MEDIA

Arab Christian Media Brings New Message to Mideast

Produced by Abdallah Daher
CWNews

September 3, 2004

CWNews.org –The world has become more aware of events in the Middle East in recent years. Many wonder why the region is wracked with constant conflict, and what can be done to change the negative atmosphere.

A few people are using new technologies to do just that--challenging the messages of hate.

Hatred and violence have gripped the Middle East for centuries. Islamic extremism is at the root of the trouble. Its radical doctrines create hatred of Jews, Westerners, and Christians.

All propagated by a biased and misleading Arab media-the kind you'll hear on Arab stations like Al-Jazeera, Al-Aribya and many others.

It's a hateful message that portrays the Arab world as under attack by the West, and in danger of being ruled by Christian and Zionist forces.

On June 28, 2002 in his Friday sermon, Sheik Ahmed Abdul Razek, on Pennsylvania TV, said, "A divine blow will be dealt soon to the US and Israel. By Allah's will. The believers will rejoice with Allah's victory."

Extremist Islam reaches out, especially, to the young who are encouraged to act-out embracing 'shahada' or martyrdom.

A boy, recorded by Palestinian Media Watch, says "How sweet is the shahada" as he falls to the ground. A young girl-Walla, only 11 years old-recorded by the same Palestinian Watch, says "Everyone yearns for Shahada. What could be better than going to paradise?"

But new voices are challenging the message of hate. New light is breaking forth in the darkness. Technology is giving Christian media greater access to the Middle East.
Iranian Christian Hormoz Shariat broadcasts from America into Iran and says the message of Jesus Christ is getting through on satellite TV and the internet.

It is giving people a radically different image of Christianity

Pastor Hormoz said, "I think the greatest influence that Christian TV has, is to remove the obstacles, the misunderstandings that Muslims have toward Christianity. Muslims, generally, think Christianity is a failed and immoral religion. They believe anything that happens in the West is done by Christians, like anything the U.S. government does Christians are doing."

Ramone Nadir is executive director for Tele Lumiere, a Christian broadcaster based in Lebanon.

Ramone Nadir said, "We will bring all of those who speak Arabic closer together. They might not know Jesus Christ. To them Jesus Christ is someone 'Western.' I would like to remind them that Jesus Christ is from the Middle East. Christianity was born in the Middle East. It's important for us to introduce Jesus Christ to all Arabs. "

He said further, "They now look at Him in 'the western image,' and they won't like that image. But I think that they like the image we present when they see it on Nour Sat [TV]."

There are 280 million people in the Middle East, yet only 17 million are Christians, and their ability to spread the Gospel is limited.

Because Christians who openly preach the Gospel face persecution, even death. Besides, Muslims who show interest in Christianity can suffer the same persecution and death.

But 95% of households in the Middle East have TV sets; and the internet is a growing presence.

So Arabic and Persian Christian ministries are using these technologies to send their message straight into people's homes. Allowing Muslims to learn the truth about Jesus without fear of discovery-and without putting Christians at risk.
Pastor Hormoz Shariat says the power of the message is changing people's minds about Christianity

Pastor Hormoz said, "Their attitude towards Christianity changes. It affects even persecution. If someone comes to Christ in a family, the rest of the family doesn't persecute him. They say, 'Well, if Christianity is what we see on TV, it's nice, let's let him choose.' So-they are not going to attack the faith of the friend or relative or son or daughter."

The 700 club was one of the first TV ministries in the Middle East. Today, many ministries are broadcasting a Christian message to the region.

They're sent from the West, or from nations in the region that have more religious freedom, such as Cyprus and Lebanon.

Many programs are produced and broadcast by Middle East Christians. An important fact, because it blunts the criticism that Christianity is a foreign religion spread by Westerners.

Ramon Nadir said, "We are the Christian Arabs who have the ability to preach the language of peace, love, and the language of Jesus Christ to all Arabs, where foreigners couldn't do that. There are people who are non-Christian (Muslims) who are watching Nour Sat, and they send us e-mail congratulating us about the station. And they tell us that station is a blessing in their lives. And it's making a difference."

Christians in the region report that media also helps strengthen the church. This is especially true of Christian internet sites, where believers can find discipleship and worship materials. Bible studies, music videos, and worship songs are all available online. As well as preaching and teaching translated from Western ministries.

For that reason, many Muslim countries don't allow Christian broadcasts on their government-controlled TV networks.

But with satellite TV, even 'restricted nations' can get Christian TV. Some Syrians watch Tele Lumier - a Lebanon-based Christian broadcast - and they like what they see. Ahmed, a Syrian citizen was asked, "When they speak about Jesus Christ, do you care to hear about him?" "Yes," Ahmed said, "I'd love to know what the story is, and His past."

Ahmed was asked, "Did anything stick in your mind?" Ahmed replied, "He's one of God's prophets."

Then Muhommad, also a Syrian citizen, added, "I totally agree with him. As you like to know about Muslims, we would like, as Muslims, to watch and learn and know more about our Christian brothers."

Of course, government and Islamic leaders try to block the message of Christian media because it challenges their ability to control what people think and do.

The Voice of Charity is a Lebanon-based radio station.

Father Fahdi Tabbet is with the Voice of Charity. He said, "They've tried to stop the Voice of Charity many times. I think that's because it's the voice of Jesus Christ, and they don't want to let Jesus talk. They want the other kind of people-Hezbollah-talk, yes. But, because we're a peaceful people, because we talk about love, because we talk about peace, they started to be against the voice of Jesus Christ."

Father Tony Khadraa is head of Catholic International Press in Lebanon. He said, "The importance of the Christian media is that it won't be bought, that it won't compromise the truth. Nowadays we, in the world, we suffer from distortion of the truth. For that the Christian media can be the cornerstone of getting the truth to the people. And to defend their rights, and the spreading of the Biblical values and the principals of Christianity. That's why a Christian in the Middle East is obliged to be a defender of each and every person in the Middle East, whether Christian or Muslim."

Pastor Hormoz Shariat says the message of Christ is dangerous to tyrants in the Muslim world because it goes directly against their message of fear and hatred.

And it has the power to break their grip on people's lives. And perhaps bring freedom to the entire region.

Pastor Hormoz said, "That's the contrast of the message of Jesus. He brings peace, He brings love. And the audience sees that and the contrast is so great they are even shocked sometimes."

He went on, "First they ask, 'Is this true? We are raised up by hate, hatred of enemy. Yet, Jesus says 'love your enemy.' They ask, 'Which one is of God? God cannot say both [because they are so contradictory']."

He finished by saying, "So, they start the process of a spiritual journey when they hear the Christian message. And many sincere ones, they end up believing in Jesus."

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