Worldwide Christian Persecution: Genocide in Nigeria and the Middle East?

Persecution of Christians Globally

• 🌍 Millions of Christians face persecution and thousands are killed annually for their faith, a reality acknowledged by figures like King Charles and Donald Trump, yet often overlooked by many Westerners.
• 🎯 Christians are being specifically targeted because of their faith, not merely caught in crossfire or collateral damage.

The Situation in Nigeria

• 🇳🇬 In 2024, approximately 4,500 Christians were killed for their faith, with about 70% of those deaths occurring in Nigeria.
• ⚔️ While some attribute these deaths to factors like desertification, herder-farmer conflicts, and banditry, the primary driver is Islamist violence, including groups like ISIS Africa.
• ⛪ Villages are burned, churches destroyed, and people are killed, indicating a targeted religious conflict rather than solely resource-based disputes.
• ⚠️ Nigeria is described as the most dangerous place in the world to be a practicing Christian, surpassing even North Korea in terms of the risks to living out one's faith.

Historical Roots and Middle Eastern Christians

• ✝️ Christianity originated in the Middle East, with figures like Augustine from Hippo hailing from North Africa, highlighting its deep historical roots in the region.
• 🗣️ The gospel spread from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe, emphasizing that Christianity is not solely a European phenomenon.
• 💔 The Middle East was once a vibrant tapestry of ethnicities and religions, but Christians have been driven out, with historical sites like Jonah's tomb in Mosul being destroyed by ISIS.
• 🖼️ ISIS engaged in iconoclasm, scratching out crosses and faces of saints in churches, and desecrating graves to erase Christian memory and culture.

The Role of Charity and Faith

• 🤝 Father Benedict Kiely's organization, Nasarean.org, helps persecuted Christians by providing seed capital for small businesses, enabling them to stay in their home countries.
• 🏠 This approach addresses the migration problem by offering economic stability, with over 70 businesses established in Iraq and operations in five other countries.
• 🙏 Prayer is a central tenet, with the establishment of seven shrines featuring an icon of the Virgin Mary called "Mother of the Persecuted" in Aramaic.
• 🌟 The concept of Christian martyrdom is discussed as witnessing to faith, distinct from fanatical violence, where martyrs are willing to die rather than deny Christ.

Western Apathy and the Church's Response

• 🤔 A key reason Westerners may not perceive a genocide is the assumption that Christianity is a European religion, overlooking its ancient roots in the Middle East.
• 🗣️ There's an embarrassment in the West about showing particular concern for Christians, unlike the clear partiality shown by Islamic countries for Muslims.
• ⛪ The church, particularly in the West, is not making enough noise about the persecution, leading to a sense of abandonment among Christians in affected regions.
• 🕊️ While some churches prioritize avoiding stoking tensions, silence can be dangerous and may be interpreted as consent, allowing persecution to continue and worsen.

Donald Trump's Impact and Call to Action

• 📢 Donald Trump has significantly raised the issue of Christian persecution, particularly in Nigeria, forcing the Nigerian government to react.
• ⚖️ The discussion includes the potential for legislators to use trade and aid as leverage, questioning why aid is given to countries actively persecuting religious minorities.
• 📢 The church has a responsibility to actively care for its brethren, as emphasized by the motto "do good to all men, but first to the members of the household of the faith."
• 📞 Individuals can support Nasarean.org through prayer and donations via their website.