Churches in Australia are using the ISIS flag to spread the Gospel

The black and white ISIS flag has come to symbolise terror and inhumanity across the Middle East but churches in Australia are putting their own spin on it to use it for good.

That's thanks to a new poster by Outreach Media based on the challenging command from Jesus to love our enemies, even when that enemy is an outfit as brutal and merciless as ISIS.  

On first sight, the poster looks like the ISIS flag but look a little closer and you'll see it replaces the Arabic text of the original with the words of Jesus telling his followers to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" - Matthew 5.44. 

The original ISIS flag declares: "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." 

Outreach Media has made this its November poster in the hopes that it will "contrast the love of Christ with the ... cruel behaviour of ISIS". 

The ministry said the poster had been created in response to requests from churches for a poster that would capture their solidarity with Christians suffering persecution at the hands of the Islamic State. 

According to Bible Society Australia, around a hundred churches will be displaying the poster this month. 

Only 12 churches have signed up to use an alternative design for the month that does not utilise the ISIS flag. 

Director of Outreach Media, Malcolm Williams admitted the ISIS-inspired poster was "provocative" but said it was designed to start conversations.  

"We're having a conversation with the community," he said. "So there's all kinds of posters that go up in a year. Some ask questions. Others are humorous or whimsical. This is a time to say something serious and challenging."

It's not the first time Outreach Media have resourced the church with a controversial poster. In 2007, they made one with the tagline "Jesus Loves Osama".

"The Jesus Loves Osama poster was the most provocative," said Williams.

News
Campaign aims to mobilise 500,000 Christians for Christmas outreach
Campaign aims to mobilise 500,000 Christians for Christmas outreach

Shine Your Light is aiming to mobilise half a million Christians to share the gospel with five million people across the UK this Christmas, with more than 2,000 churches already signed up, organisers say.

The Church of England should repent for previous calls to ban 'conversion therapy'
The Church of England should repent for previous calls to ban 'conversion therapy'

The Church of England's uneasiness about the government's ‘conversion practices’ bill is a perfect lesson in the old adage, 'be careful what you wish for,' writes Dr Martin Davie.

Leaked Home Office report links 'Christian extremism' to traditionalist beliefs and immigration concerns
Leaked Home Office report links 'Christian extremism' to traditionalist beliefs and immigration concerns

An internal Home Office report lists concerns about immigration, multiculturalism and changing social values among the characteristics associated with what it calls "Christian extremism", it has been reported.

Tearfund calls for COP31 funding to reach farmers struggling with climate change and food insecurity
Tearfund calls for COP31 funding to reach farmers struggling with climate change and food insecurity

Tearfund warns that worsening climate conditions are threatening food production and pushing more people towards hunger.