Fox 91 reports that three churches in Columbus, Indiana were vandalized with verse citations from the Qur’an spray-painted on their walls. They seem to be a direct attack on the Christian faith by Muslim extremists in the area.

The three vandalized churches included the St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, the East Columbus Christian Church and the Lakeview Church of Christ.

St. Bartholomew’s church had the verse reference “Qur’an 3:151” sprayed on its wall in black paint. The verse reads:

We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allah of which He had not sent down [any] authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.

It is a direct reference to Muslims terrorizing people who do not believe in Islam.

The East Columbus Christian church had “Qur’an 19:88” and the word “infidels” sprayed on its walls and the Lakeview Church of Christ had no verse citation and only the word “infidels”and a second unnamed word painted on its front door.

Qur’an 19:88 reads:

And they say: “The Most Beneficent [Allah] has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzair [Ezra] is the son of Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [Christ].

This verse — and the one following (v 89) which reads, “Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing” — are a direct attack on the Christian doctrine that Jesus is the Son of God. Muslims do not believe Jesus is God, but look upon him as simply a prophet. They call the Christian belief an “evil thing.”

The word “infidel” is the English translation of the Muslim word “kafir,” that basically refers to any who does not believe in Muhammad or Allah.

Local Muslims condemned the vandalism. One suggested the person(s) who cited these verses did not understand the Qur’an. However, as you read the references the message is quite clear.

Others are concerned this was the work of some with strong sympathies to Islamic State (IS) ravaging Iraq and Syria. IS has publicly called on supporters in the US to attack North America.

There  has been a rise in these type of attacks on the church in recent months.

• In July 2014, I reported on Churches in Mesa, Arizona finding piles of burnt Bibles in front of their doors. Burnt Bibles are included as part of Black mass ceremonies by Satanist and some suggest this may have been someone’s attempt to curse the churches.
• In August 2013, a Brethren Church in Danville, Virginia was vandalized with satanic symbol and words written in Latin which translated reads: “hail satan.”

These are the ones that have just been reported, undoubtedly there have been many others. These are not surface types of vandalism but seem rooted in a deep hatred for the Church and the Kingdom of God.

They are just physical manifestations of a spiritual war being raged against the Church. Paul writes:

 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NASV)

There is a real battle raging.

Read more:

• Columbus community condemns graffiti left on three local churches: Fox 91