Convert, Flee or Die

The Huffington Post reports that the persecution of Christians by Muslims in the Middle East will be resolved only by genocide, particularly in Iraq and Syria [1].

Predating Islam [2], Christianity was initially granted “dhimma” status by Islam, i.e. standing as a minority religion with the right to exist, though with restrictions. Christians and Jews have traditionally been considered “people of the book” by Muslims who believe the Bible was corrupted with time and, for that reason, superseded by the Quran.

Persecution is not a new experience for Middle Eastern Christians. Well over a million Armenian Christians were victims of ethnic cleansing by the Turkish Ottoman Empire during World War I. By some estimates, the two thousand year old Christian community in Iraq has been reduced from 1.5 million to 200,000 since America’s first military intervention there in 2003.

ISIS views Christians as primary targets of its hatred and rage. At first, ISIS was satisfied allowing Christians to flee their homes, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Conversion at the point of a sword followed. Even that is not likely to satisfy ISIS bloodlust for much longer, not if the videos posted of Shiite beheadings are any indication.

Our persecuted brothers and sisters cry out to us. Not seeking vengeance. Asking rather that we speak for them…while we yet can.

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them – those who are mistreated – since you yourselves are in the body also” (Heb. 13: 3).

Lord Jesus, ours is a lost world. Those of us who know You are few; those who can worship and remain faithful to You without fear of reprisal, fewer still.

Help us keep our persecuted brothers and sisters constantly in mind, Lord. Remember them when we do not. Protect them from harm, comfort them in grief, carry them home to glory at the appointed time, in Your loving arms.

Amen
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[1] The Huffington Post, “Christian Persecution: The Final Solution of the Christian Arab Question in the Middle East” by Sheldon Filger, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/christian-persecution/.

[2] Today’s Mosul is the ancient city of Nineveh to which the prophet, Jonah, was sent. ISIS in July 2014 destroyed the mosque built over a site long considered to be Jonah’s tomb.

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