The Iraq War's Devastating Consequences For Christians

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   DrDeanCrosbyposted 14 years ago

   Jesus' teaching "By their fruits you shall know them" applies in a most ghastly manner to those who started and supported the astonishingly evil war in Iraq as the transcript below from a National Public Radio broadcast so emotionally and devastatingly shows.The Iraq Christian community, which is one of the oldest in the entire world,has lived in peace with its neighbors literally for centuries.It took the invasion of their country by the United States,falsely perceived as a Christian nation by the citizens of Iraq,to mark Iraqi Christians as easy targets for retaliation by Muslim extremists.Here is a snapshot of how this has so tragically unfolded:
   
   "In Iraq, a wave of attacks targeting Christians is leading to an exodus from Baghdad and other cities. Before the 2003 American invasion, there were nearly 1 million Christians in the country. That number has been CUT IN HALF in the past several years.
   Now, with the latest violence, families are seeking refuge in northern Iraq and trying to emigrate.
   The latest spate of attacks on Christians started at Our Lady of Salvation Church, a Syrian Catholic church in a mixed, middle-class neighborhood in Baghdad.
   During evening mass militants climbed the walls of the church, shot scores of worshipers, took hundreds more hostage, and then detonated suicide vests when Iraqi security forces mounted a rescue attempt. In all, 58 PEOPLE DIED.
   Bullet holes and signs of a fierce battle remain throughout the church. Toward the front doors is the telltale spray of a suicide bomber: bits and pieces of hair and skin stuck to the ceiling.
   
   Iraqi police recently arrested a man who they say was the mastermind behind the attack. They say he is a top leader in the local branch of al-Qaida.
   Threats Escalate
   Just a few days after the church siege, homemade bombs targeted houses belonging to Christian families around Baghdad.
   A mother of two, who only wants to give her name as Um Milad, or "mother of Milad," says she was just starting her day when she heard the boom.
   "I woke up at 6 o'clock because I had to prepare my child for school," she says. "And as we were in the room, suddenly all the glass were shattered. 'Are we being bombed from somewhere?' "
   That somewhere turned out to be inside the family's home. Militants had sneaked in and planted a bomb. The explosion set the house on fire. The family escaped from the roof.
   They were so scared, they actually sought refuge inside Our Lady of Salvation Church � the church that was then attacked.
   Christians around Baghdad have been getting threats by text messages and envelopes with bullets inside.
   Officials in France and Germany have offered asylum to a limited number of Iraqi Christians. But diplomats in Iraq say that is a dangerous game. They say singling out Christians only makes them more of a target.What's more, they say, in a country where hundreds of people still die every month, it's not as if Christians are the only victims.
   Bashar Warda is a Chaldean Catholic archbishop. He says Christians have been part of this country since the 2nd century. he can not in good conscience encourage Christians to stay.
   Iraqi politicians repeatedly make speeches about how the government should help the Christians. But so far little has been done.
   We interviewed a woman who was only willing to give us the name "Ban"."I hate being an Iraqi, because what they do to us," she says.Without any income, her family of nine is living off savings. Ban said they have enough for two or three months, no more.Swiping her hands together to show there is nothing between them, Ban repeats the same word over and over: finished, finished, finished."
   It is most appropriate that this radio broadcast transcript primarily reports on the horrible fate of a Catholic church because most American Catholics supported the invasion of Iraq.If only they had heeded this warning:
   Matthew 7:15-17 (Contemporary English Version)
   
   15Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you. 16You can tell what they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thorn bushes. 17A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
   __________________
   
   
   The Christian faith has not been designed to create success or find pleasure in or even tolerate this world but rather to OVERCOME it!
   
   

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   Beelzedadposted 14 years ago

   Your post infers the war is about religion, yet many would state it is not about religion. So, what is it, then?

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   olivertwistedposted 14 years ago

   You should stick to subject matter that you have, at least, SOME knowledge of....this ISN'T it...

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   pennyofheavenposted 14 years ago

   Yes agree Beezledad. Sounds more political to me.
   
   If America is perceived as a Christian Nation who is perceiving it that way? That would mean the Majority of Americans are Christians which I pretty much doubt.

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