Posted on by Dave Miers

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE ARABIC LETTER IN FACEBOOK PROFILE PICS?

Arabic-Nazarene

Have you noticed the picture above? Lots of my friends on facebook have been using this as their profile picture during the last 24 hours. It’s an Arabic letter for ‘N’ short for Nasrani which is Arabic for Christian (followers of Jesus from Nazareth).

Apparently ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham) have been painting it on the houses of Christians in the city of Mosul in Iraq. Basically these Christians are being asked to either a) convert to Islam, b) pay a ridiculously high tax or c) be killed. Pretty crazy stuff. Thankfully many Christians have come up with a fourth option and d) fled.

My Christian friends are using it as their picture as a mark of solidarity with our Iraqi brothers and sisters. It’s only small, but it’s one way of expressing a desire to be bound with them.

You can read more about the events:

Keen to do more than change your profile picture? Barnabas Fund is currently raising money to support Iraqi Christians.

And pray. Here is an Urgent Prayer Alert for Iraq from Open Doors Australia.

I’ve written often about persecution on this blog. Christians believe that Jesus is someone worth losing everything for. If you’ve never taken time to consider Jesus, a good place to start would be considering who He is, why He came and what it means to follow Him.

MORE NEWS ON IRAQI CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION:

This post has been viewed over 150K times! And much has happened since it was first written. There are now no longer any Christians in Mosul. Another historic Christian town, Qaraqosh, has also been overtaken. There are horrific things happening to Christians at the hands of Islamic State. Keep praying for protection, provision and perseverance. Below are links to more recent articles that I have written…

We-Are-N #WeAreN prayforiraq_webbanner_19962 bringing-hope-in-iraq

RELATED CONTENT:

SUPPORT IRAQI CHRISTIANS #WeAreN

A PRAYER FOR IRAQI CHRISTIANS #WeAreN

TELL THE STORY OF PERSECUTED IRAQI CHRISTIANS #WeAreN

BRINGING HOPE IN IRAQ // UPDATE FROM OPEN DOORS #WeAreN

147 Replies to “WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE ARABIC LETTER IN FACEBOOK PROFILE PICS?”

      1. While i pray often and my heart hurts for these men and women… i say tho we need to raise our own army of Christians and step out and fight these muslims once and for all

          1. Dave — re: The Christian Army: it IS a good idea. You need to go back and study a Catholic Bible, and also study the Crusades from a Catholic / Medieval perspective. There are many misunderstandings about the Crusades, from both the Catholic and Muslim side.

        2. Humans should never advocate war . they should never spent time money to kill humans , they should spend time money not on weapons to kill but to spend time ,money to save human lives .! There are a lot more good and sane Christians , Catholics , and Muslims then Evil and insane ones ! which side are You ? Peace on Earth today ! One love , one world ,One god , one race , The Humanoids !

          1. @ Ahmed Buksh

            “Humans should never advocate war .”

            Tell it to the Muslims who’ve been advocating for and waging war on unbelievers for 1400 years!

            ” they should never spent time money to kill humans , they should spend time money not on weapons to kill but to spend time ,money to save human lives .! ”

            That’s a child’s way of looking at the world. It’s nice, and it will happen when Christ returns, but it’s not the world we live in now. In the world we live in now, people with weapons will attack no matter what anyone says or does, so we’d better be ready to defend ourselves with weapons of our own.

            “There are a lot more good and sane Christians , Catholics , and Muslims then Evil and insane ones ! ”

            Do not dare lump Christians of any stripe in with Muslims, okay? Can you show me the Christians/Catholics murdering unbelievers in obedience to their religion? Can you show me where Christianity in general or Catholicism in particular commands or condones such acts?

            “which side are You ?”

            Which side are YOU on?

            Anything to say on the point of this article, which is the relentless slaughter of Christians by Muslims following their ideology?

    2. Thank you so much for doing this and for getting the truth out! The blindness and demonic powers behind ISIS are staggering. Please also pray for the Kurdish people and their protection. How can they cope with so many refugees?

      1. Funny how this post has completely been ignored by you davemiers, while you’ve replied to every other..

        1. Hey AA,
          My apologies for not replying to this comment.
          You’ll find if you scroll further down, that the vast majority of discussion below I haven’t had time to wade through. It just happens to correspond with my family moving from one city to another.

          Beeseok, I have been praying for more than just Christians in the area.

          Peace.

    3. Isn’t it sad when everday hundreds of Muslims die. It’s so sad when you have only one person who is suffering and you show it in media. What about thousands of Muslims. Suffered killed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Iraq and a lot more. Think logically not emotionally .

      1. Hey Muhammad Umar Ahamdzai,

        I agree – it’s terribly sad when everyday hundreds of Muslims die. Likewise, I agree that the way some stories rank higher than other ones in the news is confusing.

        Personally – I’m praying for all people in the world who are suffering unjustly. Regardless of their religion.

        Thanks for taking time to leave a comment.

        Blessing.s

    4. I’m a proud Muslim and I believe in peace and we should pray for peace on this planet and we all should unite together as one and defeat ISIS Together.

  2. Worth knowing that those allowed to flee are robbed of everything, including money, and for many cars etc, and so must walk defenceless out into the desert.

      1. refugees in Africa are often Fleeing from Violence with Nothing. in Rawanda Hutu’s and Tutsi’s were fighting one tribe against another. the Women were being raped the Men and Boys were being killed .they were often left with Nothing but their lives and horrific injuries and memories. Religion is just another Belief system. and often used to “Control” the lives of the Sheep who Follow. “Blind Faith”in Any Religion is in My Opinion Wrong. we have the Freedom of Thought .we should have the freedom to live Without Following Religion (A) or (B) or (C) etc People Who Control a Religious Group Make their own Rules and interpret the Book or writings in their own way. Televangelists have been found to be Corrupt and worse sinners than the people they Claim are Bad. .I Don’t Follow any Leader ..i Choose my own Path or Create my own just for fun..

