I quite agree. Martyrdom when you fight against it and the tyrant prevails, is one thing. But far too often, people seek martyrdom out of vanity. And this fails as a virtuous act.
Some people are inherently suicidal. Some are willing to take their own lives, but others want to stumble into self-destruction, by engaging in risky adventures which could get them killed. And these are often just a hair’s breadth from wannabee martyrs who seek their martyrdom.
While Muslims sometimes proclaim that their Allah is a god of death, Christians hold that Christ and his followers love life, both on Earth and eventually in heaven.
Jesus is not so neurotic or self-important that he would sponsor death so that his followers would not renounce him by mouth, if not in their hearts, to save their lives.
Matthew 10:16 (King James Version)
16: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
I’m glad Jesus has already died for my sins. Because as I made my final statement of belief in Him, kneeling before some muslim head-chopper, I would spin around and rip his nuts off.
“Jesus is not so neurotic or self-important that he would sponsor death so that his followers would not renounce him by mouth, if not in their hearts, to save their lives.”
Well, really there is no “death” at the hands of the men of this world for Christians. Remember, we are told not to fear them that can only harm our bodies? We are only to fear the one that has power over our soul?
If Christ would have us deny Him to save our (earthly) lives, I think we would see more positive examples of that in the New Testament, as the apostles had many opportunities to demonstrate it for us. Instead, we have the opposite. There is one apostle who does just that to save himself, and Christ rebukes him for it. Then, all the other apostles and disciples make the wiser choice.