Letter to My Non-Christian Friend
I don't know how to explain to you the freedom of a life in Christ.There's a reason this blog is focused on Copts. I often joke that I'm the world's worst evangelist.Once you're in the Church, I don't mind serving you. But I'm not going to convince you to join us.It's a hard life. You want me to sell you on skipping your bacon and cheese and your coffee in the morning for two-thirds of the year?You want me to persuade you of the beauty of a three-hour service? You want me to tell you that our humble cymbals and off-tune chanting move my heart more than the Top 40 Billboard?It's tough to explain being Coptic Orthodox to you--despite loving my Church more than anything in the world.Yet, watching the video of the coffins of the 21 Martyrs of Libya* being unloaded I can't help but think of Christ's words: "My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:30)What would I trade for the swell of pride and emotion in my chest watching these men being honored in Christ?What riches could you offer that could counter their witness?I have water that I may never thirst, food that you know not of, and I have an unshakable joy. Yes, joy.And in our joy, what weapon can be formed against us?They kill us and our blood waters the ground and hundreds rise up in our place.
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;When I fall, I will arise;When I sit in darkness,The LORD will be a light to me.(Micah 7:8)
What could separate us from the love of Christ? Tough times? Persecution? Hunger? Danger? The slice of a sharp sword on a beach in Libya?
For Your sake we are killed all day long;We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.(Rom 8:37)
In all of these situations, we are the winners because we feel the love of Christ who loves us. You can see it in the glow in our faces.While the bodies of these men--who were beheaded for refusing to deny Christ, refusing to be bullied, beaten or threatened into separating themselves from the love of their Beloved Lord--are being rolled out of the plane, do you hear what we're singing?It's in Arabic, so let me translate.
Rejoice with us today with gladness,in the Resurrection of the Lord Christ...He is the first-fruit of those who have fallen asleep...He has granted us the everlasting joyand freed us from bitter bondage.
I wish for you this everlasting joy. I wish for you the freedom from bitter bondage. I want you to have a taste of this gladness and this love which men die for.I can't push you into it. I can't talk you into it. That's not where my talents lie.But one day, when you've hit rock bottom, when you're lying on the ground in tears, when you've just about given up, I want you to call on Him. I want you to know to call on Him. There are no prerequisites to that.(And hey--nobody says you have to wait to rock-bottom; you can start today--)He doesn't care how you call Him. You don't have to do anything special first. Acknowledge that He's there and form whatever words your heart forms. He speaks every language.He counts all your tears, He records them in His book--I mean it. He said so. And you'll find that His promises are true and He is faithful to fulfill them.Until then, I will pray. I will pray for your comfort and happiness. I will pray for your prosperity and your success.And, yes, I will pray that you find your way to Him... because I want more for you than treasure where moths eat and rust destroys. I want you to make an investment with a return that increases from year to year.I take no benefit. I win no prizes. I get no discounts when you choose Christ, when you choose Orthodox Christianity.The benefit is yours, the prize is yours. The after-western-Easter candy discount is yours (Sorry, inside joke).As one of the mothers said, "Our God is mighty and lovely."
Oh, taste and seethat the LORD is good.Blessed is the manwho trusts in Him."(Psalm 34:8)
*Read more here.