  4. Really sad! I hope there would be justice in this- God please protect these people!

      1. @davemiers i agree with you. let’s pray for those believers to stand in Jesus Christ, whatever the cost

    2. Amen and Amen. God will use the blood of Christian to grow the Holy Priesthood of believers in Jesus Christ.

    3. The marking of that letter reminds me of what the Nazi’s did to the Jews in the beginning.

  6. God bless everyone commented, donated, assisted, shared in any way.
    Will keep praying, I’m sure that Jesus will support these people soon.

  7. What is going on? Is there the world powers doing anything to protect the helpless Christians? Is Obama saying to this too “respect them”? What do all the Christian countries are doing to protect these Christians? Please please do something before it spread all over the world where we will have no place to run.

    2. And if they happen to make it to Australia, we’ll lock them up indefinitely in conditions almost as barbaric as those they left.

    3. Actually I believe Russia is helping a lot and is pretty close to offering group asylum to about 50,000 Christians fleeing Syria.

    4. This is well and good and all but the reason I stopped believing in Christianity in every way and form is cause of attitudes like this. Yes, Christians there are suffering because of their religion. And yes, it’s admirable and god save them blah blah blah. But as Christians, shouldn’t prayers be for everyone? Not just for fellow Christians? If you are all so called ‘children of god’, shouldn’t the prayers be for both those suffering and those causing the suffering? A whole lot of these comments are showing sympathy for the Christians. One even spoke of ‘demonic powers’. Seriously, the narrow mindedness of the average Christian is staggering.

      1. Hi Chris, thanks for genuine call there. I can only speak as a representative of my own personal faith as a follower of Jesus, but my first response to your words is yes of course, we must pray for all who are in great need, and this must include for those who are so emotionally, mentally and spiritually broken that they could be led to commit such evil atrocities. God’s great compassion has no bounds and we believe we are all in desperate need of his mercy and immense love for all of us. Please understand though, followers of Jesus are flawed or else we wouldn’t need Jesus in our lives. His sacrifice is not religious for us, it is the beginning of our journey to be a part of the Father’s love in actions, beliefs, feelings and in the hereafter. Religious was something Jesus was not. I may not be able to speak for everyone here, but I can personally shout the simple truth for me, God has made me a far more affective person in this world than I ever was. Enough to speak up against all human rights abuses in a world that is so often hollow. Kudos to your courage and honesty. God bless mate. You’ll be in my prayers;)

  8. May the God of Peace, Love and Compassion be with these strong Christian brothers and sisters in this time of adversity! What an awful thing to happen, it makes me realise that living as a Christian in Australia is a walk in the park… #blessedbethenameofthelord

    2. Amen and amen. I feel so privileged to have freedom of faith. We must continue to hold our Christian brothers and sisters up in prayer that they will have the strength to stand strong on their faith.

  9. My sister was in the city when ISIS captured the historic city of Mosul (center of Ninevah) but thank God she and her family managed to leave just before they took over their neighbourhood,. The situation in Mosul is far worse than anyone can imagine. She lives now in one of the relatively safe Kurdish cities, but paying an unbelievably high rent and the whole family are suffering from acute depression. They feel like having no hope as they are spending the last of their life savings, have no hope of going back there, and even if they manage to go back when the central government regain the city, they would most probably find their home being taken over by someone else or at best being looted by neighbours who allegedly helped ISIS to confiscate all the belongings of Christians who did not manage to leave early. So, basically it is not safe any more to live among looters and killers. Please guys pray for them. They really need it.

    1. hello sarmad,
      thanks for taking time to leave a comment.
      i’m so sorry to hear about your sister and her family. i can’t imagine what it must be like in those circumstances.
      many of my Christians friends are praying for our brothers and sisters in Mosul and are seeking other ways to support them too.
      keep trusting Jesus,
      dave

    2. GOD’S PROTECTION ON YOUR FAMILY AND FELLOW CHRISTIANS IN JESUS NAME. DON’T LOSE HOPE .

  10. About time we do something about it. Recognise that it is Anti-Christ loving Freemasons who are the politicians in western countries who do nothing to stop Islam. They continue to bring Muslims to western countries out of “love and compassion” and then do nothing for Christians persecuted in Muslim countries.

    1. By your comment, it seems you don’t know much about Freemasonry. The “Anti-Christ loving” title you have associated the fraternity with is, in reality, the opposite of what Freemasonry is about. I hope you are also opposed to college sororities and fraternities, because that is what Freemasonry is….a fraternity. Here’s what they do: A bunch of guys that get together, eat, recite verses and discuss topics relating to helping the community and the importance of being a good person, what went on at the last meeting, what the next meeting will be about, discuss fundraisers for scholarships and other miscellaneous activities…One of the requirements to be accepted into the fraternity, is you must be of reputable and upstanding character and believe in a higher, divine being. I also hope you oppose The Shriners and what they do for those who cannot afford medical treatment for burn victims and crippled victims. All Shriners are Freemasons, as that is a requirement. (My ex-fiance is a Freemason and a Shriner. I used to go with him to the weekly meetings. I couldn’t be in the room while the “rituals” were going on, but the room they were in was not soundproof.)

      1. I could reply much to what you say about Freemasonry Meg, but think my thoughts are best summed up in the following: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Freemasonry/lodges.htm. One thing I can tell you that it is not as you say – this is not my opinion alone – millions worldwide have woken up to Freemasonry’s cultish subtle workings, those including many now ex-Freemasons who will confirm it is part of the occult. Only if you were a non Christian or had not checked this out for yourself would you be able to state “The “Anti-Christ loving” title you have associated the fraternity with is, in reality, the opposite of what Freemasonry is about.” It is exactly what Freemasonry is all about!

    2. Muslims have nothing to do with ISIS as it is a extremist group that has nothing to do with the millions of Bosnian, Cypriot, Indonesian, Filipino, German. Turkish, Armenian Islamic people of the world! so please get your facts straight and don’t go preaching like Christianity is all the world has. You are pathetic if you think the ISIS have any similarities with other Islamic nations. Starting to remind me of the KKK, child molesting priests and anti gay idiots that unfortunately god created. As for Australia which was invaded by European settlers and degraded the rightfully indigenous people called Aboriginals. As an atheist I think this needs to be understood as an act that in no way should reflect upon innocent cultures no matter what religion!!!!

