–– Paul Schlehlein
The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to follow Jesus. Militant Muslims hunt Christians there the way a lion stalks a wounded gazelle.
According to the Open Doors Watch List, North Korea is the most dangerous place in the world for Christians, but Nigeria is the most deadly. In 2023, nearly 5,000 Christians were killed worldwide (that’s thirteen murdered a day) and 90% of these martyrdoms happened in Nigeria. More Christians are killed in Nigeria than all other nations combined, most often by Islamist jihadist groups like Boko Haram.
Christmas is an especially dangerous time for Christians living in Muslim nations. During the holidays in 2023, at least 160 Christians were killed in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. During recent Christmas celebrations in Nigeria, Muslim militants again murdered Christians, this time over two dozen participating in church services and carol singing. Whole families were wiped out, followed by a mass burial service. The victims included a pregnant woman and a one-year-old girl. Since 2016, Muslims have killed more than 2,000 Christians, just from just one north-central Nigerian tribe.
A Muslim Catechism
But why? The Qur’an says so. There is debate amongst peaceful and violent Muslims regarding abrogation and the interpretation of certain Qur’anic texts, but there is no question that Muslims who kill Christians genuinely believe they are obeying the teachings of their holy book.
Consider this brief Muslim catechism as it relates to violence towards Christians:
Q 1: Should Jesus be worshipped? A: No, Jesus is not to be worshipped because he is a created being, akin to Adam and not the eternal Son of God (3:59). Surah 9:5 says, “Slay those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity wherever you find them.”
Q 2: Should Muslims accept those who believe in the Trinity? A: No, the Qur’an refers to believers in the Trinity as polytheists and impure (9:28), corrupters (3:62-64), and perverse (9:30).
Q 3: Is Islam an exclusivist religion? A: Yes, Allah will not accept a religion other than Islam. Surah 3:85, “Whoever seeks a way other than this way of submission—Islam—will find that it will not be accepted from him and he will be among the losers in the Life to Come.”
Q 4: Is Islam a religion of peace? A: No, Islam is not a religion of peace, with scores of passages urging violence (2:190-193, 2:224, 3:157-158, 4:101, 4:74-75, 4:95, 5:36, 5:54, 8:12-17, 9:5, 9:14, 61:4). Surah 2:194 says, “If someone has attacked you, attack him just as he attacked you.”
Q 5: Are Muslims told to fight with Christians? Yes, Muslims are to go to war with Jews and Christians who do not believe in Allah or the last day. Surah 9:29: “Those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day…fight against them until they pay tribute out of their hand and are utterly subdued.”
Q 6: What should happen to former Muslims who apostatize to Christianity? A: Apostates who are vocal about their Christianity should be ostracized and even killed for their faith, for Allah will not accept them. Surah 47:4 says, “When you meet the unbelievers (in battle), smite their necks until you have crushed them….”
Solution
This brief catechism shows the basis for Christian martyrdom. How should Christians address this? Fortunately, this isn’t a new problem. Read Acts. Almost all the early Christians were killed.
The theological solution is the gospel. Jesus died and rose again. He is Lord. Those that repent and believe (Rm. 10:9) will be transformed. Last week Boise State linebacker Ahmed Hassanein, whom I can only assume was a former Muslim, tearfully praised his coach for telling him that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that died for sinners and rose again. This is the Christian’s chief message we must never forget.
The emotional solution is love. Christians must pray for their Muslim neighbors, not hurt them. Jesus said: “Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you” (Lk. 6:27).The practical solution is missions. Churches in comfortable nations of light should send armadas of evangelists to uncomfortable nations of darkness, not with business models but Bibles, not to doze but to die. As Tertullian the Church Father said: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”