Today I simply mourn and invite you to join in shared prayer to the Father of all comfort, because of the martyrdom of three young Christian men, one a pastor, in Izmir, Turkey. This hits me on several levels, not the least of which is that I visited this beautiful, historic city just a little over five months ago. Let us pray to God for justice, mercy and the ability to forgive as already shown by wives, family, fiance and church - and for courage to face the times that may yet come to any of us, as faithful followers of Jesus.
In the city (ancient Smyrna - one of the 7 cities of the Revelation churches) where Polycarp, disciple of St. John and follower of Jesus, made his final confession of faith and loyalty to Jesus in word, fire and blood, there continues today opposition, hostility, evil and fear, engendered in the hearts of some men and women - revealing much darkness in which shines the starlight of good and hope, as counterparts as well. It is when the night is darkest that the stars shine most bright.
These martyrs of this month were the first known martyrdom of Turkish converts since the founding of the republic. It was a gruesome assault, with hideous atrocities and barbarous actions reminiscent of medieval times. Two of the victims, Necati Aydin, 36, and Ugur Yuksel, 32, were Turkish converts from Islam. The third man, Tilmann Geske, 46, was a German citizen.
Four of the five young men arrested for the murders, all 19 to 20 years of age, admitted during initial interrogations that they were motivated by both "nationalist and religious feelings" and they had done this '"for our country." According to one article, an identical note in the pockets of all five young men read, "They are attacking our religion."
