Does Islam persecute Christians?
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5: 10)
The Persecution of Christians… Today
On 2/15/2015 a graphic video was released by ISIS documenting the execution of 21 people who were being killed simply because they were Christians. They were dressed in orange. On their knees. Singing hymns. They refused to deny Jesus Christ.
For days, their ISIS kidnappers demanded they renounce their faith in Christ and accept Islam and they refused. Most of those men were likely told they would be able to go home and see their families if only they muttered the simple words that renounced their faith in Christ. Yet every single one of them refused.[i]
But ISIS is not the only Islamic faction that persecutes Christians. Islamic-controlled countries have “blasphemy laws” that forbid people to speak of anything that goes against the teachings of Islam. For example, saying the words “Jesus Christ is the Son of God” is considered to be a crime that is punishable by death.
Islam mandates that unbelievers be severely persecuted and/or killed. (See: What is Surah 9?). In the past few years, persecution against Christians has significantly increased. For example:
By some estimates, there were as many as 2 million Christians of various denominations in Iraq in 2003. Today, there are fewer than 300,000, said Father al-Bazi, who fled Baghdad three years ago for the Kurdish city of Irbil, where tens of thousands of displaced Christians are living in 17 makeshift refugee camps.[ii]
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…. and Muslim countries with stringent Shari’ah law comprise 8 of the top 10 worst.[iii]
Daesh [ISIS] is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control, including Yazidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims. [ISIS] is genocidal by self-proclamation, by ideology, and by actions—in what it says, what it believes, and what it does. Daesh is also responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing directed at these same groups, and in some cases also against Sunni Muslims, Kurds, and other minorities.[iv]
Egypt’s top Islamic Shariah Council ruled that they “could not honestly say that ISIS is not true Islam.” In other words: the Islamic terrorists are not “perverting” Islam – they are actually following what Islam teaches:
The objective and factual TRUTH is that the persecution of Christians is perpetuated and carried out by individuals that CLAIM to live by the ideals of ISLAM–whether in government, economic, social, or blatant killings. The truth is while the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) breaks its back to convince Americans that ISIS is not Islam, the Al-Azhar University in Cairo–widely considered Egypt’s top Islamic Shariah Council–ruled that they “could not honestly say that ISIS is not true Islam.”[v]
Christian by Choice
No one is automatically a Christian simply because of being born into a Christian family. Becoming a Christian requires a choice. It is a conscious decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life. Salvation is a gift that is either accepted or refused.
The birth that is needed to be born into Christianity is not like a woman giving birth to a baby. It is about being reborn spiritually. Choosing to deny the flesh and the ways of this world. Choosing to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit and to live life in a way that shows evidence of the Holy Spirit. (See: What is the Fruit of the Spirit?)
Muslim by Birth
In contrast, anyone who is born to an Islamic father is officially Islamic by birth. They are not given a choice. And they are never allowed to leave Islam. According to the teachings of Islam, anyone who attempts to leave Islam will be marked for execution.
There are many Muslim people who consider themselves to be peaceful and have no desire to kill non-Muslims. But in order to still claim to follow Islam, they must quietly deny, dismiss, or ignore the hate-filled, violent, and merciless texts in the Koran. Muslims who attempt to stop the persecution of Christians risk being considered “apostates” and becoming targets themselves. (See: Does Islam promote Peace?) (See: Is Islam Our Enemy?)
In places where strict Sharia law (Islamic law) is established, people are required to accept the entire Koran and all the teachings of Islam. ISIS provides shockingly graphic images of what it really looks like to enthusiastically follow Sharia law. The Fundamental Islamic groups are not “perverting” Islam – they are actually following the Islamic teachings literally. (See: What is Surah 9?)
A Mark for Persecution
Just as Hitler marked the Jews with a yellow Star of David, ISIS has been marking Christian homes and businesses with a red “n” (in Arabic). The “n” or “nun” stands for Nasara or the Nazarene (an Arabic word for Christians). They do not use the sign of a cross to represent Christians because Islam adamantly denies that Jesus Christ died on a cross.
The Koran mandates that non-Muslims must either convert to Islam, pay a fine (the Jizyah tax), or die. It also states that in the End Times, the Jizyah tax will be eliminated. According to the Koran’s teachings, in the End Times people will be left with only 2 options: convert to Islam or die. (See: What does Islam teach about the End Times?)