      1. @ Gulsen

        “Muslims have nothing to do with ISIS…

        I guess they didn’t get the memo, since their very name stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Hence the acronym.

        And that’s as far as I read of your comment. Someone who starts off that way is clearly not being serious.

        But thanks for the laugh!

        1. Hi.
          Mr. idiot. If I make a land saying the Christian state and then go kill people why don’t they convert to Chrsitianity, does that make the land Christian or following christian rules?
          Islam is THE religion of Peace. Don’t make up crap. Islamic State is NOT Muslim, go educate yourself THEN use a keyboard…

  11. Pingback: The Mark of a “Christian” | jpdaily

  12. When will the Christian countries wake up to protect the persecuted Christians around the world? Why are they blind to this harsh reality?

  13. First let me state that I think what ISIS is doing is just disgusting, and their actions in no way actually reflect the Muslim way of life. Please don’t judge Islam based on their actions, just as Muslims wouldn’t base Christianity on the actions of Christian extremists such as the KKK or (to a much lesser extent lol) Terry Jones.

    I’m a devout Muslim and have read the Koran many times, and let me assure you that in no way, shape, or form does the Koran promote killing of ANYONE, even if they’re another religion.

    Let me also say that your muslim brothers and sisters (brothers and sisters in the way that they also believe in God, Jesus, and Resurrection day) are with you as well (2 links):

    http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/07/22/Hundreds-of-Muslims-Join-Pro-Christian-Anti-ISIS-Rally-in-Baghdad

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/qasim-rashid/ramadan-message-isis_b_5611232.html

    -Haneif

    1. I will believe that Muslims do not support the robbing, murder and rape of Christians, when Muslims stop the robbing, murdering and raping of Christians in the name of their religion.

      Silence is consent.

      1. Well done, you’re now thinking exactly like them. You must recall that the hatred that fuels ISIS was itself born during years of persecution.

        And now you’re answering a nice, moderate and supportive comment from a Muslim with close-mindedness. Because of course, all the Muslims have to be considered responsible for what happens in the Middle East right?

        I’m sure that when Shia persecuted Sunni before all this happened, there was already a bunch of people among them who thought that “silence is consent” and seized the first occasion to take revenge. Well, guess what, they’ve won. Do you think that Christians should take the same path of hatred and violence as ISIS?

        1. @ Doth

          “Well done, you’re now thinking exactly like them.”

          False. If murderers don’t like being called murderers, maybe they should stop their murder.

          “You must recall that the hatred that fuels ISIS was itself born during years of persecution.”

          False. The hatred that fuels ISIS is born out of their ideology started by their warlord, child rapist “prophet” Mohammad.

          That’s as far as I read of your vile comment. It sickens me and enrages me to hear people who know nothing about Islam dare to make some sort of moral equivalence between these savages and those who speak the truth about them and their ideology.

          1. I think the reply to my comment says more about the commenter than it does about what I said.

            He apparently didn’t even understand what my statement meant.

      2. Then I suppose I can assume you approve of the rape, kidnapping, and murder committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Africa. After all, they’re Christians.

    2. Haneif,

      I believe that YOU and many non-extremist Muslims do not believe in such horrific violence, but as to whether or not the Quran speaks of it:

      Qur’an:9:5 – “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”

      Qur’an:9:112 “The Believers fight in Allah’s Cause, they slay and are slain, kill and are killed.”

      Qur’an:9:29 “Fight those who do not believe until they all surrender, paying the protective tax in submission.”

      (Tell me 9:29 does not sound exactly like what they are doing!)

      Qur’an:8:39 “Fight them until all opposition ends and all submit to Allah.”

      Qur’an:8:39 “So fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief [non-Muslims]) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone (in the whole world).”

      Ishaq:587 “Our onslaught will not be a weak faltering affair. We shall fight as long as we live. We will fight until you turn to Islam, humbly seeking refuge. We will fight not caring whom we meet. We will fight whether we destroy ancient holdings or newly gotten gains. We have mutilated every opponent. We have driven them violently before us at the command of Allah and Islam. We will fight until our religion is established. And we will plunder them, for they must suffer disgrace.”

      (*mutilated*, plunder, and disgrace. Just wow…)

      Qur’an:8:65 “O Prophet, urge the faithful to fight. If there are twenty among you with determination they will vanquish two hundred; if there are a hundred then they will slaughter a thousand unbelievers, for the infidels are a people devoid of understanding.”

      Qur’an:9:123 “Fight the unbelievers around you, and let them find harshness in you.”

      Ishaq:578 “Crushing the heads of the infidels and splitting their skulls with sharp swords, we continually thrust and cut at the enemy. Blood gushed from their deep wounds as the battle wore them down. We conquered bearing the Prophet’s fluttering war banner. Our cavalry was submerged in rising dust, and our spears quivered, but by us the Prophet gained victory.”

      The reality is simple. Convert or die.

      2. Have you read the old testament of the bible? The passages you just quoted with disgust sound VERY similar to what is in your own bible

        1. @ Jennifer

          “Have you read the old testament of the bible?”

          Have you? Of course you haven’t. How do I know that? Because of your next false claim:

          “The passages you just quoted with disgust sound VERY similar to what is in your own bible”

          If you’d read the the Bible, you’d know this is false.

          If you’d read the Bible, you would know that it contains ZERO open-commands for either Jews or Christians to commit violence against unbelievers.

          That’s why there are no Jews or Christians committing such acts, all over the world, on a regular basis, in obedience to such commands.

        2. If I saw “Christians” slaughtering in the name of God, I’d take just as much offense and be just as well disgusted. My Bible says turn the other cheek, love, and forgive, and I follow it.

          Without going into a huge theological discussion about it, the old testament does not say, ‘Convert or kill, slaughter until all have converted’. Sorry; it just doesn’t.

          Regardless, the Christian Bible says lay down your life for Love, and that is what I believe. If I saw this garbage happening from anyone, whether they do it in the name of religion or not, I’d vehemently oppose it.

