Jesus Christ promises His disciples and, by extension, all Christians: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). *** I recently visited with an Iranian mother and her teenage daughter—both Lutheran parishioners here in Hamburg. The mother praised the girl’s amazing progress in school and remarked how well she has adjusted. I was impressed how proficient the daughter has become in German. Back in Iran, both of them would be required to wear a hijab in public, as is the case for all women. But in Europe they are free to dress as they please. I noticed a small crucifix around the neck of the daughter. What the girl said next however—while not the first time I have heard this sentiment voiced by an Iranian Christian—was still jarring: “I feel unsafe in Germany.” “What do you mean?” I asked. She told me that in recent weeks she has twice been accosted on the subway by Muslim men. Both times they shouted in Arabic, which she does not understand. In both incidents the men used the word “haram,” which means “forbidden” or “unlawful”—probably either because they disapproved of her Western-style clothes or perhaps because of the crucifix she was wearing. “We came to Germany because we thought we would be safe,” the mother explained. “But there are so many Muslims here—and quite a few are really aggressive.” Indeed, Hamas’ attack on Israel last October 7 has roused many hitherto seemingly dormant Muslims around the world to radical behavior. In a recent pro-Palestine demonstration in Hamburg, protesters demanded that Germany become a caliphate, that is, an Islamic state governed by sharia law. Protestors brandished signs proclaiming “The caliphate is the solution” (see image, courtesy of BILD.de). Indeed, the world can sometimes be a scary place—no matter where you live. But praise Jesus for the comfort He provides when He promises: “I am with you always”!
The Tiews in Germany 