A New Identity for Middle East Christians

The 20th century was a time in the Middle East when nominally secular dictators espousing notions of pan-Arabism — the ideology of uniting the "Arab World" and downplaying or crushing the different cultural aspects of the region's innumerable sectarian groups — reigned supreme.

However, as we continue past the first decade of the 21st century, the regional picture is changing. In 2003, the pan-Arabist dictator Saddam Hussein was deposed in Iraq. In 2005 occupying Syrian forces under another pan-Arabist, Bashar al-Assad, were forced out of Lebanon. Now the Arab Spring is demonstrating the Middle East's new Islamist future.

Besides the battles involving rifles and sectarian militias, another fight has been an underlying feature of the contemporary Middle East: Identity. This newly exposed battle is especially prevalent among the region's declining Christian population.

In his enlightening piece on Middle Eastern Christian identity, my friend and colleague Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi concluded, "[T]he degree of linguistic and cultural Arabization over time has played more of a part in the formulation of identity among Middle Eastern Christians than a simple desire to avoid persecution at the hands of the Muslims majorities."

Continue reading at spectator.org

Evermyrtle

It is very difficult for Christians in Arab countries, they are many punished severely, even to the point of death.

Luke 21:12-16
12. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before king and rulers for my name's sake.
13. And it shall turn to you for a testimony
14. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not meditate before what you answer:
15. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain say or resist.
16. And yo shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinfolks, and friends, and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17. And you shall be hated by all men for my sake.

John 16:2-3
2. They shall put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time will come, that whosoever kills you will think that he does GOD service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the FATHER,nor me.

Please may this survive!!!
keyboardshark

God Himself will give them a new name:

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

Revelation 2:17

They will have God's name written on them:

"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."

Revelation 3:12
Esteban Cafe

Middle Eastern Christian's "New Identity"? Usally a cross over a fresh mound.
aceituna

It seems the extreeme Muslim beliefs are in ascendancy.