persecution

Too Many Christians, Not Enough Lions”

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If you thought the same sex “marriage” push is all about love and tolerance, then this may change your mind.

From Life Site News:

 

Pro-gay activists react to gay ‘marriage’ resistance: ‘Too many Christians, not enough lions’

Christianity,Homosexuality,Media Bias,Sally Kohn,Same-Sex ‘Marriage’

July 14, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) — There has been no shortage of anti-Christian rhetoric from various media outlets in the fallout from the Supreme Court decision decreeing homosexual “marriage” across the country.

“Too many Christians, not enough lions,” a derisive reference capitalizing on the Christians martyred in ancient Rome, was also how one LGBT activist responded to Catholic Vote’s (CV) pro-marriage “Not Alone”video, according to CV President Brian Burch.

Released the day of theObergefell v. Hodgesdecision, the CV video logged more than 1.3 million views in the first 10 days.

“Seeing the power of our message, LGBT activists have now mounted a massive campaign to mock, ridicule, and shame us,” Burch wrote to supporters. “They have used every curse word (and more) to attack us personally. They threatened our staff with phone calls. And now some are openly calling for the persecution of Christians.”

Defaming of Christians, and Christ,continuedover atThe Huffington Post, where a column by Jules Suzdaltsev titled “Was Jesus Gay?” was picked up July 8.

“After the Supreme Court’s historic ruling on gay marriage,” the column began, “it seemed like all the proudly homophobic Christians came out of the woodwork to talk about how much they still hate gay people.”

“As a straight Jew, the homophobia amongst Jesus’s followers has always struck me as a bit of a surprise,” Suzdaltsev wrote. “Worshipping at the feet of a ripped, hung man, seems at least a little homoerotic.”

The piece went on to make derogatory comments about the crucified Lord and conservatives.

The original July 6articlecame from the websiteVice, where the author interviewed openly homosexual pastor Bob Shore-Goss, first asking whether Shore-Goss thought Jesus Christ was gay.

“I would hope he is. I would project that he is,” Shore-Goss responded. “For my own spirituality, I would love to jump into bed with Jesus. At the very least, Jesus was queer.” 

The piece then endeavoured to present biblical evidence of Jesus’s homosexuality, including asserting that St. Paul was a closeted homosexual.

Read the fill article here

Egyptian Christians Respond To ISIS Brutality

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From Christianity Today comes this awesome account of how Christians and Muslims are reacting to the murder of 21 christians by ISIS.

How Libya’s Martyrs Are Witnessing to Egypt

Murders spark largest outreach ever amid new freedoms and new threats.
Jayson Casper in Cairo/ FEBRUARY 23, 2015

How Libya's Martyrs Are Witnessing to Egypt

Image: Bible Society of Egypt
Covers of the English and Arabic tracts.

Undaunted by the slaughter of 21 Christians in Libya, the director of the Bible Society of Egypt saw a golden gospel opportunity.

“We must have a Scripture tract ready to distribute to the nation as soon as possible,” Ramez Atallah told his staff the evening an ISIS-linked group released its gruesome propaganda video. Less than 36 hours later, Two Rows by the Seawas sent to the printer.

One week later, 1.65 million copies have been distributed in the Bible Society’s largest campaign ever. It eclipses even the 1 million tracts distributed after the 2012 death of Shenouda, the Coptic “Pope of the Bible.” [A full English translation is posted at bottom.]

Arabic tract (outside)Image: Bible Society of Egypt

Arabic tract (outside)

The tract contains biblical quotations about the promise of blessing amid suffering, alongside a poignant poem in colloquial Arabic:

Who fears the other?
The row in orange, watching paradise open?
Or the row in black, with minds evil and broken?

“The design is meant so that it can be given to any Egyptian without causing offense,” said Atallah. “To comfort the mourning and challenge people to commit to Christ.”

The Bible Society distributed the tract through Egypt’s churches, but one congregation went a step further.

Poster at Isaaf Evangelical ChurchImage: Jayson Casper

Poster at Isaaf Evangelical Church

Isaaf Evangelical Church, located on one of downtown Cairo’s busiest streets, hung a poster on its wall at eye-level with pedestrians. “We learn from what the Messiah has said,” it read over the background of an Egyptian flag. “‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you….’”

Pastor Francis Fahim said the poster was meant to express comfort to all Egyptians, Muslim and Christian.