          That you would even have the audacity to presume that I’d only be upset about seeing 7 year old children beheaded because of the fact that there is a religion involved in utterly absurd. I oppose the non-sense of the Westboro Baptist Church with the same fervour. Justification of hatred in the name of “God”, regardless the God, is wrong and should be stopped. Plain and simple. But when genocide is involved, it’s time we stop arguing theology and come together and stop evil.

      3. With due respect! Behind every single Aayah of Quran, there is a context. So please don’t quote just a half Aayah without knowing its in-depth meanings and context. And also please don’t judge entire Muslims based on some uneducated, self-made and arrogant buddies. If you don’t accept the reality and truth, don’t accept, it’s upto you, but remember the truth is there if you see it from the eyes and heart of reality.

    3. Hanief, Thank you. Bigotry is simply the evil of the world. Please know that all are in our prayers and thoughts.

    4. Can you honestly say that Islam is a peaceful religion? I have read and studied your religion. These people are following the Koran and the Prophet Mohammad exactly.commanding them to fight and kill the infidel. Jesus told His followers to love their enemies and do good to them.Not kill them.so please do us s favor,open your eyes to the truth of your religion, and run.

    5. The only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. By your silence, you are consenting to what your Muslim brothers are doing. Why has there not been an outpouring of protest here and abroad by those of you that are “peace loving”?

  14. Why didn’t you wear this Arabic symbol when Moslems were being executed by ISIS? #doublestandard #whatchristiansreallymean

    1. Hi,

      While not being a great believer, I must admit I was more troubled to hear about persecutions against Christians than I was when ISIS persecuted, say, Shia or moderate Muslims. I don’t like it, but I think that, if I may call an analogy, you won’t feel the same if your neighbors or coworkers were robbed or murdered as if the same thing happened to your own family. See what I mean? Would you then let people call “double standards”, or think that your family’s lives are worth more than others?

      Christians share a common mythological ground in the Bible (I am not calling it a “myth” in the common meaning of the term, but as a “story that explain the world and unite those who believe it”). This is not rational, but you have absolutely no business in denying its sincerity.

  15. Praying for Iraqi believer every day now. For those too whose families are there. May the LORD be on their side .

  17. haneif is a confirmed muslim and is therefore a child of lucifer. there are 2 sides in this struggle –
    G_D and lucifer. haneif serves lucifer.

      1. Haneif, I believe what you say is true and thank you for posting such a helpful message. However, in the same way that Christianity has been abused historically, there are many currently abusing Islam to further their own agendas. It would be great if there could be more overt solidarity between Christians and Muslims. There are far more similarities than differences.

        However, please consider the implications of Jesus dying on the cross for your sins. God is such a loving God that he entered into our suffering through his only Son. Jesus wasn’t just spirit (Gnostic view) and he wasn’t substituted by anyone else. This is the fundamental difference between Chrisitanity and Islam. Jesus died for our sins, having been born of a virgin and showing authority over life and death by bringing people back to life. God simply asks us to be His light and love to the world. There is nothing we can do to achieve salvation for ourselves except to return love to God and to all His creation. It is an extremely liberating and healing message.

        I send this message in love, knowing that God loves Muslims in the same way as Christians. Personally I feel the evidence from the Gospels suggests that God would like His love for Muslims to be known more fully than can be expressed in the Koran. Also that we cannot ever earn our own way into ‘heaven’ but that Jesus has made this possible.

        God bless

  19. The arabic letter for ‘N’ is also the first letter of the word ‘nuur’ or ‘light’, used in Arabic Bibles when the Lord Jesus proclaims himself to be the light of the world. Would His unquenchable light shine in the darkness that our Iraqi brothers and sisters are going through at the moment.

    It is also the first letter of the word ‘ni’ma’, which means ‘grace’ in Arabic. Would God’s abundant provision of grace sustain our brothers as they suffer for His name.

    And finally, it is the first letter of the word ‘nasr’, which means ‘victory’ in Arabic, as used in contexts such as Romans 8: in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. This verse, though often used quite crassly today, speaks of the ability of Christ’s followers to endure the most terrible suffering if they hold fast to Him, sure in the knowledge that nothing will separate us from the love of God that reaches us through Him. Would our brothers and sisters in Iraq and in many other places around the world be ‘victorious’ as they hold fast to the steady hand of our beloved Saviour Jesus.

    Thank you Dave for your post

    1. Thank you Richard. Your comments and insights here are most helpful. May the God of all comfort bring hope and courage to our brothers and sisters.

  22. Salam, fellow Christian friends. I, as a Muslim, declare that ISIS does not represent the Islam as we know, learn and practice. And so does the rest of the Muslim world.

    Their actions transgress our Holy Quran, and the teachings of our prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

    Sadly, there are quite a number of muslims whom were radicalised by ISIS.

    We, Muslims, shall pray for the safety of fellow Christians in the Middle East and as well as in Palestine, where countless lives are lost due to the bombings.

    Peace.

    1. Hi,

      (I just miserably failed to comment and posted this in reply to some mistaken dude somewhere down there. Nevermind)

      That’s okay, ISIS are not the first mad mass-killers in the area anyway. Remember the Crusades? Yeah, sorry for that. Oh, and the arbitrary borders that we, Europeans, put there in 1919? Yeah… well, not the best idea ever. That’s why we just stopped doing anything, anywhere, I guess. Now, when the Russians invade my country I will just sit there and ask them to join me for dinner.

      I’m joking, of course, but it is good to read the message you put here. Times are harsh for Muslims too, I know. I hope it will get better, for all of us. After all, if there are mad killers in every religion, it means there are peaceful, rational people, who can live together, in every religion too. And that’s a comforting thought.

      Peace.

  23. Thank you all for praying for all the Christians in iraq. I’m a Christian from iraq and breaks my heart to see what my people are going thro. All we can do is pray and have hope.

  25. For those of your readers who are UK citizens I have set up an epetition asking for the UK Government to not only discuss the issue of Christian persecution across the world, but also where they can, to offer assistance and/or sanctuary for those caught up in it. It’s not much but we need to start standing up and openly speaking about these issues. Christians need to start saying and doing something. We need to be more like the Good Samaritan and less like the Levite and Priest.