A Mark for Hope
The red symbol identifies the Christian people as targets for severe persecution. It was intended to be a badge of shame. But instead of being ashamed or denying Christ, these persecuted Christians use the symbol as a badge of hope – the eternal hope that is in Jesus Christ. (See: Is there any Real Hope?)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1: 16)
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10: 32-33)
The Persecution of Christians… Historically (added 1/7/17)
Islam began about 600 years after Jesus Christ walked this earth. When Islam was in its infancy, Mohammad’s message was about living in peace with its neighbors. But as Islam grew in numbers and strength, Mohammad became a war lord. His final Koranic revelations demanded a holy war (jihad) against the non-Islamic world until such time as the entire world is ruled by Islam (Sharia Law).
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Islam experienced its “golden age” as a result of following Mohammad’s final mandate to ruthlessly attack and conquer its neighbors. After more than 300 years, Islam’s violent expansion was effectively stopped at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. That battle marked the beginning of the decline of the Islamic Ottoman Empire. (See: Why is 9/11 important to Islam?)
During the 19th and 20th century, the Islamic Ottoman Empire continued to severely persecute non-Muslims (primarily Jews and Christians). History records the Islamic Ottoman Empire’s deeds. The Islamic Empire’s preferred methods included: rape, burning, drowning, starvation, plagues (e.g. gas, poison, typhoid), and beheading. For more information, please research the Islamic Ottoman Empire’s involvement in:
- The Hamidian Massacre (1895)
- The Adana Massacre (1909)
- The Armenian Genocide (WW1)
- The Assyrian Genocide (WW1)
- The Greek Genocide (WW1)
After World War 1, the Islamic Ottoman Empire was defeated and dissolved. Although no longer a world power, Islam joined forces with the Nazis in World War 2 and again zealously participated in genocides. They earned a reputation for their brutality and savagery. For more information, please research:
- The 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (WW2)
The Truth about Islam (added 1/7/17)
Its difficult to fathom the unvarnished truth about Islam. What is even more difficult to understand is why the Western world is unwilling to be honest about what Islam actually teaches. When did it become politically incorrect to state the facts and speak the truth?
Based on the Koran & Hadith:
Islam is a geopolitical ideology that mandates jihad war to achieve world domination, persecutes anyone who refuses to accept Islam, threatens to kill anyone who dares to leave Islam, endorses the genocide of non-Islamic people (especially Jews & Christians), rejects the concept of individual freedom, and demands absolute submission.
Why aren’t people in the West being told the truth about Islam?
About End Times Persecution (added 1/7/17)
The Holy Bible’s prophecies state that before Jesus returns, the End Times will include a time of “Great Tribulation” for God’s people. Although it appears that Islam may play a significant role in the End Times, Islam may not be the only entity responsible for the persecution and martyring of God’s people.
The Holy Bible says that the End Times Beast / Antichrist will be able to make war and prevail against God’s people – but the Holy Bible also describes another entity that is “drunk on the blood” of the martyrs. It is the Great City that rules over the kings of the world (aka “mystery Babylon” the mother of abominations and false religions). For more information, please read:
- What is the Great Prostitute on the Scarlet Beast?
- What is the One World Religion?
- How are Islam and Christianity different?
- Do Jews, Christians, & Muslims worship the same God?
Please pray for the Muslim people
Islam is the antithesis of Christianity. But Muslim people are NOT our enemies. They have been told lies and they believed the lies. Please compassionately pray that the Muslim people will learn the truth before it is too late.
Most Muslims have never heard the truth about Jesus Christ. When they do hear the truth, many will choose to leave Islam and follow Christ. When they make that choice, they know that they will be targeted for execution by Islamic “true believers” because they dared to leave Islam.
Please pray for Persecuted Christians & Jews
Islam has declared war against the non-Islamic world – especially Jews and Christians. Please pray for Jews and Christians – especially those whose earthly lives are in danger because they chose to follow Jesus Christ.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6: 18)
References:
[i] http://www.persecution.org/2016/02/15/their-bloodline-continues-to-ignite-the-fire-awakening-the-church-remembering-the-21-martyrs-one-year-on/
[ii] http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/9/genocide-underway-against-christians-in-iraq-and-s/
[v] http://www.persecution.org/2016/03/03/bombed-burned-and-urinated-on-christianity-churches-under-islam/
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