Jesus did not recruit by advertising to his disciples to martyrdom. However, following a "Love so Great" makes one willing to follow Him to all Eternity. You count up the costs and know that He paid the price. You are honored to be His disciple. You don't want to die at the hands of Evil but know that Evil will seek you out because you are a follower of Christ. Political violence at the hands of Evil is the price paid and pain felt for following Good. Pray for Candace Owens! Even AI knows this: "Yes, Jesus did call his disciples to martyrdom, not by explicitly saying "you will die," but through prophecies, direct statements about sacrifice, and a message of selfless commitment that implied martyrdom. He predicted that some of them would be put to death for his name and encouraged them to follow him, even to the point of sacrificing their lives, stating, "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me". Jesus directly predicted future persecution for his followers. In Luke 21:16-19, he foretold that "some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake," and in John 21:18-19, he told Peter he would "stretch out your hands" and be led where he did not want to go, which was a historical allusion to crucifixion. Not by suicide, but when Death comes, we are willing to lay down "our lives" to follow Him.
Jihad is a complex and multifaceted concept within Islam, translating to "struggle" or "fight." Interpretations of jihad vary widely among Muslims today. Many modern scholars and practitioners emphasize a peaceful understanding, viewing jihad primarily as an inner struggle to live a righteous life, engage in good deeds, and uphold moral values. This perspective highlights personal and communal efforts to improve oneself and society, often referred to as greater jihad, which includes striving for faith and preaching. Conversely, some Muslims interpret jihad as a call for holy war against nonbelievers and those perceived as threats to Islam, drawing from historical contexts and specific verses in the Quran. There are some that are not active, militant combatants in the physical jihad but are supportive of the spirit of the physical jihad. They respect the jihad!
What of the origin story of jihad? Is it as fanciful as Bruce Banner becoming The Incredible Hulk? No! Marco Demichelis, in "Arab Christian Confederations and Muhammad’s Believers: On the Origins of Jihad", weites, "The meaning and elaboration of Jihad (just-sacred war) hold an important place in Islamic history and thought. On the far side of its spiritual meanings, the term has been historically and previously associated with the Arab Believers’ conquest of the 7th–8th centuries CE. However, the main idea of this contribution is to develop the “sacralization of war” as a relevant facet that was previously elaborated by the Arab Christian (pro-Byzantine) clans of the north of the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant and secondarily by the Arab confederation of Muhammad’s believers. From the beginning of Muhammad’s hijra (622), the interconnection between the Medinan clans that supported the Prophet with those settled in the northwest of the Hijaz is particularly interesting in relation to a couple of aspects: their trade collaboration and the impact of the belligerent attitude of the pro-Byzantine Arab Christian forces in the framing of the early concept of a Jihad.".The jihad includes the origins of invasions into Africa and the subsequent Arab slave trade which was larger and more violent than the Transatlantic slave trade. Bob Koigi, in "The forgotten Arab slave trade" writes, "From the 7th century and over 13 centuries, between 10 and 18 million Africans were trafficked through the Sahara and the Indian Ocean to the Arab world, mainly to the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa and other parts of the Middle East. The effects of this trade continue to shape the geopolitical landscape to this day." I thank God everyday that my ancestors were brought to America in the transatlantic slave trade.
Some want to worship peacefully in Africa. Burkinabè leader Ibrahim Traoré said, "Let the drums beat again not for war but for welcome. Let the bells ring not for sorrow but for solidarity. Let the calls to prayer rise beside gospel choirs... Let the world remember Africa was divided by force, but she will be healed by faith. And she will rise again by love." However, the jihadis know best and are attempting to eradicate Christianity in Nigeria. Persecution.org reports, "Christians in Nigeria have faced ongoing attacks with minimal support from the international community, prompting members of the U.S. Congress to appeal to the president to take action." Over 12,000 Christians have been killed because of their Faith since Bola Tinubu took office as president in 2023. Nigeria is a predominately Muslim nation and there president is Muslim. They may not all be jihadis but the majority of the nation has affinity with the spirit of jihad. Lovers of this spirit have a" see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" attitude, In a Western context, it can sometimes be interpreted as willful ignorance of wrongdoing.while noting moral piety and purity.
