An Update on the Situation in Belgium

It’s not everyday that the media outlets of the world have their attention riveted on the small country of Belgium,… Read more An Update on the Situation in Belgium

It’s not everyday that the media outlets of the world have their attention riveted on the small country of Belgium, but after discovering the horrific attack on Paris was planned by extremists in a Brussels neighborhood, suddenly everyone has their eye on this small nation.  In roughly the last year, there have now been 4 incidents involving terroristic activity in Belgium: a police shootout with a terror cell in southern Belgium, a shooting at a Jewish museum in Brussels, the train attack that ended in Brussels after several heroic passengers took action, as well as the current manhunt and terror alert.

It’s worth noting that none of these incidents had anything to do with the refugees fleeing from Syria.  These extremists were already here.  There are around 700,000 Muslims living in Belgium and 1 in 4 residents of Brussels are Muslim, making it one of the most Islamic cities in the EU.  However, the vast majority are not radicalized Muslims and certainly not terrorists.  Based on my experience, I would say most of these Muslims who live in Belgium have become far more Westernized than radicalized.  Many of them experience a crisis of faith and identity as they go to Catholic schools, hang out with friends who regularly drink alcohol and eat pork, and are exposed to Western music and films.  Every year we have many Muslims who come to our SportQuest camps and openly discuss issues of faith with us, and we partner with the Bijbelhuis in Antwerp who reaches out to its Muslim community daily — even hosting Bible studies for Muslims and Christians to examine the Bible together.

I know from a political standpoint all of this raises some difficult and complex questions, but as a Christian I have to see this as an amazing opportunity.  Did you know more Muslims have committed to follow Christ in the last 10 years than in the first 15 centuries of Islam?  There are now somewhere between 2 and 7 million Christians who come from a Muslim background (conservative estimate).  I have a friend named Cagdas, who comes from Turkey and became radically saved in Istanbul when he was 18 years old.  He now lives in Brussels with his wife, and together they continue reaching out to the many Turkish immigrants around them.  In the past, missionaries had to risk their lives to have a chance to share the Gospel in these closed Muslim countries, but now God is bringing the Muslim countries to us.

Since the attacks in Paris, daily life here in Ghent has not changed.  The only adjustment we had to make was canceling an appointment we were supposed to have yesterday at the American Embassy in Brussels.  In Brussels itself things came to a halt for a few days as schools closed down and the metro stopped running.  Soldiers could be seen posted all over the city while several arrests were being made and the terror alert was raised to its highest level.  Though it’s strange to be in such close proximity to the attacks in Paris (3 hours away) and the threats in Brussels (45 minutes away), we are not fearful.  We pray for comfort and healing for those grieving their losses after the attacks in Paris, as well as others in Lebanon, Nigeria, and elsewhere, and we pray for protection from evil.

To be sure, this will not be the last time that evil will rear its ugly head in our world, whether far or near; however, we trust that the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will for our lives.  Nowhere is 100% safe and nothing is 100% under our control; therefore, we choose to keep our eyes fixed on the Author of Life and we pray God will use us to be a light in the midst of the darkness all around.  Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “ Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. ”  In light of everything that is changing so rapidly in our world, may God use us to shine bright and love without fear all who God puts in our path.  For the Body of Christ throughout the world, may this be our finest hour yet!