Posted on 07/23/2014 3:19:49 PM PDT by NYer
I’ll start my speech by the Word of Christ, as His Word is the source of strength and salvation of us, the poor of this lost world: "There is no need to be afraid, little flock" (Luke 12:32).Our present pain is associated with our Christianity and with the mystery of our Passover (i.e., Easter). Our suffering, if joined to the suffering of our Savior Jesus, "Man of Sorrows", will turn out to be a blessing and salvation to us and to others.
And the current challenges are faced with more faith, hope, and prayer and solidarity and wisdom. Be brave in front of what you are facing, do not be afraid: you have deep roots in Iraq, do not give up for frustration and despair, confident that, "all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52) and evil does not last! You are the small mustard seed, the Lord will not let you fall. He is with you today, tomorrow, and after tomorrow, and forever.We are your shepherds and, with our full responsibility towards you, we will stay with you to the end, [we] will not leave you, whatever the sacrifices. I repeat: do not be afraid; stay strong as you are with your faith and your hope and love. We thank God for your safety, as, no matter what, your life has no price.God’s blessing be upon you.
Martyr prayers, Ping!
They are the real Iraqis not the Arabian colonists
“Our present pain is associated with our Christianity and with the mystery of our Passover (i.e., Easter). Our suffering, if joined to the suffering of our Savior Jesus, “Man of Sorrows”, will turn out to be a blessing and salvation to us and to others.
Well said. As believers we are to stand for our Lord, no matter the cost. Even our lives are nothing compared to what it cost Christ to purchase us with His blood.
Somebody needs to give these folks some guns. They should not go down easily.
If they fight back, they are not martyrs.
Nah, instead they’d be heroes
no, they would just be dead.
“If they fight back, they are not martyrs.”
I wasn’t aware of the criteria for martyrdom. Maybe then we can just let them slaughter us all.
With what reproaches will the Lord overwhelm us if you do not aid those who, with us, profess the Christian religion! Let those who have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against the faithful now go against the infidels and end with victory this war which should have been begun long ago.
Let those who for a long time, have been robbers, now become knights. Let those who have been fighting against their brothers and relatives now fight in a proper way against the barbarians. Let those who have been serving as mercenaries for small pay now obtain the eternal reward. Let those who have been wearing themselves out in both body and soul now work for a double honor. Behold! on this side will be the sorrowful and poor, on that, the rich; on this side, the enemies of the Lord, on that, his friends. Let those who go not put off the journey, but rent their lands and collect money for their expenses; and as soon as winter is over and spring comes, let hem eagerly set out on the way with God as their guide." Pope Urban II 1095
Have you ever read the accounts of Martyrdoms? They don’t fight back, they are willing to give their lives rather than deny Christ so yes it is a criteria.
I have said for years, I would not be surprised at all if I am killed or imprisoned for my faith and my ministry and having counted the cost of following Christ I accept that. Jesus said there would’d be days like this.
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
John 15:18 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
I was doing my bible reading this AM (One year Bible reading plan) and this verse was in it. Paul is quoting Psalm 44:22
Romans 8:35-36
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
There are groups that help the persecuted believers, none involve guns.
Fighting for political reasons is different, but dying for Christ is an honor for Christians.
Doesn’t make them martyrs, that is a statement of justified warfare. Not the same thing.
No offense, but I’ll stand with the Pope on this one. Besides which it just does not matter what we think. Only God knows. Good enough for me.
No offense but I will stand with the Bible not the Pope and that is what God thinks. Good enough for me.
BTW, the crusaders were not martyrs.
Whatever, there were no Protestants then so I don’t know why you are worried about it anyway. Just a bunch of Catholics being slaughtered in the Middle East right?
I am not anti-Catholic if that is what you are implying. I went to Catholic school as a kid, and as a Medievalist specializing in religous history have spent years reading and writing on Catholic church history, teachings, and Saints.
Poor attempt at a strawman there Def.
I have no issue bringing back the crusades, but they are crusades that doesn’t make them martyrs.
You may of course have your opinion.
As a Christian I DO have a dog in this fight. And I will stick with the Bible over the Pope anyday.
Crusaders are crusaders, not martyrs.
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