fbpx

Contending For The Faith


 

‘They would not convert and it cost them their life’

 


August 6, 2014 ChristianToday.com reports: “Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad, who has witnessed extreme sufferings of Christians being killed and persecuted in recent weeks, has accused the British Government of doing nothing to help fleeing Christians. Bishops and other church leaders have added their voices his concerns.

Catholic bishops in England and Wales have called on Christians to join with people across Iraq ‘in praying for an end to the violent persecution that threatens to extinguish the ancient Iraqi Christian community.’…

Canon White, vicar of St George’s Baghdad, posted on his Facebook page: ‘You know I love to show photos but the photo I was sent today was the most awful I have ever seen. A family of eight all shot through the face laying in a pool of blood with their Bible open on the couch. They would not convert it cost them their life. I thought of asking if anybody wanted to see the picture but it is just too awful to show to anybody. This is Iraq today.’…” (“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation [testing]: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” – James 1:12; and “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” – Revelation 2:10. See the next report.)


 

ISIS to Iraqi Christians in Mosul: Convert or Die

 


July 20, 2014Breitbart.com reports: “The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria distributed leaflets to Christian leaders in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul this week, threatening violence if they don’t convert.

Christians who do not accept Islam or fail to pay extra taxes to the Islamic Sharia courts, the letters warned, will face ‘death by the sword.’

Christians who do not agree to ISIS demands were also given the option to leave Mosul. According to a message from ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, non-complying Christians were permitted to ‘evacuate themselves only from the caliphate state’ by 12 p.m. local time on Saturday or their ‘only option is the sword.’…”


 

After 2,000 Years, the Last Christian is Forced to Leave Mosul

 


July 21, 2014Breitbart.com reports: “The last Christian reportedly left Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul at 12:00pm on Saturday, ending over 6,000 years of Assyrian history in the city. Assyrians have lived in Mosul for over 6,000 years, converting to Christianity over 2,000 years ago. This all came to an end on Saturday, when the last Assyrian Christian left the city.

On Thursday, July 17th, the Islamic State (IS) — formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) — released a statement demanding the Christians in Mosul either to convert to Islam, paying the jizya (tax on non-Muslims), leave the city, or be killed. The threat was to be implemented on Saturday. It is being reported locally that by noon yesterday, every Christian had chosen to leave…” (Our Lord Jesus Christ will deal with these ungodly Islamic terrorists when He returns saying: “You serpents, you generation of vipers [snakes] how shall you escape the damnation of hell?” – Matthew 23:33. Matthew 25:41 adds: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels [demons]. See the next report.)


 

Iraq crisis: End ‘very near’ for Christianity after ISIS takeover, says Bishop

 


July 27, 2014The Independent.co.uk reports: “The vicar of the only Anglican church in Iraq has warned the end for Christians in the country appears ‘very near’ as he appealed for help after a deadline set by Islamic militants to convert or be killed expired.

Canon Andrew White, dubbed ‘the bishop of Baghdad’ for his work at St George’s church in the capital, spoke after the ultimatum handed to Christians in the northern city of Mosul by the Islamic State of Iraq Levant (Isis) to convert, pay a tax or be put to death passed last week.

For those Christians who did not comply with the decree by 19 July, Isis warned that ‘there is nothing to give them but the sword.’ Many have since fled their homes and Rev. Andrew-White told BBC Radio 4 Today desperate Christians were trapped in the desert or on the streets with nowhere to go.

‘Things are so desperate, our people are disappearing,’ he said. ‘We have had people massacred, their heads chopped off.

‘Are we seeing the end of Christianity? We are committed come what may, we will keep going to the end, but it looks as though the end could be very near.’…”


 

Call from Iraqi Christians: “Obama, Obama, Where are You?”

 


July 28, 2014Breitbart.com reports: “Several hundred people gathered in front of the White House on Saturday, chanting, ‘Obama, Obama, where are you? Iraqi Christians call for you!’

Iraqi Christians held demonstrations in a number of cities on Saturday, including Washington, Paris, The Hague, Cologne, and London, in order to bring attention to the current assault on Christians by the Islamic State (IS)– formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) jihadists. One week ago, Christians were forced out of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, and many Christian monasteries, shrines and churches have since been destroyed.

His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, a bishop in the Assyrian Church of the East, made the 12-hour bus ride from Chicago with parishioners to attend the demonstration in Washington. I spoke with him in front of the White House: ‘Iraq’s Christians are being ignored by the United States, the United Nations, and the human rights organizations,’ the Bishop said. ‘For us, America is a symbol of freedom and protection of human rights. I think of America in World War II, when America came to the rescue of Europe. Then, the enemy was the Nazis. Today it is ISIS. The names are different, but the religious cleansing is the same.’

After I spoke with the Bishop I was approached by a man who quietly said to me, ‘You know, we are Muslims here as well.’ Yasir is a Muslim from Baghdad who left Iraq in 1966. ‘What I see today in the world is not the Islam I grew up with. I had many Christian friends growing up. I attended the Jesuit College in Baghdad. I am here today to show my support for my Christian friends.’…” (The answer? Either the golf course or a political fundraiser.)


 

Iranian Christian to Have Lips Burnt for Eating During Ramadan

 


July 24, 2014Israel National News reports: “An Iranian judge sentenced a Christian man to have his lips burnt with a cigarette for eating during the day in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, The Daily Mail reported.

The barbaric punishment was carried out in public in a square in the city of Kermanshah.

Five other Muslim men were also flogged in public with 70 lashes for not fasting during Ramadan, the city’s deputy governor Ali Ashraf Karami said.

A spokesperson from The National Council of Resistance of Iran, a political coalition which opposes the government, denounced the treatment as ‘savage’ and called on western countries to take action.

‘The silence of the world community, especially of western countries, vis-à-vis these medieval punishments under the excuse of having nuclear talks with Iran has intensified the brutal and systematic violation of human rights in Iran,’ said the council, according to the Daily Mail.

‘This will ultimately embolden the Iranian regime to continue its nuclear projects more than before,’ it added.
Earlier this year the UN blasted Iran for the persecution of Christians in a report laid bare to the world in March.

The detailed report found that Iran has continued to imprison Christians for their faith and designated house churches and evangelical Christians as ‘threats to national security.’…” (This headline’s dastardly deed describes what these irreligious torturers are as spelled out in Romans 3:15 – 18: “Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” See the next report.)


 

Boko Haram attacks five churches in Northern Nigeria

 


August 5, 2014ChristianToday.com reports: “Islamic extremist group Boko Haram has attacked at least five churches Borno State, northern Nigeria, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.

Gunmen reportedly used IEDs and petrol bombs to destroy churches in the Hawal Local Government Area, which is home to a predominantly Christian community, on the evening of July 30.

No one is thought to have died in the attacks, but two people were murdered in the Shaffa District of Hawul on July 26 by Boko Haram militants. Eyewitnesses say the victims were each beheaded, and their severed heads placed on their chests.

Boko Haram is an Islamist terror group, intent on ‘cleansing’ Nigeria of Christians. Members have also attacked moderate Muslim communities…”