Michael Youssef
Michael Youssef, PhD is an Egyptian-born American and founding rector of The Church of The Apostles. His messages are broadcast 3800 times a week into 200 countries through Leading The Way Ministries. He holds a PhD from Emory University in Social Anthropology. His blog: www.michaelyoussef.com Follow on Twitter: @MichaelAYoussef
After making numerous phone calls and speaking to many Christian leaders in Egypt this week, I have learned that what is really happening on the ground is far removed from the television reporters’ happy endorsement of democracy seekers. To describe what is really going on around the country as “barbaric” would be an understatement. While some of the protestors may be true democracy lovers, the widespread terrorism on display defies all human decency.
The truth about recent events in Egypt reveals that the country has disintegrated into a total anarchy and barbarianism that would make the Vikings blush.
Peaceful Christians are being beheaded in their own homes. Their possessions are being carried off as police either stand helplessly by or, for a portion of the booty, turn a blind eye. And surprise, surprise! Nearly all the victims of beheadings were Christians killed by Muslim fundamentalists.
Not only are the Egyptian Islamists poised to take over the country next Monday if the election is held as scheduled, but these acts of terrorism are serving as propaganda tools to “prove” that they and they alone can bring order to the country with their Sharia law. So, for now at least, these terrorist acts reinforce their cause and agenda.
So much for President Obama’s “Arab Spring.” When history books are written truthfully, they will reveal that the President’s speech in Cairo, one he insisted the Islamists attend, set this barbarism in motion. Another misstep by President Obama was his demand that his ambassador in Cairo negotiate with what, at the time, was an outlawed entity known as the “Muslim Brotherhood.” This gave the Islamist group a huge comfort level in their push to take over.
While I cannot enter into the man’s heart or know his motive, I do wonder how Mr. Obama can sleep at night knowing that his misguided foreign policy emboldened pro-Islamists and caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people.
It gives me no comfort to say, “I told you so.” But back in January of this year, I warned of such mayhem taking root in Egypt.
Indecisive leadership kills innocent people and causes disasters. Take President Jimmy Carter’s vacillating support for the Shah of Iran. In one breath, Carter would support the beleaguered leader, and in the next, he would praise the Iranian Revolution. That indecisiveness led to 52 Americans being taken hostage for 444 days inside the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
It is precisely the same kind of vacillation and accommodation on the part of Mr. Obama that has emboldened the Islamists around the world. As a result, we have seen jihadist-led bloodbaths from Yemen to Syria and from Libya to Egypt.
On a positive note, it is not too late for Mr. Obama to admit he was wrong and change his policy. In fact, it would be very courageous for him to say, “I was wrong about the Islamists.” Then he could reverse his policy of accommodation, fire his Islamist advisers in the White House and the State Department and start anew — with a clean slate of truthfulness and honesty. Until then, we can only wait, hope and pray.
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"'Our faith is not that bad things won't happen. Our faith is that when bad things do happen, God can still use that material to make something holy.' 'We do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so be swift to love and make haste to be kind.'"
Rev. Suzanne Harris
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