Last week militants wearing combat fatigues and carrying an ISIS flag attacked the al Rawdah Sufi mosque in Bir al-Abed in northern Sinai. The 25 to 30 armed men used explosives and automatic machine guns, killing over 300 and wounding over one hundred more. Al Rawdah mosque is known as the birthplace of an important Sufi cleric. Sufism is a mystical branch of Islam that some jihadists consider heretical.
As Christians, we know all too well the hatred radical Islamists bear for our religion. Christians in the Middle East have suffered the scourge of ISIS, having their villages overrun, their homes and businesses destroyed, their churches desecrated. The damage has been unthinkable. Solidarity with the Persecuted Church is even now working to help rebuild Christian homes, churches and lives in Iraq.
Yet in the midst of rebuilding, we must stop and pray for the victims of this terrible attack in Egypt. As Christians we must always strive to be true to our faith and to evangelize, to bring others to know the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as Christians and Americans we must always respect and protect the right of people of all peaceful faiths the freedom to practice their religious beliefs.
Over 400 people are dead or wounded for going to worship a loving and peaceful God. Let us join hearts and hands as we pray for the souls of the dead and the families of the victims…and let us offer a fervent prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ will help bring a lasting peace to this very troubled part of our world.
Related