As CT reported on Thursday, the beheadings by the Islamic State in Libya have resulted in unprecedented sympathy for Egypt’s Christians, who are increasingly finding common identity across denominational lines. The martyrdoms have also allowed Copts a platform to witness to the realities of their faith, as they publicly forgave the terrorists.

Full story here

How to Beat ISIS

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A very holy and dignified response to the atrocity in Libya.

From “Eternity”

Egyptian Christian leaders call on followers to pray for their enemies

As the world reels in response to the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians by ISIS on Sunday, leaders of Egyptian Christians are calling on followers to pray for their enemies.

In a statement, the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, Bishop Angaelos has reminded Christians that life is fleeting and the church must witness to the world.

“In the midst of this sorrow however, we must continue to dig deeper for the joy that comes from an understanding that this life is but a “vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14), and that true glory and joy are found in an eternal life prepared for all those who live in and for love and peace.

It is only through this understanding that we can continue to live according to the words of 1 Peter 3:15 as demonstrated in the life and witness of the Coptic Church and her children over centuries, ‘…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…’”. You can read the rest of his statement here.

He also appeared on BBC World News, which you can watch below.

Meanwhile, Bishop Mouneer, head of the Anglican Church in Egypt has released a statement condemining the killings and reminded Christians they are to be full of joy knowing Jesus has overcome.

“It is with great sadness I write you today about the heinous murder of 21 Egyptian Christians at the hand of the so-called Islamic State branch in Libya… Please join me in praying for peace in Libya, Egypt, and the entire Middle East. Please pray the international community will act in wisdom, correctly and efficiently, and support Egypt in its war on terror. Please pray the churches of Egypt will comfort their sons and daughters, encouraging them to resist fear and hatred. And please pray for the perpetrators of this terrible crime, that God would be merciful to them and change their hearts.

Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Such cheer may seem impossible, but it is God’s promise. Please pray for us, that we may live lives worthy of his name, and hold to the testimony exhibited by the brave Egyptians in Libya.”

Read his full statement here.

– See more at: http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/egyptian-christian-leaders-call-followers-pray-enemies?utm_content=buffer4208f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.vqNYWtwR.dpuf

Dangerous Faith

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According to World Watch List, the 20 most dangerous countries to be a Christian are:

1. North Korea
2. Somalia
3. Iraq
4. Syria
5. Afghanistan
6. Sudan
7. Iran
8. Pakistan
9. Eritrea
10. Nigeria
11. Maldives
12. Saudi Arabia
13. Libya
14. Yemen
15. Uzbekistan
16. Vietnam
17. Central African Republic
18. Qatar
19. Kenya
20. Turkmenistan

India is just outside the top 20 at 21.

We need to be praying for our brethren in these and other nations.

Persecution of Christians Reached Historic Levels in 2014. Will 2015 Be Worse?

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From sojourners

Persecution of Christians Reached Historic Levels in 2014. Will 2015 Be Worse?

by Jonathan Merritt 01-07-2015 | 4:02pm
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From imprisonment to torture to beheadings, more Christians worldwide live in fear for their lives than at any time in the modern era.

Open Doors USA’s 2015 “World Watch List.” Image via Open Doors / RNS

Open Doors USA’s 2015 “World Watch List.” Image via Open Doors / RNS

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Circle of Protection for a Moral Budget

A pledge by church leaders from diverse theological and political beliefs who have come together to form a Circle of Protection around programs that serve the most vulnerable in our nation and around the world.

 

That’s the message from Open Doors USA, which released its annual World Watch List on Jan. 7. Christian persecution reached historic levels in 2014, with approximately 100 million Christians around the world facing possible dire consequences for merely practicing their religion, according to the report. If current trends persist, many believe 2015 could be even worse.

“In regions where Christians are being persecuted as central targets, the trends and issues we track are expanding,” said David Curry, president of Open Doors, a nonprofit that aids persecuted Christians in the most oppressive countries and ranks nations based on the severity of persecution.

North Korea tops Open Doors’ list as the worst oppressor of Christians for the 13th consecutive year, but the list is dominated by African and Middle Eastern nations. Iraq, which experienced the mass displacement of Christians from its northern region, ranked third. Syria was listed fourth, due to the reign of ISIS in that war-torn region. Nigeria ranked 10th, due in part to the more than 1,000 Christians murdered or kidnapped by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram. Also included in the top 10 are Somalia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan, and Eritrea.

Even though some Christian-majority nations are experiencing unprecedented levels of discrimination and oppression, Curry said Muslim extremists are the primary drivers of Christian persecution worldwide. This is the case in 40 of the 50 nations on this year’s list.

