bootsontheground 09/05/09
Someone asked me yesterday if Christians in Afghanistan are experiencing persecution by the Taliban. The question took me by surprise. In the months that I've spent in this war-torn country, I've never come across any Afghan citizen who isn't Muslim.
There is no doubt that anyone who doesn't hold the exact worldview of the Taliban is vulnerable to brutality at their hands. The Taliban kills wantonly - no matter what religion is held by their victims. But Christians specifically? I don't think that is much of an issue here, simply because they don't exist.
In Iraq, Christians make up about 2% of the population. A tiny minority, to be sure, but it is possible to find Christian churches in some places there. But as far as I can ascertain, there isn't one single organized Christian church in Afghanistan. There was one in Kabul, but it was bombed back in 2002 by the Taliban. Here, the total number of Christians from all denominations make up less than .02% of the population - almost too low to measure. In doing some research, I found that there is only one Jew in the entire country, a man named Zablon Simintov, who lives on the street where i purchased some gifts for my kids when I was in Kabul last year.
I know of a few Christian missionaries working "undercover" in this country, one of which leads a "house church" that has no pastor, but is really more of a women's bible study. Most of those who attend, however, are still Muslim.
It's gut-wrenching to think about - as I travel with U.S. forces to remote areas of Afghanistan, I realize that most of the people I see have never met a Christian. Which means I and some of the soldiers and Marines I travel with are most likely the only Christians they will ever see - and we can't speak their language.
The need is great for brave, adventurous souls who will dedicate their lives to bringing the gospel to these people. As desperately impoverished as they are physically, they are even poorer spiritually. Please pray that God will call missionaries here, and that the brutality of the Taliban will serve to turn people toward the God of love.
Christian persecution in Afghanistan?
Someone asked me yesterday if Christians in Afghanistan are experiencing persecution by the Taliban. The question took me by surprise. In the months that I've spent in this war-torn country, I've never come across any Afghan citizen who isn't Muslim.There is no doubt that anyone who doesn't hold the exact worldview of the Taliban is vulnerable to brutality at their hands. The Taliban kills wantonly - no matter what religion is held by their victims. But Christians specifically? I don't think that is much of an issue here, simply because they don't exist.
In Iraq, Christians make up about 2% of the population. A tiny minority, to be sure, but it is possible to find Christian churches in some places there. But as far as I can ascertain, there isn't one single organized Christian church in Afghanistan. There was one in Kabul, but it was bombed back in 2002 by the Taliban. Here, the total number of Christians from all denominations make up less than .02% of the population - almost too low to measure. In doing some research, I found that there is only one Jew in the entire country, a man named Zablon Simintov, who lives on the street where i purchased some gifts for my kids when I was in Kabul last year.
I know of a few Christian missionaries working "undercover" in this country, one of which leads a "house church" that has no pastor, but is really more of a women's bible study. Most of those who attend, however, are still Muslim.
It's gut-wrenching to think about - as I travel with U.S. forces to remote areas of Afghanistan, I realize that most of the people I see have never met a Christian. Which means I and some of the soldiers and Marines I travel with are most likely the only Christians they will ever see - and we can't speak their language.
The need is great for brave, adventurous souls who will dedicate their lives to bringing the gospel to these people. As desperately impoverished as they are physically, they are even poorer spiritually. Please pray that God will call missionaries here, and that the brutality of the Taliban will serve to turn people toward the God of love.