Government: Not a Terror to Good Conduct

If you haven't heard, Christians in Iraq are being forced to flee their homes in fear for their lives.

You can find a news articles about this tragedy here and here.

What can you do?

Pray

One of the ways that we can bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters in Iraq is to pray for them.  We also know the only one who is able to change the hearts of men.  May we cry out to God on behalf of the persecuted in Iraq.  May God give them strength and boldness in their faith.  And may He protect them from harm.

 Ask our government to protect these people.

Romans 13 tells us that God gives us civil government for our good.  It is part of His common grace given to believer and unbeliever alike.

Romans 13:3-4 

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Many have asked often why the Holocaust was allowed to continue without more of an effort to intervene and protect the Jewish people.  It is easy to look back into history with moral indignation and wonder why something was not done to end the atrocities committed by Hitler and the Nazis.  It is much more difficult to stand up to the injustice of our day with moral fortitude and call for action.

God's image bearers are being systematically murdered in Iraq.  Our government has the ability to act on behalf of the men, women, and children who are being victimized.  May we not turn a blind eye to suffering just because it is happening on the other side of the world.

While I do not have the White House on speed dial, the Obama administration has created a way for you to make your voice heard regarding the issues that are important to you.  Using the platform for creating petitions established by the President and his staff, a petition has been created regarding this issue.  If 100,000 signatures are collected within the 30 day window, the White House will respond.

You can find the petition here.  Educate yourself on the situation.  Pray.  Then go to the petition and sign it.  Signing this petition is one small way you can stand against injustice the injustice happening right now in Iraq.  Let President Obama know that this issue is important to you.

Note: At this time, the petition has received 24,253 of the necessary 100,000 signatures that it must have by August 20, 2014.

Update: It looks like President Obama is taking action in Iraq.  I was unaware of this fact at the time I wrote this post.  You can find more information in this article.  You can also listen to Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speak to the situation from the Christian worldview by clicking here.