Fariza

Have you ever thought about why the Middle East, the birthplace of Christianity, is now a region where our faith is slowly becoming extinct?

How did that happen?

Well, when Islam emerged in the 7th century, it expanded through a combination of migration, military conquest, political pressure, and systems of governance that demanded absolute submission: convert, pay the tax, or die.

And what did Christians do? They tolerated, accommodated, stayed quiet, and at times trusted the Muslims, in hopes of a better future. And slowly and surely, these communities began to shrink.

Now I see something similar happening in America, and it deeply concerns me.

Over the years, I have met way too many Christians who are so afraid of offending anyone that they have lost the ability to stand for anything.

They remind me of the Laodicean church, which God wants to spit out for being useless.

These Christians will sacrifice the truth of the Gospel for the sake of social approval, choosing their own comfort, bank accounts, and reputations over the eternal destinies of their neighbors.

There are times when I want to physically shake these Christians and slap them across the face to wake them up (obviously, this is all metaphorical).

We cannot afford to be this passive anymore. We have to remind people and ourselves that not all roads lead to the kingdom of God; that is a lie that comes straight from the pit of hell, and far too many Christians have fallen into this trap and are on their way to that hell.

In fact, it is religious tolerance that leads people into the eternal abyss.

And here is the thing about tolerance: it only works when it is mutual.

The hypocrisy I have witnessed in the last several years from American-born Muslims demanding religious tolerance and freedom here while knowing they would never extend it back home (immigrant parents’ homeland) is astonishing.

They expect a pluralism that they would never allow. And yet, instead of speaking the truth, too many Christians accept it because they are too afraid to hurt someone’s feelings or avoid confrontation because it is perceived as “rude.”

I want to be very clear: I’m not encouraging violence. I don’t want Christians shouting, “Go back to your country! America is a Christian country” in the middle of a grocery store in the cereal aisle.

That is not productive, effective, or Christ-like.

I know what religious violence looks like because I have lived as a child and a teenager, and I would not wish it upon my worst enemy. The scars of civil war, fueled in part by religious fanaticism, have left wounds that I will carry for the rest of my life.

What I want Christisn to do instead is start taking their faith seriously. I want Christians in America to wake up from their cozy spiritual slumber.

I want Christians to have the courage to stand for truth — to speak boldly, love genuinely, and be willing to sacrifice comfort for the Gospel. We were meant to take up our crosses and follow Jesus Christ.

So go on and do that!

Get involved in Muslim communities, live among Muslims, build genuine relationships, share a meal, invite them to church. Speak the truth with love and kindness, but do not soften it. Don’t pretend that the Gospel is simply one option among many. If you call yourself a Christian, then live as though you truly believe Christ is the way.

And you know why this matters so much to me personally?

Because I came to the West seeking freedom — the freedom to believe, to speak, and to live without fear.

I came here hoping to breathe finally…

And now I watch people who should be standing firm allow that freedom to weaken through complacency and fear. I did not escape one kind of oppression only to watch another form of conformity take root in the country I now call home.

There is a reason Christianity does not teach religious relativism — the idea that all gods are equally true. In Scripture, Yahweh repeatedly calls His people away from false gods. When they decide to worship a false idol, He allows them to bear the consequences of that choice.

We serve a just God — a God who does not force His will upon us. A God who gives us free will. A Father who desires children, not slaves. A God who will not drag people into heaven against their will. He allows people to choose — even when that choice is rebellion. Yet even in rebellion, He watches over us.

And when we return, He embraces us as a loving Father.

So don’t wait until you are feeding pigs, get swallowed by a whale, or are prohibited from entering the Promised Land because you were too wise in your own eyes.

We can do better than this. We have to, or we will lose everything worth keeping.