Todd Nettleton, a spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs, a global ministry serving persecuted Christians in oppressed nations, agreed with Curry that Muslim extremism is the main source of Christian oppression.

“Wherever there is growing Islamic radicalism, there is growing persecution of Christians,” he said. “Even where moderate Islamic states offer peace — and that is rare — they almost never have freedom to practice their faith and are often marked for death.”

Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, said Islamic extremism is not just rampant in rogue terror groups, but also in the governments of nations such as Saudi Arabia (No. 12 on the list) and Egypt (No. 23). This has foreign policy implications, which Shea said has contributed to a failure on the part of the Obama administration to address the calamity adequately.

Curry and Nettleton also expressed disappointment in the administration’s response but said they hope that the appointment of Rabbi David Saperstein as the State Department’s ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom might signal a more aggressive approach. Conservatives criticized Obama for not filling the position sooner, and Saperstein’s critics say the rabbi’s liberal background may not bode well for his willingness to address global persecution aggressively.

Regardless, Open Doors leaders say something must be done to address the mounting persecution. The situation is reaching crisis levels: Christianity faces possible extinction in the Middle East and persecution is growing at alarming rates in Asia and Africa. Curry concluded:

“The 2015 Watch List is a wake-up call to Western countries to protect religious freedoms around the world.”

Jonathan Merritt is senior columnist for Religion News Service and a regular contributor to The Week. Via RNS.

 

Running From Isis

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From “Sojourners“

Six weeks after ISIS overtook their village outside of Mosul, Iraq, Sief and Jacob Jebrita said they received an official cease and desist letter from the terrorist group saying their work was forbidden under Islamic law. The two brothers, partners in a small photography and videography business, lost their sole source of income. But that was just the beginning.

Sief Jebrita, who fled Iraq after ISIS took over his village, with his sons.

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Sief and Jacob shared their story while sitting in St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Amman, Jordan, with a delegation of religious media. The church, led by Fr. Khalil Jaar, has become home to more than 150 Iraqi Christian refugees who have fled their homes while ISIS continues to push through the region.

Because of their Christian faith, Sief, Jacob, and their families were targeted by ISIS. They told me of a soldier ripping an earring out of a girl’s ear, slicing it open because it was not acceptable for her to wear jewelry. As ISIS militants forced people out of their homes, they would not allow them to bring anything with them at all except the clothes on their backs. They told me the story of one mother walking with her little boy who was forced to leave behind his bottle of milk after a soldier knocked it to the ground and shouted at them. As the situation worsened, they said they saw Yazidi men killed for refusing to accept Islam, and Yazidi woman sold into slavery in Mosul – $500 for younger women and $100 to $300 for older women.

During the initial fighting to overtake their village, the brothers said that two of their neighbor’s children were killed. While the community was literally burying its dead, the militants attacked a second time. That was when the brothers decided to take their families and leave immediately, first to Erbil, where they were assured they could return home if only they paid a tax. But both told me that they knew in their hearts that they could never return.

“We can’t go back because not only of ISIS, but because our neighbors have turned against us too,” Sief lamented.

They spoke sadly of how all the people in their village, Muslims and Christians, had lived together peacefully. But when ISIS came, everything changed. They acknowledged struggles between Christians and Muslims have existed since 2001 – but not like what is happening now. They said their neighbors shunned them, possibly out of fear or apprehension of being seen as abettors.

So with only the barest of possessions, they left Erbil and eventually made it to Jordan, where they ended up at Fr. Jaar’s parish. Sief underscored that this is a tragedy for all Iraqi people, not just Christians. All are suffering at the hands of ISIS. Every night the refugees gather to pray and discuss their situation, trying to figure out what do to next. They are no longer living in constant fear — and they appreciate the generosity of Fr. Jaar and the Jordanians — but no one wants to go back. No one trusts the government — or the neighbors who turned against them.

But despite everything, they believe that from this terrible situation, God can make something good.

One night when some of the men began to despair at how much they had lost, an older woman they thought was sleeping suddenly sat up and said, “Do you want a clearer miracle than this? We have lost everything, but we did not lose our faith.”

With the help of Fr. Jaar, the Christian community in Amman, the Jordanian government, and the support of one another, they are acclimating to their new life. Fr. Jaar said any country would be lucky to receive these families — that they are good people with much to offer. He does not consider them refugees but guests.

