• Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

‘Active love’ is an expression that is often used to insist on the need to witness through deeds. In particular, protecting the victims of violence may also be seen as Christian resistance to outbreaks of violence. Protection is a risky task. The grievous history of genocides, wars and other violations of human life and dignity provides innumerable examples of Christians offering protection for those suffering persecution. Often they did so by putting their own lives at risk. In Rwanda, one comes across many examples similar to that of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who saved over 1,200 Tutsi people during the genocide. The story has been made into a move by Hollywood, Hotel Rwanda which I believe most of us have seen.

There are also many examples among us, even among our brothers and sisters in the Muslim dominated North. The most recent is the case of the 83-year old Imam, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, who saved a total of 262 Christians in Barkin Ladi LGA from being slaughtered by Islamic militants (Fulani herdsmen) by hiding them in his mosque.

As a Christian, if the case were reversed, would you risk your life to save some Muslims?

Let’s break it down a bit more:

How willing are you to show unreserved hospitality to Christians of other denominations?