Posted on 05/31/2004 9:00:49 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, May 31 (Reuters) - A Christian Arab who was held captive by al Qaeda militants in Saudi Arabia said on Monday he lied to them about his faith and praised their battle against the West, to save his life.
Nizar Hajazeen, a Jordanian software businessmen who was at the Tower hotel in the Oasis compound during the 25-hour drama in Khobar, said the militants lectured him about Islam and their aim to liberate Saudi Arabia from "infidels and crusaders".
The complex where the militants held about 50 foreigners -- including some Westerners -- was their last target in the violence in the eastern Saudi oil city in which they killed at least 22 people.
Hajazeen, 32, had tried to call a cab to go to work on Saturday but the phone lines were jumbled.
"I went down and the Filipino receptionist told me there were terrorists in the compound and gunshots were heard," he told Reuters.
He tried to help security guards close the hotel entrance gate but the lock did not work and a manager recommended he hide, Hajazeen said.
"I went to the room of a Jordanian colleague. Someone banged violently on the door. We opened and there were two men, one with a machinegun, another with a revolver. They were wearing black track suits," he said, adding that one had a wounded arm.
Both were in their twenties.
"They asked us if we were Arab or Westerners. We told them: 'We're Arab'.
"One then asked if I was a Christian or a Muslim. I told him we were Muslims and showed him my colleague's Koran as proof. I told him we supported them and that we were against America and Europe. I had to say that."
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
Residents of the compound said the attackers asked everyone they encountered if they were Muslim or Christian, before taking them hostage or killing them.
An Oasis manager said the gunmen shot and killed several Westerners as soon as they entered the complex.
The gunmen made two Indian hotel staff with master keys show them where the Westerners were, Hajazeen said.
His brother called him on his mobile phone to wish him a happy birthday -- a day late -- just as the militants were saying their motive was to drive Americans and Christians from their country.
"They asked me to turn off my mobile but did not take it away as they did with others," Hajazeen said, adding that they told him and his colleague to stay in the room and left.
"We stayed locked in our room. One of us was hiding in the shower, another one was hiding in the bathtub," Hajazeen said, adding that from time to time they sneaked back into the bedroom to watch the news on television.
He said that before commandos freed them on Sunday, compound security guards called his mobile to ask him to check if the militants had rigged his floor with explosives. He found nothing.
"Before the commandos came, there was heavy gunfire and one explosion shook the hotel. We could hear glass being smashed, screams... It sounded like someone was giving out orders."
Saudi security forces later called them out, saying: "Do not be scared."
Making his way to freedom he saw the bodies of four Indians and an Italian cook.
"They had been shot dead. Some were on the staircases."
Should the Holy Spirit direct me to Saudi, I pray that I would be obedient, even to the point of forsaking my family and friends and even to the point of death. At this time in my life and walk He has not done so.
I read the whole thing (even the fine print). God is not some fluffy bunny you put next to your pillow at night. He is your (at least my) Father. Fathers discipline and meet out punishiment as well as reward.
I do not entirely agree with your categorization in that I recall Jesus saying that He was not here to repeal the law (not even one "iota" if memory serves).
I do understand your point about those in Category 3 (among who I count myself). 'Pod
Forgot to add, the original reason I asked you was your statement about love being better served by "murder." I just could not think of any case where this might be true.
Wow!
There are times when one recognizes evil without having to judge that it is in fact evil that he is looking at.
I would agree with you if in fact God led or commanded you to go over to Saudi and do that.
God also commanded us not to cast pearls before swine. Without His command to do so, that is exactly what the tract-hander-outer would be doing.
Not "iota" but "jot and tittle". He said he came to fulfill the law, and he did that by dying on the cross.
Colossians 2:13-18
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.Category 2 people believe that Christ's death wasn't enough and they are bound to fulfill the requirements of the law (at least strive to) in order to be saved. Even though Paul specifically said "do not let anyone judge you" they continually measure themselves and others against the laws, rules, etc. that are extracted and inferred from scripture.
A category 3 person realizes that the laws and rules found in scripture are a lamp to his feet and a light for his path, but that he will not be ultimately judged by how well he followed the jots and tittles, but by how intently he contemplated Christ's love for him and let it transform his heart. That person loves other people because of Christ's love not in order to enjoy Christ's love.
This one is easy, though probably remote for most people.
Imagine yourself being asked to participate in a plot to murder Adolph Hitler and many of his key gnerals and thugs. There is motive and malice of forethought and all the ingredients for first-degree murder. You had a real, legitimate shot at pulling it off. Would you do it? A category 3 person would recognize instantly that love would indeed be better served by murder in this case.
This one is easy, though probably remote for most people.
