Arab Spring Freedom May Prove Unsatisfying

While the Western media gushes about an "Arab Spring" fueled by an appetite for freedom and democracy, Keith Carey the managing editor for the Global Prayer Digest out of the US Center for World Mission predicts:

"Freedom and democracy will not transform this Muslim part of the world."

Freedom and democracy don't seem to be changing Afghanistan and Iraq. Carey notes that the open wound of political oppression cannot heal until cleansed of what's causing it to fester. He predicts:

"Given time, Arabs will be trying to overthrow whoever replaces Mubarak and Gadafi. There will arise a new set of leaders who will use their positions to enrich themselves and their families at the expense of everyone else. This has been the way of leadership in this part of the world for over one thousand years."

"The only thing that will clean [the wound] is the transformation which only comes from submission to Jesus Christ. When His disciples argued over who was the greatest, Jesus responded by washing their feet. This was a shocking revelation to them. They were used to leaders being "benefactors." Jesus offered the world's only true revolution, one which meant transformation of the individual, the society, and the leaders.

"How will the Muslim Arabs respond? They might make the same excuses for not accepting Jesus' answers as they have for centuries. Or perhaps they might decide that He actually does have the answers."

As you pray regularly by name for your adopted terrorist, consider also praying for spiritual changes in parts of the world touched by the "Arab Spring." The December 2011 issue of the Global Prayer Digest focuses on parts of the world affected by the "Arab Spring." It can serve as a guide for those prayers.

Also check out Mark Durie's blog on how the "Arab Spring" is affecting intellectual freedom in Egypt.