Forgive them. [Matthew 5 v44]

Christless religiosity can be and is a dangerous thing, I read continually of people being persecuted for their faith in Iran,where apostasy can be punished by hanging, I can only assume this is what the Koran teaches. Christless Christianity has in the past acted in ways that was so contrary to the Bible,they actually burnt people alive, tortured people. Thankfully those things do not happen now,and one wonders how people could have could done such things .Nowhere in the Bible are we instructed to torture or kill those who do not believe in Jesus, or to burn to death heretics.On the cross our Saviour prayed that those who had crucified Him would be forgiven [Luke 23 v34 ], and He taught us to ,love our enemies,to bless them, to do good to them, and to pray for them .[ Matthew 5 v 44]. This does not mean we agree with those who are heretics , or with those who are doing wicked things, but it does mean that we behave ,as true followers of Christ.[ Father we pray for those who are persecuting Christians, and for those who oppose the truth , that you would have mercy on them , in Jesus name .Amen ]