Ethics & Religion
April 13, 2017
Column #1,859
Muslim Violence
Against Christians
By Mike McManus
At the
beginning of the holiest week of the Christian year, Muslims attacked
two churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday, in one of the deadliest days of
violence in decades. At least 27 were killed in one church and 17
outside another by suicide bombers.
The Islamic State took credit.
How should Christians respond? First, we must understand the depth of
the problem.
In Egypt, only 10% of the population is Christian. They have supported
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who seized power in a coup, ousting the
elected President Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.
It is not clear what more he can do to protect Christians. He has
already imprisoned or exiled thousands of opponents. And he had security
guards checking those attending St, Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria where
Pope Tawadros, head of the Coptic Christian Church, was presiding.
Fortunately, the Muslim bomber was stopped and refused to go through a
metal detector. That's when he blew himself and 17 others up. But he
could have killed the Coptic Pope and many others inside.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt April 28-29. Sisi has declared
a 3-month state of emergency. Hopefully, that will put enough troops on
the street to protect them both.
America wakened to the Muslim threat when Muslims flew airplanes into
the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing 3,000 in 2001. Nothing
so horrific has happened since. But there have been smaller incidents
that are alarming: an Islamic extremist massacred 49 people at a gay
nightclub; and 14 in San Bernardino were killed at a Christmas party by
a Muslim born in this country.
In fact, 82 other Americans have been murdered in 50 separate acts of
deadly Islamic terror since 9/11.
Franklin Graham is alarmed. He notes in a column published by USA Today
that there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and 2.75 million in the
U.S. Pew asked Muslims in America under what circumstances "suicide
bombings and other forms of violence against civilians is justified to
defend Islam." Thankfully, Pew reported that 86% say such behavior is
"rarely or never" justified. "
"Whew! That means about 1.6 million Muslim adults living here say they
don't approve of violence in the name of their religion. But what about
the rest?" Graham asked.
Seven percent of Muslims in America told Pew researchers that violence
against civilians is "sometimes" justified and 1% said "often." Graham
remarked, "Whoa! This means there are more than 100,000 Muslims who
could justify a suicide bombing in the name of their religion."
That 8% figure of Muslims who would "sometimes" or "often" justify
violence in the name of Islam - that's 100 million people around the
world! And the percentage of Muslims with such views are 15% or more in
such countries as Turkey, Jordan and Egypt.
Two years ago the Islamic State terrorist group released a statement by
its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who asserted, "Islam was never a
religion of peace. Islam is the religion of fighting. No one should
believe that the war that we are waging is the war of the Islamic State.
It is the war of all Muslims, but the Islamic State is spearheading it.
It is the war of Muslims against infidels. Oh, Muslims go to war
everywhere. It is the duty of every Muslim."
Franklin Graham's conclusion: "Now, as a Christian, I'm sure glad that
hundreds of millions of Muslims worldwide would reject this religious
madman's rant. It's the millions who apparently agree with him who
terrify me."
Sadly, there is plenty of reason to be terrified.
In Europe more than a million Muslims have emigrated in recent years, a
high percentage of whom are young unmarried males. There have been a
number of incidents involving death. In November, 2015 six coordinated
attacks in central Paris resulted in 130 deaths. Nail bombers killed 32
people in Brussels.
In July, 2016, a cargo truck deliberately plowed into crowd celebrating
Bastille Day, killing 86. Another truck killed 12 in Berlin last
December. A suicide bomber blew himself up on the St. Petersburg Metro,
killing 14 others this month.
What should be done about this?
I have one simple suggestion. If you know a Muslim, go out of your way
to be kind and considerate to him. We must demonstrate Christian
compassion.
Jesus said, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who mistrust you. If someone strikes
you on one cheek, turn to him the other also" (Luke 6: 27-29).
____________________________________
Copyright (c) 2017 Michael J. McManus,
President of Marriage Savers and a syndicated columnist. For previous
columns go to
www.ethicsandreligion.org. Hit
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