Jordan arrests three suspects after deadly church massacre

Jordanian security forces today arrested three relatives suspected of carrying out Friday’s attack on St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hamoud, where gunmen opened fire during a funeral.

Nine people were killed and at least 34 wounded.

The suspects were located in an abandoned house and arrested after a shootout with police. Authorities describe them as extremists but say investigators have found no evidence so far connecting them to a larger militant organization. No group has claimed responsibility. Reuters

This is real Christian persecution—not someone making fun of Christianity online.

People attending a funeral were murdered inside a Christian community.

So What?

But accuracy matters here too, because while authorities have described the attackers as extremists we do not yet know enough to assign the attack to ISIS, al-Qaeda, Islam generally or another organization.

Christians should demand justice without turning incomplete evidence into religious propaganda or a call to vengeance. Facts first.

And a reminder that we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

Interestingly, Jordan has historically been one of the more stable places for Christians in the region, making an attack of this scale particularly alarming.