The US and Turkey

This blog confines itself mostly to spiritual reflections, music reviews, recipes and occasional rants about eating local produce!

However, something has been on my mind and heart for the last couple of days - ever since the news has been giving reports of President Obama's visit to Turkey.

I visited Turkey in May 2005, and I fell in love with the country. Not only was I extremely impressed with its many unique qualities and political history; I was also stunned at how extensive the reach of the early church had been in this part of the world -- and deeply saddened at how infinitesimally small the presence of Christians is there today.

Turkey sits on the crossroads of all major ancient civilizations. It is both European and Asian - Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents. It is directly north of the highly contentious Middle East. Turkey desperately wants to join the European Union, and gain status, acceptance and credibility with Europe (and thus the world). It also has the 2nd largest army in NATO (US Army being the 1st largest, of course), and is 99% Muslim. It has significant influence with Russia and Iran, and is self-sustaining in terms of food and nearly all other consumer goods. Turkey has learned how to take of itself, and not rely on any other countries.

This is the beginning of the article from NPR yesterday on President Obama's visit:

President Obama's visit to Turkey was a balancing act that stretched — like Turkey itself — between Europe and the Islamic world.

Much has been made of the fact that this was Obama's first visit as president to a majority Muslim country. Before departing on Tuesday, he held talks with religious leaders and visited Istanbul's Blue Mosque, one of Turkey's most famous landmarks.

Foreign policy analysts point to the substantial amount of work to be done to improve U.S. relations with the Islamic world.

In a speech Monday before Turkey's parliament, Obama stressed Turkey's ties to the West and its importance to the U.S. as a military and diplomatic power. He made a point of saying that the U.S. "is not and never will be at war with Islam."

When I visited Turkey in 05, we were treated very well by most Turks, especially those we talked with for any length of time. However, in the capital city of Ankara, we had trash thrown at us and epithets against Bush and America shouted in our direction.

I am encouraged by Obama's overtures with Turkey, for a variety of political reasons. But apart from tensions with Iran, the war in Iraq, a need for a thaw in relations with Russia, ongoing improvement in our relationships with the Muslim world, and the need for a strong ally in the Arab/Muslim world (especially in regard to the Middle East), I am most thankful that improved relations with Turkey could open the door for Christians to worship more freely in Turkey and extend their reach.

If you have read much of the New Testament, you may recognize the names of these ancient cities where churches once thrived in Asia Minor -- AKA, Turkey! Ephesus, Colosse, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Attalia, Alexandria Troas, Assos, Hierapolis, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. Cappadocia, Perge, Derbe.

A remarkable list. What's more remarkable though is that there is nearly no remnant or ancestry left of these churches today. When we visited the site where Colosse once stood, it was a non-descript, unexcavated hill. When our guide was asked why nothing has been done with this obvious treasure trove archaeologically, he said, The Turkish government has no interest in Christian sites. Period.

So today, when I heard further reports on the news about our president's visit to Turkey, and how both countries are committed to improving relations, I was grateful. I stopped right there and prayed that this would be so, and that out of that the church could thrive anew. Turkey is a very secular country. We saw very little practice of Islam while we were there. The people of Turkey need the hope of the gospel. May the seeds of the church expand a hundred fold.