CRY FOR THE CHRISTIANS OF NIGERIA

"Weep with those who weep" is an ancient instruction on right living. It would be a good thing for the Christians of Nigeria if the world would do that.

Boko Haram, is an extremist Islamic faction in Nigeria. Just weeks ago, it is believed, they committed a church invasion, killing the two off-duty police guards at the door, locking the doors behind them as they entered the church, then shooting down the Christians inside. Who are the peaceful? Christians who are praying, or Boko Haram who are killing? Your neighbors spilled blood cries to you from the grave.

Precious little outrage, or even comment has come from the U.S. government. There ought to be a daily briefing statement on this and similar persecution given by the President, or the Secretary of State, or the host of diplomatic foreign service officers that represent this nation. At a minimum, the U.S.A. should be beating the drum hard for religious freedom, and peace among religious parties, much less continually excoriating the blood lust of the perpetrators.

There ought to be a joining of voices by Islamic clerics, the world over, to tell Boko Haram that Islam is a religion of peace. There ought to be powerful pronouncements endorsing freedom of religion. There ought to be loud denunciations of those who cloak themselves in Islam to commit murder in the name of religion. With goodwill to men, they should bind up the wounds of the Christian community of Nigeria. What an impressive peace-teaching image that would be. It would be seen on the newscast in most every nation on earth.

Christian people in America ought to be crying out to the LORD for the earthly deliverance of these Christians of Nigeria, and so many others around the world, who live under the threat of the gun. They should pray that followers of the various and many religions of our world would be free to worship as they choose wherever they are, doing no harm to others. Christians should advocate, and pray, that despite our differences, all religions would be able to agree that no person should ever be killed by another over religion.

People of goodwill, no matter their faith experience, should weep for the dying Christians of Nigeria. It could happen to you. With goodwill toward all humanity, let us together decry Boko Haram's inhumanity.