    1. Remember Christ’s covenant – to love The Lord our God with all our hearts minds bodies and spirits and to love our neighbours as He loves us.
      So fellow Christians when our neighbours who are Muslim stand up for Christians and defy Isis and fundamentalists and offer safe haven and hope and offer solidarity remember the woman of Samaria and The Good Samaritan.
      I believe Christ is The way the Truth and The Life and I look to the day when at the Name of Jesus every knee will bow but for those of Islamic faith who are reaching out to help Christians and making themselves vulnerable remember Christ will weigh all hearts. We who are Christians must try to follow Christ’s commandments and His example. Read Acts and the story of the Eunuch, remember Peter’s vision in Acts when God makes all of His creation clean. Remember Christ comes to all and does not exclude or deny the Gospel to anyone.
      In the meantime The Grace of our Lord the love of Father God and the peace of the Holy Spirit be with us al. Amen.

      1. Thank you for your comment. I’m a Muslim who came across this article trying to figure out what the ‘noon’ profile pictures were about. I did not know that ISIS was persecuting the Christians in the regions they control, but I am not at all surprised. They are an extremist, fanatic, insane splinter group that needs to go. I do not know what I can personally do to stop them, but I certainly support everyone who is helping the Christians (or Muslims, or Yezidis, or Kurds) to escape ISIS. I find the comments here very polarized, and I am grateful every time I see a Christian who is not angry against all Muslims everywhere, and who can see that there is a difference between the insane people who are a part of ISIS and normal Muslims. We need to become closer and understand each other better here in the United States, Muslims and Christians, so that we can lessen the hatred that both of us may have against each other. Didn’t Jesus say, “Love thy neighbor?” I take that to heart, too. I am Muslim, but my neighbors are definitely Christian. I am surrounded by Christians here in the States. I do not hate them, because in Islam, in the true religion of Islam, we are taught that Jesus was a messenger of God, just the same as Moses, Abraham, Muhammad, and many others (peace be upon them). Although I do not believe Jesus is the literal son of God, that doesn’t stop me from being friends with Christians and accepting that we have different paths to the same God. ISIS is most vehemently NOT representative of true Islam, and in my Muslim community, we are working on all sorts of community outreach programs to help others understand that. I guess that is the one thing I can do to stop ISIS.
        Peace be upon you,
        Anna

  27. Pingback: Thinking of God - Update | Thinking of God

    1. Hi,

      That’s okay, ISIS are not the first mad mass-killers in the area anyway. Remember the Crusades? Yeah, sorry for that. Oh, and the arbitrary borders that we, Europeans, put there in 1919? Yeah… well, not the best idea ever. That’s why we just stopped doing anything, anywhere, I guess. Now, when the Russians invade my country I will just sit there and ask them to join me for dinner.

      I’m joking, of course, but it is good to read the message you put here. Times are harsh for Muslims too, I know. I hope it will get better, for all of us. After all, if there are mad killers in every religion, it means there are peaceful, rational people, who can live together, in every religion too. And that’s a comforting thought.

      1. OK, big mistake, that reply was not for you, sorry.

        No, I was just looking for some old absurd Leviticon law, just to make you think about not everything in sacred books are supposed to be taken literally.

        Sorry for the other comment. I mean, you could have reasons to find it slightly offensive, or at least out of touch.

    1. Just save it to your desktop of any folder by right-clicking it. Then click on the current photo you use in facebook and upload the new one! Just did the same! I hope it gets people together and aware of what is happening.

  31. I am a Muslim and I do not support this. Please all pray for humanity, let’s not make this about religion and hate.

    1. @ Noorul

      It sure is about religion. Why? Because the hate is rooted in Islam, which teaches unbelievers must submit, convert or die.

  32. Pingback: ISIS, Martyrdom, #WeAreN, and why not ? | St. Eutychus

  34. I am Jewish but I completely support the Christians that are dying by the hundreds from those fiends, ISIS.
    This is a horrific situation, but I’m sure this won’t remain for long. The perpetrators will get their retributions.
    Keep believing, my Christian friends, because that is your RIGHT!

  35. Great that Christians suddenly care about Middle Easterners, sad they’ve been so silent for 60 years about Israeli persecution of Christians in the Holy Land. Makes you wonder if this whole nun campaign is more about supporting Christians or hating Muslims, since Daesh embodies the right wing Christian fantasy of what all Arab Muslims are. Certainly Christ would care as much about the Yazidis and the slaughtered Muslims in Syria and Gaza as he would about the persecuted Christians of Iraq. And by the way, Nasrani is a rather pejorative term. I’ve never met a Christian in the Middle East who would identify as such. They are Maseehiyin. But then knowing that would require having some clue about what you’re talking about.

    1. What the fuck are you talking about, this is about people being BEHEADED for their belief, don’t you spin this around.
      Regardless of your criticism and political arguments over Israel (which I really don’t care what they are, so don’t bother even bringing it up), the Christians in Israel are certainly not given such an ultimatum as “convert or die,” and you certainly cannot argue over that.
      People are using the pejorative term on purpose, you dimwit. It is to show their solidarity and strength in the face of struggle. As in to say that “you might as well mark us all as the Nasarani, since we’re all with them.”
      Your idea that this is some “fantasy” is appalling as well. Of course too little was done to help the middle eastern Christians until now, since they have never cried out as much as they are now. It was their homes and their places of worship. The ones who wanted to leave before have left and these are the ones who didn’t or couldn’t. But they are escaping and becoming refugees in European lands now, and they are by no means rejected.
      Now kindly take your cynicism and bitterness elsewhere, you horrible person.

    2. Language and symbolism change and evolve with time and circumstance. Nasrani and Nasara have taken on new meanings in our day, to the rest of the world.

      And when help comes to those poor persecuted people, Christian or not, I’m sure they won’t mind that the help is wearing a “N” or a “M” or pink and purple pajamas.

      And help is coming. Our Lord is not ignoring the persecution of His people.

