Would Nigerian Christians lose or deny their faith just because there is a growing number of persecution against them by people who hide under the cover of Islam? They come with the name Boko Haram - a name which book is bad and they claim to be Muslims but numerous Muslim groups in Nigeria have denounced their actions.
On the 25th of December 2011 - Christmas day which is the day Christians worldwide normally mark the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It was on this holy day and at the Holy parish of St Theresa's Niger state that evil men decide to cause havoc, commit sacrilege and kill innocent people who have gone to worship the Almighty God.
I guess on this day and after it happened, many people may be asking, "Where is God? Why did he allow this to happen?". I guess God must have foreseen that this would happen, he probably permitted it to happen but he would also have wanted to perpetrators to have a change of heart using their freewill. Instead they did not, they raised their hands against God and his Kingdom and slay the people who worship his Son. Would Christ answer back with instant Judgement being the King of Kings? Maybe not yet or maybe soon.
What consolation could we gain from the fact that this people were killed in the house of their father? But looking at it in another light - What better place to die than at church? If you were asked where you would want to die, where would that be? Wouldn't you prefer dying while worshiping God rather than when sleeping?
For the Boko Haramites and their supporters, they have succeeded in inciting fear but I doubt if they have broken the faith of people who believe in Christ for such Christians would recall what the Lord said in the 8th beatitude - "Blessed are you when men persecute you because of the kingdom and my name, rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven" and again "if they persecuted me, they will persecute you". I think, for those who died because they went to identify with Jesus Christ at St Theresa's, they are martyrs for Christ and would probably be having some of the joys of heaven already because the angel also says "Blessed are those who now die in the Lord" (Revelation 14:13) and St Peter even remarked that "It is better to suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong" (1 Peter 3:17).
So although what the Boko Haramites did by bombing the holy Church of St Theresa's was condemned by God and would have it's judgement in due time, those who died because they went to Church on Christmas day are really martyrs for Christ for where he is, they will also be and "And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes". Their sins which are many will be forgiven them because they offered the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.
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