Would you die for your faith? We all like to think we would, but most of us — blessedly — are never put in that position.
Twelve brave Syrian missionaries were put in just that position, though. On Aug. 28, the 12 were captured by the Islamic State group and asked to renounce their faith in Christianity. They didn’t, and paid the price.
The Gospel Herald reported that the massacre took place on Aug. 28 just outside Aleppo, Syria. According to Christian Aid Mission, a group that helps indiginous Christians in areas where they’re likely to encounter persecution, four Christians were crucified and another eight were beheaded.
“Villagers said some were praying in the name of Jesus, others said some were praying the Lord’s Prayer, and others said some of them lifted their heads to commend their spirits to Jesus,” the ministry director told Christian Aid. “One of the women looked up and seemed to be almost smiling as she said, ‘Jesus!’”
Nine men, two women and the 12-year-old son of the ministry leader were all killed in the disgusting attack.
“In front of the team leader and relatives in the crowd, the Islamic extremists cut off the fingertips of the boy and severely beat him, telling his father they would stop the torture only if he, the father, returned to Islam,” Christian Aid reported.
“When the team leader refused, relatives said, the ISIS militants also tortured and beat him and the two other ministry workers. The three men and the boy then met their deaths in crucifixion.”
One might say that these were bad Muslims. As Mad World News points out, though, they were just doing what Allah commanded them: “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned.” (Quran 5:33)
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who perished, as well as all of the other Christians stranded in the path of the Islamic State. May God’s protection be upon them.