Christmas Tragedies

Christmas is a joy in itself. Ultimately, we joy in the gift of a Savior who is Christ Jesus coming to earth to save us from the consequence of our sins against God and restore true, eternal peace. We also delight in joyful memories that are produced around loved ones as we gather together to celebrate Christ’s birth.

But while we sang glad songs to our Messiah, across the sea many shed great tears of tragedy.

Nigeria

Early Christmas morning, 12 Christians were killed by gunmen. These killings occurred during open attacks against the Christian community that included raids upon two churches and in numerous Christian homes. While the assailants have yet to be confirmed, the BBC strongly believes it to be none other than the aggressive Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram that has claimed the lives of over 700 Christians in 2012.

Boko Haram is devoted to convert the entire nation of Nigeria into an Islamic state and since beginning of this year has demanded every Christian to leave the country. Last Christmas, Boko Haram massacred 44 believers.

Iran

Pastor Nadarkhani with his beloved family.

We all rejoiced in September when we received the news of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s release from prison. On Christmas Day Pastor Nadarkhani was rearrested by Iranian authorities.  According to the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Pastor Nadarkhani has to complete the remainder of his time in prison (45 days) and finish uncompleted paperwork.

Since October 2009, Pastor Nadarkhani has been detained in prison without bail for his protest against his children being taught the Qur’an in school. Later on, Iranian authorities also charged Pastor Nardarkhani with apostasy and converting Muslims which is illegal in Iran.

During his time in prison, Pastor Nadarkhani has suffered aggressive persuasion to recant his faith and also had been sentenced to be executed on several occasions that were continually dropped because of the overwhelmingly outcry by the international community on Pastor Nadarkhani’s behalf.

WHAT GOD DID

While here on earth, Jesus did promise to those who would testify of Him, will suffer persecution. In fact Jesus said,

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19 NKJV).

As followers of Jesus, being persecuted is part of what it means to belong to Christ. Paul made this evident to us in Philippians 1:29: “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

God sees our brothers and sisters suffering for His cause. We should honor their work to proclaim Christ, and God has stored great eternal rewards for their exchange to risk their lives to expand God’s kingdom.

WHAT WE CAN DO

1. PRAY

>These people are suffering at the hands of sinful, depraved people who are plagued by Satan’s hatred for God’s people. We hate their sin, but desire that these sinners be reconciled to God. We need to PRAY that God save them.

>PRAY for the peace of Nigeria from all the mass genocides, especially the attacks against Christians.

>PRAY for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s immediate release. God got out once. He can do it again. Also PRAY for him to remain unharmed while detained and for strength for his family.

2. PUBLICIZE

The social media is a very powerful tool of influence today. Get the word across – wherever, however – telling the world, we don’t tolerate these social injustices.

Feel free to repost this blog for the purpose of promoting public awareness of these social injustices.

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Another graphic picture depicting Tuesday’s recent attack in Nigeria on Christians.

50 Christians were burned alive by radical Muslims when they sought refuge in their pastor’s home.

Read & Share to promote public awareness of these atrocities against other people because of their faith.

50 Christians BURNED ALIVE

“[they] were killed in the church building where they had fled to take refuge. They were killed alongside of the wife of the pastor and [his] children” -Rev. Dachollom Datiri

NIGERIA

Persecution in Nigeria has gone for the worse.

The Christian Post reported yesterday that 50 people were burned alive in their pastor’s home while they were seeking refuge from terrorist attacks by the radical Muslim group, Boko Haram.

Since last week, Boko Haram has unleashed a series of attacks that has swept across 16 villages, killing 100 people. These terrorists have issued a demand for the Christians of Nigeria to convert to Islam or “they will never know peace again.”

More than 5,500 people have fled their homes as the outcome of these attacks.

On the start of the New Year, Boko Haram threaten the Nigerian Church to leave the nation in three days or face open oppression. Since this threat, Nigerian Christians have suffered widespread anti-Christian attacks that has claimed nearly 600 people dead (according to the Associated Press).

WHAT WE CAN DO:

>Pray for a permanent end to this rampant cruelty and injustice.

>Promote public awareness of these social injustices. We have a voice: make it heard.

Nigerian Christians Called to Defend Themselves

Nigerians belonging to the Radical Muslim group Boko Haram displaying their weapons. (Photo by Unknown)

Amid the persisted anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria, there has been a suggestion raised for Christians to defend themselves.

A leading advocate to this proposition is Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), whom told reporters Saturday that Christians should take arms against the oppressing radical Muslims.

Yesterday, the Sudan Tribune stated that US President Barack Obama has added South Sudan to the list of countries to eligible to receive US weapons.

I fear this could lead to a bloody, sloppy slope down to a brutal civil war.

WHAT GOD DID

The vast Syrian army was on the verge to capture the prophet Elisha. Elisha’s servant saw their enviable doom and panicked, but the prophet answered, “Do not fear, for those who [are] with us [are] more than those who [are] with them (2 Kings 6:16).”

The Lord opened the servants eyes, and he gazed ghastly at the enormous, fiery Angel armies around Elisha. The Lord cast blindness upon the Syrians, and they were led by Elisha to the army of Israel and then sent home.

God can turn the tide of war.

WHAT WE CAN DO

>We need to pray for a divine intervention.

>Continue to promote awareness of these atrocities.

ALERT>> Christians Die in Nigeria and South Sudan

Our Christian family in Africa  need our prayerful attention. Persecution of the church has frightfully increased. Nigeria and South Sudan are two key countries that violence against Christian has steeped higher in just a few weeks.

Nigeria 

On New Year’s Day, radical Muslims threaten the Nigerian Church to leave the nation in three days or face open oppression. Nigeria has experienced widespread anti-Christian attacks that has claimed 130 dead and hundreds more wounded and displaced from homes. A peak in theses attacks was the massacre on Christmas Day where 50 people were killed in four individual attacks.

According to the Christian Post in the past 24 hours, several separate attacks have killed 29 people.

South Sudan

South Sudan receiving independence last July impressed Christians with hope of worshipping God freely from their aggressive Islamic neighbours in the North, but the Church has continue to suffer extensive attacks.

This last week alone, more than 3,000 people have been massacred in this new nation. There is an ideal count of at least 50,000 villagers have become homeless.

WHAT GOD DID:

Isaiah 37 tells the account of King Hezekiah’s prayer of deliverance to God from his invading enemies.  He cried:  “Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.”

God saved Judah by his people’s prayers. God hasn’t changed: He can save our brothers and sisters in Nigeria and South Sudan.

WHAT WE CAN DO:

>Pray for a permanent end to this rampant cruelty and injustice.

>Promote public awareness of these social injustices. We have a voice: make it heard.