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  37. This type of gesture is nieve and counterproductive. It will not be seen by the people persecuting Christians, and other minority groups in Iraq. But it will be seen as a tribal reaction of Christians and add further concern to Muslims in the UK. How can this possibly help?

    1. Hi…this MAY NOT be seen by the persecuted or perpetrators, but they JUST MIGHT (in this age of internet phones) :-) !
      Having said that, using this symbol as my profile picture may not save anyone from being tortured but at least we are letting them know that we are with them in prayers, we know a tiny bit of their suffering and that help is near.
      Right now I would be more concerned about the Christians and Muslims elsewhere then the ones in UK.

  38. Hi Dave
    Thanks for the ‘N’ symbol, sharing it with all FB friends and praying for our brothers and sisters. Keep up the good work and God bless you and your beautiful family.

  39. My heart goes put to Iraqi Christians. I have been living in the Middle East for almost 7 years now and it’s really hard to be a Christian in this part of the world. May God look upon their problems and hear their prayers. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

  40. My heart goes out to Iraqi Christians. I have been living in the Middle East for almost 7 years now and it’s really hard to be a Christian in this part of the world. May God look upon their problems and hear their prayers. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

  41. This is scary. .. for everyone… but the Bible warns of this kind of stuff. . it says in the end times it will be like in the days of Noah. .. think about they and what that really means.
    Jesus IS coming back… and He’s standing at the door. Pray brothers and sisters xx

  42. This is scary. .. for everyone… but the Bible warns of this kind of stuff. . it says in the end times it will be like in the days of Noah. .. think about that…and what that really means.
    Jesus IS coming back… and He’s standing at the door. Pray brothers and sisters xx

  43. Y don’t your post this? Xtian hypocrisy anyone? Oh, did I mention that Australia was one of the countries that were responsible for the genocide against Iraq and all the chaos that followed?

    “Many American evangelical leaders — even those who now want to shift all blame to their political opponent — supported the invasion and occupation of Iraq, actions that contributed to the mass persecution of our brothers and sisters. And these leaders should be pleading for forgiveness, not pointing fingers.”

    http://theweek.com/article/index/265244/blame-obama-and-us-evangelicals-for-the-persecution-of-iraqi-christians

  44. Pingback: “N” for Nazarene |
  45. Pingback: TELL THE STORY OF PERSECUTED IRAQI CHRISTIANS #WeAreN - DAVEMIERS.COM
  46. Pingback: Winning By Losing | The Barking Fox

  47. Sometimes us Christians need to get angry. The Islams in this story are apparently blind and obviously don’t see the sorrow if they were watching from above. Their welcome wagon for their conversion is forced with hatred. Who in the right mind manipulated them to believe this to be just?! True religion is PRACTICED daily with love and care. We need strong faithful leaders to form an alliance with strong mindsets. The Islam need to understand the righteous views sincerely and stand down from their violence that break up families. God gives good with love and understanding of the evil (it takes away) because we are better than it.

    1. As a Muslim, I am truly appalled by what IS are doing in the name of ‘Islam’. Their actions are evil and not representative at all of the peaceful and tolerant religion Islam should be when properly practised.
      I hope and pray that the Christians – and all other innocents in the area – are able to get through these dark times and that their suffering does not continue for any longer.

      1. @ akbar

        “As a Muslim, I am truly appalled by what IS are doing in the name of ‘Islam’.”

        Oh, really? Answer me this. Where are the Muslims who live in free countries and are able to do so protesting and denouncing all these acts? They have no problem marching by the hundreds whenever they are “offended” by a silly cartoon or a movie or anything else!

        Here we’ve got atrocities almost beyond description occurring day after day, and I haven’t heard of ONE demonstration yet. How do you explain that?

        “Their actions are evil and not representative at all of the peaceful and tolerant religion Islam should be when properly practised.”

        Nonsense. Their actions are mainstream Islam. Read your Koran. Read about the life of Mohammad. He was a warlord. Look up the Bani Qurayza tribe. I can’t remember if he beheaded people himself, but at the very least, he ordered it.

  48. Pingback: When the Church is Attacked: 4 thoughts to take away from the persecution of Iraqi Christians | Did You Hear the Good News?

  49. I think it should be noted that not all the people being persecuted in Iraq are Christian. Persecution is wrong no matter what religion you belong to. Just because they are non-Christians means we shouldn’t be speaking up for them as well? Jesus would try to help everybody- Christian or not.

  50. Breaks my heart to know, We are the only group suffering from persecution … its biblical and of course, its the enemy trying to keep us away from our purpose. However, I’m praying for the Araqi people and Syrian people for God breakthrough.

  51. ISIS was created by the CIA like AL Fakeida was created by the CIA in Afghanistan to fight the soviets.
    And to call muslims murderers when american soldiers and America has invaded a MUSLIM country based on lies (unless you still believe Saddam had the mass destruction weapons LOL ) and how many musllims have died because of our oh so peaceful christian americans ? 1 million citizen innocent muslims Iraqis, do have I to talk about the scandal of Abu Ghraib ?
    You people cause hatred in the hearts of people and come back whining like little kids when shit hits the fan
    I hate ISIS because I believe they’re used to cause another war but give us a break about your christian preaching, because american christians all vote for the republican party and all support their evil soldiers who rape and murder innocent muslims
    Christians have also made a genocide out of the NATIVE (aka REAL) americans, the same christians that did the same in south Africa and in australia, the same that bombed Hiroshima and Nagazaki the same that are racists against black people and loved slavery.

    Leave the people alone and karma won’t hunt you back
    Give me a break about your love and peace shit. Bunch of delusional christians is what you guys are

  52. Oh but I feel bad for the middle eastern christians I’m sure they’re not evil like american christians( well not all of them are stupid republicans i hope)
    but christians from middle east have been there under muslim rules since the V th century and christians are protetected under islamic rule as well as jews (actually christians and jews have a special status unlike polytheists) hence I believe this so called islamic state is a scam. I still dont know why all this is happening, maybe so that the Greater Israel emerges. I’m still wondering but we’ll eventually see and the victimes are muslims & christians because these ISIS scam aparently also kills innocent muslims .