Jihad is a call for holy war against nonbelievers and those perceived as threats to Islam, drawing from historical contexts and specific verses in the Quran. This view encompasses both defensive actions, which are permitted under certain conditions, and offensive jihad, which historically involved military conquests to expand the Islamic faith. A CPC designation could significantly improve the lives of many Christians in Nigeria by raising awareness of the ongoing persecution and exerting pressure on the Nigerian government to take action.
America and Israel are the subjects of jihad in the modern world. Shaykh Usamah Bin-Muhammad Bin-Ladin and several other authors in "Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders" written in February 1998 said, "On that basis, and in compliance with Allah's order, we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims: The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words of Almighty Allah, "and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together," and "fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah."" Bin-Ladin, also known as Osama bin Laden, was the founder and first emir of the militant Islamist terrorist organization al-Qaeda. Born in Saudi Arabia, he is considered the mastermind behind numerous terrorist attacks, most notably the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. A fatwa is a legal ruling or edict issued by a recognized religious authority on a point of Islamic law, often in response to a question about religious, legal, or ethical matters. While the term has gained a negative connotation in some parts of the world due to high-profile cases like the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, a fatwa is not inherently violent and can cover a wide range of topics, from personal hygiene and family law to modern issues like terrorism and nuclear weapons. Bin-Laden writes, "We -- with Allah's help -- call on every Muslim who believes in Allah and wishes to be rewarded to comply with Allah's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it. We also call on Muslim ulema, leaders, youths, and soldiers to launch the raid on Satan's U.S. troops and the devil's supporters allying with them, and to displace those who are behind them so that they may learn a lesson. Almighty Allah said: "O ye who believe, give your response to Allah and His Apostle, when He calleth you to that which will give you life. And know that Allah cometh between a man and his heart, and that it is He to whom ye shall all be gathered." Many have promised religious war and political violence and have delivered. So be it Nigeria.
The Quran contains verses exhorting violence against enemies and others urging restraint and conciliation. The religion of peace is not always such. Quran 2:191 has caused some debate, namely on two points. The first is that the killing of others is authorized in the event of "persecution;" the second is that fighting may persist until "religion is for Allah" and there is no more "fitnah" (fitnah having many possible interpretations, the most likely being "trial" or "testing").Quran 2:191–193. There are two principal verses in the Quran (9:5 and 9:29) that are called "sword verses" though the word 'sword' does not occur in the Quran. Quran 9:5, in particular, from Surah At-Tawba is known as the Sword Verse or Verse of the Sword (Ayat al-sayf):
The answer is economics.The All Progressives Congress (APC) party, examining its origins, vision, and role in reshaping the nation's political paradigm since its formation in 2013. The APC emerged from the merger of opposition parties, presenting a consolidated counterforce to the dominant PDP. Its candidate Muhammadu Buhari's victory in 2015 marked the first peaceful transfer of power between parties. The APC advocates for controlled market policies, endorses governmental regulation, and garners support from the Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani communities. It champions effective governance, welfare, job creation, and economic diversification.
"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.— Surah At-Tawbah 9:5 -Yusuf Ali
The religion of peace is locked and loaded against non-Muslims.
The answer is economics not military. What does "African progressive" mean? It sounds like Marxism. You have been reading my Blog!.Economic justice from a Marxist perspective argues that capitalism is inherently unjust because it creates exploitation and inequality through the extraction of surplus value from workers by the owning class. It believes a just economic system would operate under the principle of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs". Marxism fundamentally links economic justice to class struggle and the ownership of the means of production. Catherine Chaput and Joshua S. Hanan in "Theories of Economic Justice in the Rhetorical Tradition" write, ". It is this Marxist perspective and the various historical reformulations that it has authorized that influence the way rhetoricians and scholars of cultural studies conceptualize economic justice in the discipline of communication." The US provides Nigeria $252,967,616 in foreign aid annually from several agencies. Of that, $29 million is for administrative and $6.1 million for governance. It is a call on Trump to cut those dollars until change comes. The killing must stop!
