Iraqi Christian Fighters Give Biblical Justification for Fighting ISIS
A group of Christian fighters in the Middle East who are battling ISIS say that, though the Bible commands Christians not to kill, they must defend their home and families.
The Christian Post reports that the Babylon Brigade, as the Christian fighters are known, has been fighting ISIS throughout the past year.
ISIS especially targets Christians and other religious minorities in their quest to establish a global Caliphate. The terrorist organization has strongholds in Iraq and Syria. They have kidnapped and executed hundreds of Christians, forcing them to choose between their faith and their lives.
BBC News recently interviewed Rayan al-Kildani, the Babylon Brigade’s leader who believes that Christians and others must fight back against ISIS.
“What Islamic State was doing to the Christians is terrible,” al-Kildani said. “They are the devil.”
“I know the Bible says that if you get hit on one cheek you should offer the other,” he continued, “But we have really good defense forces now. No one is going to do anything bad to the Christians. Some Christians had their homes taken over. I have personally been to those houses to tell the new people living there to get out. Christian suffering is over.”
When pressed to justify why he believes Christians should kill ISIS militants, al-Kildani stated, “We have to fight. We have to defend ourselves.” He also cited Luke 22:36 which says, “If you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Although the meaning of this verse if often disputed, al-Kildani and other Babylon Brigade fighters believe that “ISIS terrorists do not differentiate among Christians, Muslims, Sunnis and Shiites — they kill everyone. We have to help our Muslim brothers liberate Iraq.”
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: April 12, 2016
