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(RNS) — On Oct. 23, gunmen opened fire at a church funeral in southern Jordan, killing nine Christians and wounding dozens, including Muslims who had come to offer condolences. Three days later, Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects, whom authorities described as violent extremists.

Within 24 hours, hospitals in Karak collected 629 units of donated blood from across Jordan. Christian youth leader Yazan Melkonian reported that Muslim men insisted on donating first. He welcomed their solidarity and praised Jordan’s stance against extremism, while urging concrete action to confront the religious hatred that still exists and threatens Christians.

The generosity was extraordinary. But the attack also exposed two concerns among Jordanian Christians. When some Muslims offered to protect them, Christians questioned why their safety should depend on anyone else’s promise.…