Nigerians are leaving for the US primarily for economic and educational opportunities, with North America being a top destination for emigrants. However, recent visa restrictions have made entry more difficult, impacting both new applicants and those with existing visas. Additionally, a significant number of Nigerians are facing deportation from the US. A "brain drain" of talented Nigerians moving to the United States is a significant issue driven by various economic, social, and professional factors. For the US, this influx of highly skilled individuals—particularly in healthcare and technology—is a net gain, while Nigeria loses valuable human capital and public investment. "I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just incredible. And when we talk to one another and there is a certain sense of frustration and but I struggle not to let the frustration degenerate into despair,." said Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novelist and poet. Disrupting brain drain through immigration can transform the outflow of skilled workers into a "brain gain" for their home countries. Rather than restricting emigration, policies that leverage the benefits of migration can produce positive effects, including increased human capital, innovation, and economic development. An immigrant reflecting on their new life in the U.S. noted, "I still miss home but where we decide to call home is also the place that accepts us and welcomes us just like America has done for my family". Open the portal for Christian Nigerians that love the US Constitution to freely come and invest their time, talent and treasure in the US.
CNN reported that Tinubu was elected to face Nigeria "against the backdrop of a fractured nation, an ailing economy and spiraling insecurity." It continues, "He won the elections with just 37 percent of the votes – the lowest of any elected Nigerian president since the handover from military to democratic rule in 1999." Nigeria has longstanding ethnic and religious divisions. Nigeria has debts of around $103 billion and faces unprecedented levels of inflation, high unemployment and a heavy reliance on dwindling oil revenues, which has led to an exodus of mostly young Nigerians in a brain drain crisis known locally as “japa,” or escape. Bola Tinubu is the current President of Nigeria, having taken office in May 2023. His administration inherited a long-running security crisis in the country's northeast, where jihadist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to operate. Since January 2025, ISWAP has escalated its attacks, primarily targeting military bases and infrastructure in Borno State. This surge in violence has exposed deficiencies in Nigeria's counterterrorism tactics, suggesting an increase in ISWAP's military capacity and coordination, possibly with support from the broader Islamic State network. While ISWAP gained prominence following the 2021 death of Boko Haram's former leader, Boko Haram has shown signs of resurgence in the Lake Chad region in 2025. In May 2025, the group reportedly massacred nearly 100 people in Borno state villages. The Nigerian military has responded, killing dozens of militants in October 2025, including in response to drone attacks on army bases. In January 2025, Nigerian authorities officially declared the new militant group Lakurawa a terrorist organization. Operating in north-western Nigeria and along the border with Niger, the group is reportedly affiliated with jihadist factions in Mali and Niger. In his inaugural address, President Tinubu named security as his administration's "top priority".
It's the economy not the military.
In Acts 1:8, it is written, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." In the Greek, witnesses is translated martyrs, It is Strong's G3144 - martys. Defined as "those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death." Paul put it this way: "For God I live and For God I die". The jihadist monniker seems to be:"For Mohammad I kill the Jew and for Mohammad I kill the American!" The phrase "for God I live and for God I die" expresses a deep dedication to God, meaning a person's life and death are dedicated to God's service. It is a direct reference to the Bible, found in Romans 14:8 on Bible.com, which states, "If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord". The sentiment is echoed in Philippians 1:21 on Bible Gateway, where Paul writes, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain," signifying that both life and death are viewed through the lens of serving Christ. I am ready to lay down my life for my King! However, I also feel a resistance in me to succumb to jihadism or political or religious violence. US General George Patton in a speech to the Third Army during World War II said, "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country"
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