The Face of Islam

... By morning, more than 500 Christians in Dogo Nahawa and two nearby villages had been slaughtered by a roving Muslim gang armed with machetes, guns and knives.... There were burned-out churches and many burned-out homes.

"We were shocked to see the site of a mass grave where the Christians who were savagely slaughtered were buried. Today we were able to see numerous patients at several hospitals. There were fewer gunshots and far more machete and knife wounds than I have seen in the past in northern Nigeria. It looks to me like the Muslims had sharpened their weapons before the attack, because the wounds on these folks were significantly deeper and more destructive than any of those I saw in January when Muslims attacked Christians in Jos. The epitome was a 4-year-old little girl whose left arm was slashed and amputated above the elbow. “We examined one wounded 8-year-old girl who lost both her parents and is now in the care of her aunt. Another woman told us that while she was trying to escape with her babies, who were tied ‘papoose style’ so that they lay on her back, the infants were killed by machete strikes...."

"Christians have been regularly attacked by violent Muslim mobs in Jos and other cities in the 12 Northern Nigerian states that have enacted Sharia law. The raids on Christian neighborhoods are horrific, leaving in their wake hundreds of injured Christians, most of whom have no means to pay for medical care...."

“It was amazing when we were allowed to worship with the believers. Even with all the death and destruction around them, they were praising the Lord for his goodness and mercy. The service was held in the village square, complete with charred, burned-out buildings in the background The pastor who addressed them stressed that this was indeed the persecution foretold by Jesus as a sign of the end times and that our duty was to carry our cross and forgive the attackers."

Beyond Anything I Have Ever Seen (A Report from the Frontlines in Nigeria), VOMedical: Special Update, JUNE 2010

On this memorial of 9-11 we have been reminded again of the "Face of Islam." But as our Nigerian brothers and sisters have given so poignant example, let us be conformed to the "Face of Christ."

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.... Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect Matthew 5:44-48).

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:19-21).