John

I’m first of all astonished that this event seems to have received so little attention in either the world or the church (as far as I’m aware). How is it that the murder of these three, and the details, have received so little attention?

It is evident across the middle east however, that events such as this provide a powerful argument for many muslims against allegiance to Islam - especially in the light of the forgiveness offered towards the murderers by Susanne Tilman.

How did you obtain a copy of this letter from ‘the protestant church of Smyrna’, and how have its contents been verified? To whom was the letter sent? If the story is true, it deserves to be seen not only on an obscure theological website where its contents will have very limited reach, but to Christian media with wider appeal, to the national press, and to relevant organs of government.

If the story is true in its details, Tilman and his colleagues who were murdered were about as far removed from anything like the comfortable faith and practice of the ‘emerging church’ as I can imagine. It would take something rather more robust and self-sacrificing to be lived out in a country as hostile to Christianity as Turkey - a far more dangerous place for Christians and Christian missionaries than, say, its southern neighbour Syria, whose reputation is infinitely more demonised in the international community.

Anyone doubting the intentions of contemporary radical Islam towards the indigenous Christian people of the middle east generally should read William Dalrymple’s ‘The Spiritual Meadow’, or request news briefings from Barnabas Aid, the news organ of Barnabas Fund led by Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, from the Open Doors mission, from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, or contact Canon Andrew White via the Foundation for Reconciliation in the Middle East.

However, we should be careful in any response not to confuse a carefully considered Christian response with that of any politically crusading ‘war on terror’ - which has only served to fuel the flames of radical Islam in recent years. We should listen carefully to the views of Christians who are living and working on the ground, and not to the prejudices formed from several thousand miles’ distance.