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Christianity Today, July, 2007 |

Faith Perfected

Recent martyrdoms sadden us but cannot make us despair.

A Christianity Today editorial | posted 7/12/2007 08:53AM

Turkey has become more and more hostile to its tiny Christian minority. Though the nation is 99 percent Muslim, the government and media look at any activities of Christians with great suspicion. Last ...

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Sam	Posted: July 21, 2007 1:00 AM


Continuing examples of persecution of Christians. I pray for their families. Such courageous believers. Don't understand the logic of Alan: Nothing in that article suggests all Muslims are evil. The killers were certainly evil; I guess if you call it like it is, people like Alan will cry "bigotry."

another Lorie

Posted: July 15, 2007 11:24 PM

In this world we will have trouble....I know that the Bible predicts trouble, pain, and all, but thank God we are more than conquerers. Love covers a multitude of sin and the love and forgiveness expressed will be a witness that can not be ignored. Also, we all need to pray, seriously pray, there is so little coverage of the lack of asylum and the persecution that goes on on a daily basis. Voice of the Martyrs and other groups are not CNN, we need to pray that more people are aware of our brothers and sister who suffer, and pray that evil not be allowed to reign. thanks for a though provoking prayer inducing article. (4-star rating)

Lois	Posted: July 13, 2007 12:38 PM


What an eloquent way of weaving Scripture into this moving story, proving again, the eternal value of God's word for today's living. Thank you.

Bill Bray

Posted: July 13, 2007 6:38 AM

Glad that CT ran this article although it is almost old news now; but many have not heard the story. Thank you for this memorial editorial. We need to use this coverage to provoke us to pray more often for Turkey and other Muslim lands where the church is growing larger and stronger. Turkey and former Turkish colonies are lands of many challenges and many opportunities for the gospel. As more Turkish minority groups and Kurds are coming to Christ, the national publicity will provoke more killings from time to time--but this is a witness for the Lord. Meanwhile, we must not give up on conducting Christian Muslim dialogues even when things like this happen and we must do so knowing that this kind of thing will happen from time to time. This is what we expect when we reach out. Christians need to not only dialogue but also love Muslims every chance we get in practical ways, praying that through our lives and deaths many more Muslims will find their messiah.

sly	Posted: July 13, 2007 3:47 AM

It's a shame that people have changed a religion that is suppose to be a religion of peace into one of violence. That a man chooses to be of a different religion does not warrant death sentence as carried out by those stated in the above article. Let God judge, for it is for man to judge. May the souls of those killed rest in perfect peace in the bossom of the Lord. That is the persecution christians face for serving the Lord but that should not and will surely not deter u from serving the true God.

aldemir

Posted: July 13, 2007 2:55 AM


Firstly i would like to correct the article by saying the killers did not have pistols. Only kitchen knives. Secondly please pray for us christians living here in Turkey. Pray that God grants us a blameless life of example of Jesus Christ. ...'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few' Matthew 9:37

francis

Posted: July 12, 2007 11:51 PM

It is time that Christians ....declare WAR ON ISLAM !!!!....all this hipocracy and turning the other cheek has gone on long enough. Pakistans Prez...Did Just That...! NORTH AMERICA and EUROPE should TOTALLY BAN MUSLIM immigration for the nex 30 years and Ban Remittance of Western FUNDS, so that when Western money from their earings does not reach them, and they STARVE!!! They will think of their Christian Benefactors . THE MUSLIM PSYCHE is to BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDs IT !!! CHRISTIAN CHARITIES WAKE UP!!! I am living in PAKISTAN ...land of the Islamic Butchers( Remember Daniel Pearl)? my kids have been threatened with kidnapping and gruesome slaughter by the ruling party in Karachi. Canada is another country like ENGLAND which is creating nest beds for terrorist MUSLIMS from Pakistan....Meanwhile they are refusing genuine Christian families from emigrating to a sanctuary which protects their way of life.the WAY OF CHRIST..HOW LONG WILL CHRISTIANS BE REFUSED Asylum in Canada

Shirley McKenzie

Posted: July 12, 2007 8:57 PM


This id a wonderful article, Good to with Bible reference, I enjoyed reading it and was very saddened by this situation.

lori	Posted: July 12, 2007 5:01 PM


Alan, whom do you think Scripture is referring to in paragraph 2...and elsewhere in the Bible's many references to evil persecutors?

Sandra

Posted: July 12, 2007 1:50 PM

What a loving, positive article! I know some of the Christians in Turkey and am awed by their continued love of their Muslim neighbors despite much persecution. I am grateful for all of those willing to spread the truth of Christ in a dark and deceitful world. Alan takes paragraph two out of context. The author did not refer to all Muslims as being evil. He simply paraphrases Christ in stating that hateful people will persecute Christians for their faith. Indeed, that is exactly what happened in Turkey.

