ishtartv.com-
theblaze.com
Aug.
29, 2015 Billy
Hallowell
Christian
singer Matthew West believes that the world is going through a “very unique”
and troubling time in which Christian persecution is on full display in the
Middle East, with problems and violence also running rampant here in the U.S.
Now,
more than ever, West said that America — and the world — are desperately in
need of unity. And the singer said that the plight of minority groups in
the Middle East has forced him to consider what he would do if his own faith
were to be challenged so fervently.
“Would
I stand up in the face of such great persecution or would my faith crumble?”
West said.
He
also recalled how he was sitting in Glenn Beck’s Texas studio earlier this
summer preparing for an interview when he overheard Beck describing the Restoring
Unity event — and West said that something instantaneously clicked as
he listened.
“All
of the language that he was using was really reminding me of a song of mine
called ‘Do Something,’” West said, explaining that the song is about each
individual having the power to make a difference in the world.
West
ended up playing a little bit of the song for Beck, who ironically told the
singer that he was somewhat familiar with the lyrics, as a friend had recently
suggested that “Do Something” be the theme song for “Restoring Unity.”
Beck didn’t personally know West, though, so when the singer appeared on the
show for an entirely different reason, the timing was just perfect.
The
connection was made and the two began discussing Restoring Unity, with West
agreeing to perform “Do Something” following a march that culminates in a rally
in Birmingham, Alabama.
West
said that he believes Restoring Unity is an important event considering the
“need for restoring unity within our cities” as well as in observance of the
“Christians being persecuted in the Middle East.”
“We’re
in a very unique time in our country,” he said. “We see things happening like
what took place in Charleston, and we’re seeing Christians being persecuted
[abroad].”
West
said that one challenge he has personally faced is being sure that he is as
in-tune and aware of what’s happening in the Middle East as he is about what’s
going on here in the U.S.
“As
Americans, we’re affected by what we know and what hits closer to home for us —
and that tends to move the compassion of Americans more,” he said. “My
challenge has become [that] I want to have my eyes open to what’s going on in
the Middle East and not just some headline that is distant.”
West
said that he’s been praying, “God, give me a greater sense of compassion for
these people I’ve never met who are being persecuted all because they [are
Christians].”
He
said that he’s guilty of sometimes thinking that he’s only one person and of wondering
how he would help being so far from the Middle East, saying that he believes
that Restoring Unity is a great opportunity to figure out how to each and every
individual can come together to help.
“That’s
one of the reasons I’m excited about this event. Glenn’s going to give us a
challenge, [telling] us how we can get involved and how we can have a voice in
stopping it,” West said. “People are ready to rally around something.”