    Read through the lines and turn off FOX NEWS

  53. @ Chris says

    “This is well and good and all but the reason I stopped believing in Christianity in every way and form is cause of attitudes like this. ”

    One should choose to believe something because it’s true. One should choose to not believe something because it’s false. Christianity is either objectively true or objectively false. That’s why one should choose to believe or not believe it.

    Christians are being slaughtered by these jihadists and that’s all you have to say?

    “A whole lot of these comments are showing sympathy for the Christians.”

    So your sympathy is with the jihadists who are slaughtering them?

    Can you explain to me how having sympathy for people who are being slaughtered is “narrow minded”?

  54. @ Anna

    “I did not know that ISIS was persecuting the Christians in the regions they control, but I am not at all surprised.”

    I’m not at all surprised either, but maybe different reasons.

    ” They are an extremist, fanatic, insane splinter group that needs to go.”

    Nonsense. They follow orthodox Islam as prescribed in the Koran, and the example of their warlord, child rapist prophet Mohammad – who commanded atrocities and committed them.

    The real question is, why do you follow this warlord, child rapist prophet and the death cult he began? Don’t you resent being told you are deficient, that you are the property of men and that hell is populated by women?

    “We need to become closer and understand each other better here in the United States, Muslims and Christians, so that we can lessen the hatred that both of us may have against each other.”

    Oh, no, you don’t. One thing you are not going to do is draw some moral equivalence, as though both sides here are equally at fault.

    The hatred goes only ONE way. ONLY Muslims are doing the slaughtering of Christians and other minorities. (And even other Muslims whom they deem not pious enough for whatever reason.)

    There are no Christians doing this to Muslims, PERIOD. And you know it.

    “Didn’t Jesus say, “Love thy neighbor?” I take that to heart, too.”

    So? Your coreligionists do not. And why would they? Why would they follow the founder of an entirely different religion?

    “I do not hate them, because in Islam, in the true religion of Islam, we are taught that Jesus was a messenger of God, just the same as Moses, Abraham, Muhammad, and many others (peace be upon them).”

    Sorry, but Islam is not true.

    And what it teaches – and what ISIS and the rest of the jihadists are doing – is that unbelievers must either convert, submit or die.

    This has been documented all through this thread by me and by others. Not one Muslim has addressed that. Not one.

    ” Although I do not believe Jesus is the literal son of God, ”

    Then the Jesus you claim to have some sort of respect or affinity for is not the Jesus presented in Scripture.

    “ISIS is most vehemently NOT representative of true Islam, and in my Muslim community, we are working on all sorts of community outreach programs to help others understand that. I guess that is the one thing I can do to stop ISIS.

    How this infuriates me. How dare you condescend to others to “help them understand” that supposedly ISIS is not representative of true Islam?

    How about telling that to your own coreligionists, who seem to not have gotten the memo? How about THAT?

    I will not submit!

    1. You’ve got alot of growing up to do Mo, go away and wipe your nose and don’t forget to clean behind your ears armchair warrior

    2. @ Mo

      You’ve got alot of growing up to do Mo, go away and wipe your nose and don’t forget to clean behind your ears armchair warrior

        1. Also thoughts and prayers are with the victims/families of victims of 9 11. Still remember the surreal events unfolding on the news as I sat with my family that day. Thoughts also with the innocent victims STILL paying the price for that day particularly in the middle east who have died in their millions so far..everyone is suffering, as the power hungry, resources greedy and fanatical few changed things for everyone

      2. @ bottom scratcher says

        “You’ve got alot of growing up to do Mo, go away and wipe your nose and don’t forget to clean behind your ears armchair warrior”

        Address the facts I’ve posted on Islam.

        You won’t, because you know you can’t. That’s why all you have to offer are infantile insults.

        1. No, you go and educate yourself on real islam, not with a view to convert, but just because its good to have a balanced view instead of ranting.your posts are hateful, even when muslims are hateful its often a case of them not having studied the quran properly and following blindly what their parents have handed over to them as being ‘correct’info and taking it as fact when they’ve not studied it themselves or theyre taken in by organisations who have an underlying agenda, abit like priests or politicians, they all do it…they dont practice the basics or ‘pillars’and just start waving their swords around…I read a hadeeth about the prophet muhammad telling one of his companions that a woman in his neighbourhood who was a prostitute was going to be given a place in paradise or heaven.in those times this was the worst profession to be in.not like today when its glamourised. When asked why he said that , he said she’d looked after and fed a stray dog.she was going to be rewarded for her kindness (which made me think, whichever faith youre prescribing to, you never know what our creator will show mercy over so best behaviour at all times!) If prophet muhammads faith says this, its extremely unlikely he was a woman hating paedo.he treated women with the utmost respect actually.look it up if youre that bothered. Even if you dont please dont be so hateful…

          1. @ bottom scratcher

            “No, you go and educate yourself on real islam, ”

            I have, hence all my factual comments here which you won’t address, because you know they are correct and you cannot address them.

            “Even if you dont please dont be so hateful…”

            Spare me.

            Demonstrate what I’ve said here that’s hateful. Show it to me. I dare you.

            Members of your death cult slamming planes into buildings 13 years ago – THAT is hateful.

            Islam is a death cult started by a warlord and child rapist.

            I will not submit. Know that.

          2. @Mo

            Nothing you’re saying is factual, you’ve given no references FACT

            You should read your posts back to yourself, you’re sounding like a fanatic/extremist ha

          3. @ bottom scratcher

            “Nothing you’re saying is factual, you’ve given no references FACT ”

            So those verses linked to from the Koran by myself and other people are just made up, right?

            Here’s a passage on your child rapist “prophet”. Address it. You know you will not!

            Bukhari, volume 5, #234

            “Narrated Aisha: The prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six. We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Harith Kharzraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became all right, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, “Best wishes and Allah’s blessing and a good luck.” Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah’s messenger came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age.”

            Address it.

            And show me the “hateful” things I posted. Answer me.

          4. She was 9, It doesnt say she was raped?she was sent to her husbands home, did you watch went on?actually, no, haters will hate no matter what is said to them..you’ll twist it.