Chang Hun Suk

Posted: July 12, 2007 1:36 PM

On the delicate issue of the mounting anti-Muslim sentiment in Korea, the article helps recently to understand the more hostile atmosphere to Christians in a Muslim country, not hostility to Muslim themselves. Alan and Steven seem to be wrong in their judgment. Some quotes that are apparently from editorial notions in that article are in fact from in 2 Timothy. The sentence Alan referred comes from 2Tim 3:13. Please let there be no misunderstanding about this. Before concerning “bigotry,” we should realize the tremendous throes of the family of the victims who were turned out martyrs. This article with persuasion and awakening, as far as I am concerned, would be one of the useful tool for contributing understanding with the antagonism to Christian missionaries or Christian believers in a Muslim country.

Jim	Posted: July 12, 2007 1:33 PM


Alan - I'm happy to hear you speak of the Devil. He is as real as you and I. The Devil does work through those who seek to negotiate with him. Evil is not limited to Muslims or Christians. But evil is not "simple bigotry". The issue is vlack vs white, us vs them - there is no reconciliation between God and the Devil. And, Christians are on the side of God.

http://merehumanity.wordpress.com

Posted: July 12, 2007 1:32 PM


an excellent article. very moving. one thing that struck me is the comments by the murderers. they said that "christianity" was trying to steal their country. i dont believe this for one minute. but if this were the case, wo to us who do such. we are not to be creating a temporal kingdom, but presenting and building an eternal one. peter

William Varner

Posted: July 12, 2007 1:07 PM


One of the best reports on persecution I have ever read. The weaving in of the Biblical passages was most effective for placing it all in a context that is far removed from a cold reporting of news. I would recommend it for an award, but that seems inappropriate with the nature of the events reported. Those brothers have the reward! ibexdr@yahoo.com

denny

Posted: July 12, 2007 12:57 PM

This is a much needed article to keep the church informed. However, the article fails to convey 2 facts: the depth of depravity used by the killers - they dissected these brothers; and second the broad range of hatred being preached against Christians all over the world by Muslims. We are in the midst of a world war and have been since the 1976 Lebanese Civil War. Muslims there systematically wiped out entire Christian villages while the UN and the church sat back and did nothing. The PLO, Hamas, Al Quida, and a slew of other hate filled Muslim groups are preaching Jihad against Christians in virtually every nation on earth. One of the first things Hamas did after taking control og Gaza was destroy a Catholic Church and school. It is only by the grace of God that any Christians are alive in Muslim countries. These people will not stop until they find personal salvation in Christ, or the free world's military disarms them, or Christ returns. Wake up CT and hear the call of Ezekiel 33.

Andrew

Posted: July 12, 2007 12:29 PM

The Article is great, keep reporting these things. There is no bigotry in this article. Islam can be taught and is taught to bring about this type of behavior. As Christians we are to reach out to the world, but it is a us being different from them, no an us vs. them mentality. Look at the beatitudes, and the other scriptures that point to differences. Looking for discrimination under every rock is not going to help. The world is headed this way. I pray that more people in the US will be able to suffer the way these men did. May Jesus use it to draw near the muslims, and all false religions(non Christians) to himself. Christianity is not one of the choices it is the only choice, I do not care if people recognize it or not. It will get worse before it gets better if the Bible is true. The key remains to get the word out to as many people as possible, so they can be ready. The question is are we ready. Thanks Christianity today for the forum...

Glenn

Posted: July 12, 2007 12:27 PM


Good night.... the second paragraph is direct quote from 2 Timothy. So now, I suppose Paul is a bigot!

Andrea411

Posted: July 12, 2007 12:08 PM


I have a hard time seeing the supposed bigotry in this article. I see a faithful witness of Christ and mercy extended to those who know no better than to murder people who would feed them and care for them, body and soul. Missionaries go into countries to share, not force the love of God. Thank you, this is a beautiful reminder that the church is alive and well. God Bless them and their families.

Steven

Posted: July 12, 2007 10:54 AM

I agree with Alan, or at least, in part. It's very important to recognize that many of the Islam faith are steadfastly recognizing Christianity and the power they have through God. In many Muslim countries, Christianity is often viewed with a suspicious awe. Now, I realize the importance of devotion as well. These men were willing to die for their faith. I'm reminded of a few verses regarding situations such as these: Luke 12:4 - "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more." John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." In these verses, Jesus makes it clear that we are not to be afraid to lay down our lives. And while, in the strict following of the Qur'an, it is mentioned to kill "the infidels", through Christ, we need not be afraid. Christ has lain the foundation for martyrdom and how it can prove to be a powerful message, and somtimes one, that unfortunately, is necessary.

Alan	Posted: July 12, 2007 9:49 AM

This article - for example the second paragraph - seems to easily equate or suggest that all Muslims are evil - that is simple bigotry. That Christians are having a tough time in Turkey is important to report and discuss - but this sort of black vs white, us vs them thinking brings nothing to the table that is constructive. As Christians we should be strong in our fatih, steatfast in our devotion - but also reach out to bridge divides - recognizing the difficulty in so doing. There are many many evil people who call themselves Christian - the Devil has no regard for whom he works through - at these times of politicians of all stripes around the globe leading us down the path of ungodly religious war we need better than this

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