IRAQ: MUSLIMS KIDNAP ARCHBISHOP

Grant Swank* | February 29, 2008

Filed Under Conservative Musings, General Politics

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

US troops, many Christians, are attempting to establish liberties in Iraq.

Numerous US armed services personnel have seen through countless humanitarian efforts in Iraq, many of these persons being examples of the Christian faith.

At the same time, extremist Muslims slaughter Christians throughout Iraq, so much so that a major exodus of Christians has taken place. They have had to flee or be slaughtered according to the Koran’s Allah’s dictates to wipe out all infidels. Infidels are defined as non-Muslims.

Do Christians attack Muslims in Iraq? No.

Do Christians continue to live out their biblical love ethic in Iraq? Yes.

Jesus informed his disciples that because He was hated, they would be hated as well. When a person becomes committed to Jesus, he realizes that this is part of the package. Persecution is worldwide when it comes to Christians. Often media ignores these atrocities because of considering them “just another Christian story.” That is sad.

Now we have another horrific example of extremist Muslim hatred against Christians.

“Gunmen on Friday kidnapped Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, police and the church said.

“The gunmen also killed three people who were with Rahho, 65, at the time of the kidnapping, which occurred after he ended a Mass in a nearby church, said Iraqi Brig. Gen. Khalid Abdul-Sattar, a spokesman for the Ninevah province police” per AP.

The man completes conducting worship in a Christian sanctuary. Then he’s hauled off as cattle by extremist Muslims. What do they think they are going to accomplish?

They only increase their own hatred in their hearts. They divorce themselves most severely from the true God of the Bible. And they further Christian allegiance for believers don’t give up when faced with the enemy.

“An aide to Iraq’s Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, leader of the church, said he did not know who was behind the kidnapping.

“’We pray for his release as soon as possible,’ said Archbishop Andreos Abouna.

“‘This act of abduction against a Christian clergy member will increase our fears and worries about the situation of Christians in Iraq.’”

The Iraqi Christian community has practically disappeared. That is a sorry state for in the past Christians were the positive influence in Iraq’s culture. Interestingly, via US troops, that Christian humanitarian influence is still felt in one neighborhood after another. Christians in uniform live out their love for Jesus by being kind and mannerly, gracious and constructive. In uniform, out of uniform, their convictions remain worked out toward others.

“Last year’s International Religious Freedom Report from the U.S. State Department noted that Chaldean Catholics comprise a tiny minority of the Iraqi population, but are the largest group among the less than 1 million Christians in Iraq.

“Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, Iraqi Christians have been targeted by Islamic extremists who label them ‘crusaders’ loyal to U.S. troops.

“Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pledged last fall to protect and support the Christian minority.”

Read Chaldean Archbishop Kidnapped in Northern Iraq at http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,333933,00.html

Contributor's website: http://jgrantswankjr.blogspot.com/

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