            .i would NEVERcompare priests to a great religious leader, theyre just the middleman but in the last few years quite a few were accused of sodomy with underage boys, what are your views on that?you might need to look up the definition of rape and sodomy. Not all priests are bad people so I wont be hurling insults like you. My point is that evil comes in all forms in every culture.

            Several points to put this in to context for you,

            People are able to marry and make the most of a physical relationship when they are young and energetic.you might know this already. All muslims are encouraged to marry so no promises of celibacy, but also no sex before marriage.

            When prophet muhammad was young he was married to khadija, a business woman who sent her proposal to her himself who was 15 yrs his senior (mariah carey wasnt the first to do this!).she was his only wife until her death.she was the only one of his wives who bore him children. Also people had shorter lifespans back then(no modern medicine) so didn’t have the leisure of planning weddings and having kids after 30 say.

            At that time, marriage arrangements in that part of the world were often made to strengthen tribal links, much like alot of europe, especially during wartime (read your bible, and you know there are some very aggressive lines in the bible too,and the crusades/spanish crusades were pretty violent so read your history books , you might find some of them are mentioned in the link i posted up there…but oh yeah, it was a long time ago so yes lets forget about that stuff eventhough it was in the name of religion.)..During that time even in europe, royalty got married or betrothed in their childhood/early teens. Also PLENTY of underage premarital sex, according to our modern standards,, happening in your local neighbourhood im sure.is it what you would call rape?

            A ‘revelation’ came to the prophet muhammad to marry aisha it is thought because she had a very impressive memory and her specific role in islam was subsequently to retell hadeeth to people especially relating to womens rights and general women related issues. She was highly repected by the prophet muhammad. I know reading any of the above won’t make you any less hateful

            Priests and politicians are warlords.look at your history books and follow current affairs, just not on fox, cnn etc theyre still greedy for land and resources particularly oil in this day and age. Most of the major religions in the world have gone to war for faith related reasons where they were the aggressor or they had to defend themselves apart from buddhists I think.

            I’m not going to answer every one of your ignorant assertions about the islamic faith. Learn to be polite to your fellow humans.

            Lastly, Read your own past posts and reflect on how you are full of anger (not very christian but very fanatical), hateful and might be inciting hatred in other people against muslims. Look at the bigger picture,.think before you type and don’t play computer games for too long everynight, its warping reality for you

            No one said to submit to anything by the way..what are you on about..

            Answer meeeeeeee hahaha

            Good luck friend

            Hope you enjoy reading this out to your bible group at the weekend ha

            *This nooon rubbish is also designed to propogate hate.great work mike miers, hope you sleep well*

  55. We articulate words that do not come from the depths of our heart. Everday we read about the blood of the rightrous Abel being spiiled on the ground by Cain and we do not consider that the persom who is slain is the image of Elohim.
    We are human beings instead of believing in Yeshua Mesiah snd his father, YAHEW we give our praise to false babylonian gods and their images even the image of Jesus Christ which is imprinted in our heart is a baylonian God and not Yeshua Messiah and his Father, YAHEW. We have turned away from
    the fountainn of living waters and made cisterns for ourselves
    that can hold no water. And our second grestest sin is we have profaned His Sabbaths and created our Own holy days. When we pray for the people of Kurdish wr should also pray for ourselves also for we can choose to be either Cain OR Abel.

  56. Pingback: BRINGING HOPE IN IRAQ #WeAreN

  57. Hi all
    Before i comment sorry for any misunderstanding and no hard feeling.
    As most are talking about isis this dont belong to islam .
    ISIS = israel secret intelligent service. As what had been declare by their own men even its been shown in tube that the beheading is fake . by the way the arabic words which they called ? nun that you are refering to as nasrani is not truth.
    Allah make that words as a symbol of how human are made.
    ? is soul which allah gave to human kind before we become baby in mothers womb.
    ? is our chest the dot is heart comes 2nd.
    ? is our face and 2 eyes comes 3rd.
    ? is our face 2 ears and 1 nose come 4th
    And so on for the other words comes ? is the brain or IQ that been given to human to think .
    And to be remind as islam prophet muhamad s.a.w had told the muslim. Muslim will be seperated by muslim clan and thats about 73 clan . But only 1 clan follows muhamad s.a.w. way. And his law is very simple. Do not kill when enemy had no weapon or surrender. Do not kill innocent people . respect other races and culture. Never ever look down on others but help them indeed. Dont feel proud because of ur wealth or ur excellent brain or you are strong or whatever things that make you proud. Because of proud can make you look down on others. The best way to be friendly to others is sharing cause its caring. And we live a beautiful lifes in this world.

    Wassalam may peace be upon you
    Islam
    Christian
    Catholic
    And other religion .

  58. Pingback: 10 MOST VIEWED BLOGPOSTS FROM 2014

  59. @ Muhammad Umar Ahamdzai

    “Isn’t it sad when everday hundreds of Muslims die.”

    Many at the hands of their coreligionists who don’t deem them devout enough.

    ” It’s so sad when you have only one person who is suffering and you show it in media.”

    What one person are you referring to here?

    ” What about thousands of Muslims. Suffered killed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Iraq and a lot more. ”

    Typical Muslim, making yourselves out to be the victims as YOU are the ones slaughtering non-believers.

    Address THAT – which is the point of this article – instead of turning it around to make it look like Muslims are the victims. How that sickens me.

    Muslims are the PERPETRATORS here, as they follow the example of their warlord, child RAPIST “prophet”.

    Address THAT. I dare you. You know you won’t.

    “Think logically not emotionally .”

    Hypocrite, much? How about YOU doing so?

  60. @ Aq

    “Then I suppose I can assume you approve of the rape, kidnapping, and murder committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Africa. After all, they’re Christians.”

    You liar. Show me where the Bible commands or condones any such behavior.

    Now, address ISLAMIC persecution of Christians, which was the point of this article.

    1. Hi Ussama Nayyer,

      Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

      Which part of this post makes you think I’m trying to spread Islamophobia?

      Peace,

      Dave.

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