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The vulnerable
Afghanistan is still a battleground. While the conflict with Taliban insurgents continues to make headline news, the persecution of Christians does not. Today the country is more or less 100% Muslim, but in pre-Islamic times there was a substantial Christian presence. Now the tiny Christian population consists primarily of foreigners.
It is believed that there are in the region of 1,000 Afghan converts from Islam to Christianity, but in truth only the Lord really knows the true number. Only one church building exists and it is to be found in the grounds of a European embassy.
The converts are very vulnerable, especially since the case of Abdul Rahman, who was denounced by his family as an apostate in 2006. He was charged with apostasy, threatened with a death sentence, but finally released on a pretext after international pressure. Sadly, it is feared that this reaction has increased the possibility that subsequent accusations of apostasy will be dealt with through unofficial executions before seeing the inside of a court.
In the last thirty years, Afghanistan has endured invasion by the Soviet Union followed by a jihad to oust them; five years of rule by the Taliban, who imposed a stricter form of Islam than any of the classical schools of sharia, causing many women to commit suicide; and the 2001 American-led invasion to oust the Taliban and introduce democracy. In spite of the flight of refugees created by these years of conflict an unexpected effect has been produced. Some who became Christians outside the country are now returning.
A Christmas creed
I believe in Jesus Christ and in the beauty of the gospel begun in Bethlehem.
I believe in the one whose spirit glorified a little town, and whose spirit still brings music to persons all over the world, in towns both large and small.
I believe in the one for whom the crowded inn could find no room, and I confess that my heart still sometimes wants to exclude Christ from my life today.
I believe in the one whom the rulers of the earth ignored and the proud could never understand; whose life was among common people, whose welcome came from persons of hungry hearts.
I believe in the one who proclaimed the love of God to be invincible.
I believe in the one whose cradle was a mother's arms, whose modest home in Nazareth had love as its only wealth, who looked at persons and made them see what God's love saw in them, who by love brought sinners back to purity, and lifted human weakness up to meet the strength of God.
I confess my everlasting need of God: the need for forgiveness for our selfishness and greed; the need for new life for empty souls; the need for love for hearts grown cold.
I believe in God who gives us the best of himself. I believe in Jesus, the son of the living God, born in Bethlehem this night, for me and for the world.
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