Posted on 11/30/2018 11:49:12 AM PST by OddLane
What are Christians to make of the recent controversy regarding the death of John Allen Chau? Should we look down on him as one guilty of foolish presumption, or commend him as one who it appears trusted God and gave his life for the sake of Christ?
You can’t convert anyone if you’re dead.
There have been a few threads on this story here.
On the one hand, he wanted to spread the Gospel. On the other hand , he was going to visit people who were known to be violent to outsiders. And with such hostility, likely not open at all to hearing anything about Christ.
Or speak the language. Or know the customs.
If he thought that trusting God would protect him from getting killed by the most xenophobic tribe on Earth then it was foolish presumption. If he knew that he was taking a great risk and might die then it wasn’t presumption.
FTC
Also to be considered a martyr, you would have had to been killed because of your message of Christ ...he was not killed for that...they never understood his message...they had NO IDEA WHAT he was saying...he was killed for criminal trespass (which calls for death sentence in their land)...
God helps those who help themselves.
He could have instead preached in our own ghetto areas.
If he just wanted martyrdom, preach to Muslims.
I wonder how many martyrs of old were idiots?
Early Christians found out about that very same way except they got eaten.
Steven converted Paul. I know God had foreseen and predestined. The Aucas became Christian. I predict that one of that tribe will be brought in to the Truth. I think Chau acted ignorantly. I would have begged him to change his approach.
Conway addresses this point in the video.
Ironically Jesus walked right up to his captors who would have him killed. Paul stayed a prisoner and had his head removed. Virtually all of the disciples were martyrs. Richard Wurmbrand could have just kept his mouth shut and lived happily ever after. The Christians in Rome could have just walked away from the coliseum.
Besides, you don’t even have to go there and save them. They’re just primitive Savages, they get covered under that ignorance clause. Kind of the same way children do. You don’t go to hell until you’ve heard of and rejected Jesus.
Send them some blankets
Seems to me that all the complaints about him presume that it is a terrible tragedy for him to lose his life. And it is indeed if Christianity is a lie. If however it is God’s truth, then no doubt he now walks in white.
Different for a married man, who must consider his attachments and responsibilities to others.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die...”well that is even better!”
Exactly! hard to see earthly value in giving up your life. Hurts to see this young man being raked over the coals. i do understand that not everyone sees what I see as valuable. so his actions may not make sense to everyone.
If God had truly sent him to these people:
1- he would have been successful
2- he would still be alive
Sometimes people get a little full of themselves in proclaiming that “God has sent them” to do this or that. Of those I have heard talk about being called to the ministry, they spoke of resisting the call for some time and were finally compelled to answer the call because they were not allowed to be at peace until they submitted. My father was a minister, but I never felt called.
He probably did not convert any of the islander (at the time). The news of his death went worldwide. He has given strength to many Muslims and Hindus who have wanted to convert to Christianity. We have no idea how many thousands or more he has reached.
People have converted simply from having dreams where Jesus came to them.
Men without the Spirit will not see this. He did not die in vain.
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