Seven Things You Can Do to Lift Up Our Brothers and Sisters in Syria

In ancient days, when a watchman on Israel’s walls detected an approaching enemy, the first thing he did was grab his shofar.

First mentioned in the Old Testament in Exodus 19:13, the shofar was essentially an instrument, a horn made of ram’s horn or ibex. Similar to a military trumpet used to rally the troops, you can still hear its clarion profundo echoing across the Holy Land today.

That’s what I am doing today. I’m sending out a signal to anyone who will listen, sounding the alarm: Christians are dying in Syria.

It appears the social order there has broken down in the wake of the revolution against strongman Bashar al-Assad. We may be witnessing the early stages of a pogrom against Syria’s roughly 500,000 Christians.

As I write these words, imprisoned Christians are shivering in dank jail cells in Syria — and those are the lucky ones. In recent weeks, we’ve seen over 1,000 civilians killed there. The only offense for many: Their Christian faith. 

Mind you, this is happening in the region where Paul of Tarsus was active 2000 years ago. As recorded in Acts 9, he was on a mission himself to imprison and persecute Christians — but was intercepted by Christ. 

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” the Lord’s voice demanded. On that road to Damascus, Paul’s life was forever changed. But that spirit of persecution in the region tragically continues.

My urgent message to all my fellow Christians worldwide, and to people of good will everywhere: we cannot ignore this violent tragedy. 

“The Christians in Syria are terrified,” author and inter-faith leader Rev. Johnnie Moore recently told Fox News. “They’re so terrified that they won’t say it out loud. And that’s why we have to be there for them.”

My good friend Rev. Moore is right. For the believer, defending the persecuted is not an optional endeavor. Until we stamp out religious intolerance, our sense of security will always depend on which political party, ruler, or despot happens to be in charge.

If we fail to act now, we will always be haunted by the words of the great German pastor Martin Niemöller. He told how the Nazis systematically had persecuted one minority after another as he stood by and watched. Until one day, the door they knocked upon was his.  

“Then they came for me,” he bemoaned. “And there was no one left to speak for me.” No one left. What a horrifying reality that evil can prevail if we allow it. That’s why all of us — and especially Christians — must answer the call to defend the persecuted believers in Syria. 

Like Queen Esther of the Old Testament who saved the Jews from genocide, we are here “for such a time as this.”

You may well ask, “But what can we possibly do that would make a difference?” I have been thinking deeply about this, and here’s my answer:

1. We must pray without ceasing. Please pray that persecuted Christians everywhere, and especially in war-torn Syria, would have access to a Bible for their encouragement, and remain in tune with the Holy Spirit’s voice, their comforter. 

2. Pray for provision. They must have food, shelter, warm clothing, and water — and they must receive it right away because quite possibly, lives hang in the balance.

3. Pray God would give them the right words to say. This requires incredible wisdom, courage, and faith — and as Christians we believe those gifts only come from God.

4. Pray they would be allowed to gather, even if only a few hours a day. And that whether behind bars or free, that the Lord would supply their needs as a community. Pray for comfort for separated families and loved ones as well.

5. Especially vital: Pray for women who are socially vulnerable. They may be alone, or have lost custody of their children due to their faith. Children must not be torn from their families — pray God forbid it!

6. Contact your local representatives and urge them to act. Let them know you are grieving the persecuted Christians — and all religious minorities — in Syria. Whether by letter, email, or phone, let them know that you are counting on them to do whatever it takes to halt this terrible wave of oppression.

7. Finally, pray for all those imprisoned to be released, and for no more loss of life.

Regarding this last plea to set the captives free, here’s something to think about. By praying this prayer, you will in fact be echoing the words Jesus Christ of Nazareth spoke two millennia ago.

The Bible records in Luke 4 that immediately after the Temptation in the Wilderness, Jesus attended services at the synagogue in his hometown. There he rolled open the scroll from Isaiah and read, “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives.” 

Let us not forget, however, that’s why Jesus came to this world. Yet by the time he finished speaking truth to power that day, the townspeople wanted to throw him to his death! 

As that suggests, Jesus was no stranger to the spirit of intolerance and violence we see unfolding in Syria. 

And that’s why I feel led to grab my shofar to sound a warning.

You see, today they’re coming for them. Tomorrow it may be us.