I found the courage and fortitude of these displaced Iraqi Christians inspiring. Despite the hardships they faced and the daunting challenge of creating a new life in a new land, they remain faithful.

“This is the time to be strong, to love and help, and to be in solidarity with all people.” Jacob told me through an interpreter.

Amen.

Cynthia J. Martens is Senior Director of Circulation and Production for Sojourners.

‘Unique’ Religious Freedom Restrictions in Saudi Arabia

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Disturbing news from Saudi Arabia. From the Christian Post.

‘Unique’ Religious Freedom Restrictions in Saudi Arabia:

Not a Single Church Exists, Entire Country Is ‘Sacred Mosque,’

Watchdog Reveals

“Not a single church or other non-Muslim house of worship exists in the country,” says Bandar al-Aiban, the director of the Saudi National Human Rights commission. Churches are not allowed to exist “because the entire country is a ‘sacred mosque’ for Islam’s holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina.”

International Christian Concern has highlighted the extent of the restrictions in Saudi Arabia, which is officially an Islamic state, and the consequences they have on the millions of Christians, who are mostly foreign workers, living there.

“Saudi Arabia remains unique in the extent to which it restricts the public expression of any religion other than Islam,” the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its 2014 Annual Report.

Operation World estimates that close to 2 million non-Muslim foreign workers live in Saudi Arabia, and around 1.5 million of them are Christians. Statistics on how many Saudis are Christians are harder to come by, as the government does not recognize such believers, but they face a situation in which there is not a single church in the entire country where they are allowed to publicly meet.

Saudi Arabia has close to 4,000 religious police officers entrusted to enforce its Islamic laws. Leaving the Islamic faith is considered apostasy and punishable by death, with non-Islamic prisoners often pressured to convert to the religion.

Other Christian groups have also documented the intense persecution Christians face in Saudi Arabia. Open Doors ranks it at No.6 on its list where Christians face the most persecution. In 2013, it was ranked at No.2, behind North Korea.

ICC pointed out that the United States government maintains a close relationship with Saudi Arabia, and in March President Barack Obama met with King Abdullah during an overseas trip. Obama failed to call out Saudi Arabia on its severe religious freedom violations, however.

“This visit was an excellent opportunity for the president to speak up on an issue that affects millions of Saudi citizens and millions more foreign workers living in Saudi Arabia,” ICC Middle East Regional Manager Todd Daniels said then.

“Only last month the president clearly stated that promoting religious freedom is a key objective of American foreign policy, and then reaffirmed that opinion in remarks following his meeting with Pope Francis on Thursday, according to the White House. On top of this, 70 members of Congress specifically asked him to publicly address the issue, as well as other human rights concerns, with King Abdullah today. How, despite all of this, the president could stay completely silent about religious freedom during his meeting is remarkable.”

Read the article here

Egypt- Every Friday is a Day of Death for Christians

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From persecution.org

“Every Friday is a Day of Death” for Christians in Cairo

 

The situation in Egypt continues to deteriorate for the nation’s Christians. As systematic kidnappings of Christians plagues the Minia region to its south, reports confirm the brutal murder of a Christian woman by Muslim Brotherhood radicals in Cairo. Viciously stabbed to death, Mary Sameh George was murdered for hanging a cross from her review mirror. The mob responsible for her death set fire to Mary’s car shortly after taking her life, sending a message of repression and violence to Christians local to Ain Shams.

 

04/22/2014 Egypt (GlobalDispatch) – A shocking new report details an Islamic mob of Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Egypt attacking and murdering a Christian woman for having a cross hanging on her car mirror. The report on Monday chronciles eyewitness account of the beating, stabbing, and shooting death of Mary Sameh George in Cairo on Martch 28.

 

“Every Friday the supporters of Muslim Brotherhood organize a march after Friday prayer in Ain Shams,” the witness told the International Christian Concern (ICC). Identified only as Wahid, he says that “On this Friday afternoon, violent clashes took place between the supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the security forces during their march.”

 

Mary, in her mid-20s, was parked near the Virgin Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church to deliver medicine and food to the elderly after work that day. The protesters headed towards this church after the clash and attacked Mary when they saw her cross hanging from the rear view mirror of her car.

 

Wahid says the mob jumped on the car, collapsing the roof, and then dragged her from the vehicle, beating and stabbing her repeatedly. “They were chanting ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar’ and cursing her while stabbing her,” Wahid said. “Then one of them shot her in the back and that led to her death. After killing her they set her car on fire.”

 

 

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