Posted on 02/18/2015 8:09:00 PM PST by bad company
The brother of two of the 21 Coptic Christians murdered in Libya last week has thanked their killers for including the men's declaration of faith in the video they made of their beheadings.
Speaking on a live prayer and worship programme on Christian channel SAT-7 ARABIC yesterday, Beshir Kamel said that he was proud of his brothers Bishoy Estafanos Kamel (25) and Samuel Estafanos Kamel (23) because they were "a badge of honour to Christianity".
Harrowing scenes of the murders have been seen around the world. The last words of some of those killed were "Lord Jesus Christ".
Beshir Kamel thanked ISIS for not editing out the men's declaration of belief in Christ because he said this had strengthened his own faith. He added that the families of the ex-patriate workers are "congratulating one another" and not in despair: "We are proud to have this number of people from our village who have become martyrs," he told the programme.
He said: "Since the Roman era, Christians have been martyred and have learned to handle everything that comes our way. This only makes us stronger in our faith because the Bible told us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us."
The men were captured by Islamic State in December and January. Kamel welcomed the air strikes launched in response by the Egyptian government, saying: "Only the length of the time period when we didn't know where they were justified the air strikes for us. If they had been martyred on the same day they were kidnapped, we wouldn't have asked for any retaliation."
Asked by host Maher Fayez what he would say if he were asked to forgive ISIS, he related what his mother said she would do if she saw one of the men who killed her son. "My mother, an uneducated woman in her sixties, said she would ask [him] to enter her house and ask God to open his eyes because he was the reason her son entered the kingdom of heaven."
Invited to pray for his brothers' killers, Beshir prayed: "Dear God, please open their eyes to be saved and to quit their ignorance and the wrong teachings they were taught."
Most incredible.
Part of me wants to bring utter destruction upon all who would murder, then I read an account like this and I remember Christ told us to pray for our enemies.
Very poignant and telling was his statement about not retaliating if they’d known they had been killed the same day.
Very telling that this has strengthened the faith of the Coptic Christians. In the spiritual realm, Christianity is very deep and Islam is very shallow
This seems to indicate that the love of Jesus Christ is very tangible to these Coptics.
The Coptics all went to heaven. It’s these rabid killers who need to be concerned about their own fates.
And historically martyrdoms have added to Christendom more than they have dissuaded from it. What would move people like this to such a peaceful conviction in the face of such an evil fate, is going to draw great curiosity.
may the blood of those holy men be as a terrible curse to those murderers—May they suffer in this world and the next—unless they turn from their evil ways and embrace Christ—and ask for his mercy—only this will save their souls. The reaction—like those of the Amish who suffered terrible loss—remind us what Christ asked us to do. Whould that we have his love in our hearts to do this.
Indeed.
God crucified his own Son, shedding innocent blood.
These martyrs won’t be forgotten, death brings forth life.
Being a Christian in the madness of the Mid-East is the only touchstone one could have towards sanity.
Well said.
The True God wins.
Traumatic bonding, a variant of Stockholm syndrome, described as “a strong emotional attachment between an abused person and his or her abuser, formed as a result of the cycle of violence.” This is the exact strategy that their extreme savagery is intended to create with their target of attack. It breaks down their resistance.
Must not have worked on these captives- otherwise Isis would have tortured them into saying Allahu Ackbaaargh.
“My mother, an uneducated woman in her sixties, said she would ask [him] to enter her house and ask God to open his eyes because he was the reason her son entered the kingdom of heaven.”
***
Powerful!
How many professed Christians in this country, given the choice of conversion to Islam or beheading, would choose to die for their faith?
The time for a decision may be coming to Christians in Europe and America within our lifetimes.
Religion started this, but it takes more than religion to finish it!
When Jesus went to be arrested he told his disciples to take weapons with them...Apparently for self defense...Jesus would have been bummed if the Romans had killed all of his disciples...
I don't believe Jesus expects us to lift our heads to gaze at heaven to give someone free access to our necks...We can only pray that they accept Jesus as their Savior before we annihilate them...
I see this as a powerful weapon to bring more people to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember the saying:
” The blood of the Christian martyrs is the SEEDS of NEW Christian believers.”
You may see this in Europe, but in America because Americans are more likely then not are ARMED to the teeth, you will see more shooting of any Islamofacists take place.
It can be a curse, or it can be a useful sign so that they may meet in heaven. Up to them.
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