels on my mind. I have always believed in angels. As a child I learned about guardian angels. (Exodus 23:20 NIV "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.) I learned about Gabriel who appeared to Zechariah to tell him his wife Elizabeth was pregnant. (Luke 1) Again in Luke, Gabriel appears to Mary to tell her she was to give birth to a baby and that the name of her child was to be Jesus. It was so easy to believe in the presence of angels when I was child. I also loved to hear how when Jesus was born the cherubim and seraphim sang in the heavenlies and the shepherds could hear them rejoicing. (3 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2) Angels were just a part of my understanding of God and His creation. It remains so until this day.

As an adult I learned more about the fallen angels - satan and his demons. I learned how one of the greatest lies that satan wants everyone to believe he does not really exist and is only a figure from mythology-a way primitive people across cultures have depicted evil when it was impossible to understand the bad things happening around them. The second greatest lie is that satan is more powerful than the Trinity. God the father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit have been impugned to the point where even some of those professing a love for them believe they are impotent against satan and his legions. Sadly, many Christians have taken the knowledge of God’s power to act in this world out of their theology and insist that the power God displayed in the early days of the church is gone. It was only for a special time period.  This belief leads to ineffectual prayer and long suffering of God’s people. God’s word shows us the truth about His angels and about satan. God’s angels are present today and many people can give a voice to their experiences with them.

My own life story includes many times where I have “seen” angels. It is hard to describe what open-eyed visions are unless I am speaking to another who has experienced them. It is a bit like looking out over a field and seeing a very ethereal, fine mist. In my visions, I see angels superimposed over what I see in the natural. They are indistinguishable as either male or female and tend to look more like a fine smoke than a full figure of a person although I can always sense the presence of the angel itself, its beginning and its end. 

My most recent experience with seeing angels was when I came home from the last NRSD Retreat. This is a weekend spent in prayer, learning about the Bible, and fellowshipping with other Christians. Since I moved into this particular apartment I have been asking the Lord for His presence in my home and welcoming Him to abide here with us. I also welcomed His angels. Well, I really never sensed any presences or any movement in this area until the morning after our retreat. I was sitting and drinking coffee and pondering over the events and teachings of the weekend when I glanced up and there before me in my apartment were angels. They all appeared just as I described above, however, this time they all seemed very busy! I sighed, smiled and thanked God for His presence with His angels. Since then I have been assured that my home is a place where angels know they are welcome. I feel like perhaps my home is now a rest stop for angels as they go about their earthly assignments.

This same retreat weekend I also experienced a comforting touch on my shoulder that I believe was an angel. I had just heard my father had experienced a severe heart attack and was in surgery, so I withdrew to my room to pray for him and to rest a bit. While praying for my dad, I felt a hand on my shoulder which imbued great comfort and peace to me. I felt better and was assured my dad was in God’s hands. 

It is common in our modern day culture to be drawn to angels. I know that I am not alone in my experiences with them. It is good to know God will send His angels to protect us, minister to us and to assist us in worshiping Him. I know many people believe in angels but they do not believe in God. They may believe in a god or a goddess but not the God of the Bible. The one caution I give all my friends regarding angels is DO NOT WORSHIP them. To worship angels is the same sin satan committed when he was expelled from heaven. Angels are a wonderful and necessary part of God’s creation. I am so thankful for them in my life and for my increasing understanding of them, but I am always reminded that I worship only God. Jesus saved me and pulled me from the miry pit. That was not angels. That was Jesus-the Word Incarnate. To God be all the glory!