Imagine yourself being asked to participate in a plot to murder Adolph Hitler and many of his key gnerals and thugs. There is motive and malice of forethought and all the ingredients for first-degree murder. You had a real, legitimate shot at pulling it off. Would you do it? A category 3 person would recognize instantly that love would indeed be better served by murder in this case.
BTW, that is a true (not hypothetical) situation several Christian men found themselves facing during WWII in Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, the attempt failed and most (if not all) complicit in the plot were hunted down and executed. The holocaust continued, of course, and the world was not spared the horrors that followed.
As I said earlier he was in front of 2 of satan's vicious clowns, no one else. Both God and Satan know what is in his heart. There is no point in dying if you don't have to. You can not love anyone else if you don't love yourself. Don't bring up Steven, or anyone else, because they had witnesses present. This guy was his own witness and no one would know if he had not defeated the killers. Yes he defeated the killers. That is all he did.
He opposed the killers. The only way to deny the validity of what he did is to say that it is wrong to oppose killers. It amounts to saying self defense is wrong. If you wish to stick with your claim, you must answer the question. What purpose is served by his failing to oppose killers?
Then I would suggest you pick up the other versions cause some them condradict the others ... and while your at it ... you may want to seek out the chapters that were left out of the King James version ... and lastly .... just for accuracy ... you should read each chapter in it's original language ... if only to avoid the many documented mistranslations
"Then what is your excuse for not actively taking the gospel message into Saudi Arabia, or the Sudan and preaching Christ to the Muslims. They need Christ, don't they? So where are the Christians that are called to bring them the gospel?
You, as a Christian, have been given the great commission to take the gospel to all nations. Saudi Arabia is a Nation. The gospel is not actively being preached there. There is a definite need, is there not? So take it there. If you dare."
Jesus said this: "Also He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!" [Mark 6:10-12] and also in Matt 10: 13-15 & Luke 9:4-6
Then, Jesus also said: "Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces." Matt 7:6
Missionaries have been and continue to witness and preach the gospel to the Saudis. Mostly in underground Churches, but it's being done. However, Christians are not received in Saudi Arabia and they often lose their heads for it. So, Jesus said that if they will not receive you (or His gospel) then depart and shake the very dust off you sandals as a testimony against them.
Then, there is trying to witness for Christ and preach the gospel to those hostile to Christ and His gospel... Jesus said not to give that which is holy to them, lest they trample upon them and tear you to pieces.
Example: Martin and Gracia Burnham taken hostage by Abu Sayf in the Philippines. They witnessed to their captures the gospel of Christ. The Abu Sayf members told them flat out in more or less this way that "we know all bout your God and his Christ and we reject it. We choose Islam and Allah and his prophet" So, the Burnham's stopped preaching and witnessing to them and only prayed for each other and they prayed for their enemies (only to themselves). The Burnhams quit giving that which is holy to the dogs. The same goes for Saudi Arabia: The country has banned Christianity, Christians, the Bible and preaching or teaching of Christianity. Same situation here as Abu Sayf in the Philippines.
However, all that being said, God is still in charge and "He will make a way, where there seems to be no way" as the song goes. That way is called satellites. The Saudis are very well off and lovers and owners of many "Western" goods. Saudis have satellite dishes and satellite radios in huge numbers. On those satellite TVs and radios they watch Christian television programs from CBN and Trinity Broadcasting Network in their own language. Also they listen to Christian radio programs and teaching on their satellite radios at home or in their cars without the "Religious Police" able to stop them. The same goes in Iran as well. Satellite dishes and radio is everywhere in the Middle East and the gospel is being preached. Arabic Bibles are being smuggled into these countries in huge numbers. I know, I've sent many. God is making a way.
"Otherwise, don't judge this Christian man for his failings and don't pretend you'd do better in his situation. At least he is brave enough to be a Christian in such an anti-Christian nation."
I am not judging this man. I am commanded not to because judgement of this man is for God Himself to do. I judge myself and my actions. I do judge others actions against the Word of God with regards to what I do and how I live. For example, if someone jumps off a building, I judge that to be wrong and don't do that. I judge myself and those who break God's Commandments to be sinning. That type of judgement we are to do. Judgement that belongs to God, such as to whether this man is saved or lost, forgiven or condemned is not for me but for God alone.
Wow, nice to know that there is somebody here on earth that knows the divine will of God down to a T and can say who gets into heaven or not.
:rolls eyes:
No doubt.
Is what it ACTUALLY says in the Bible is you "shall not bare false witness against thy neighbor,"
You'd really have to strech that to damn this guy. And is isn't that guy's damn right to damn anybody as far as I'm concerned. Let's leave that stuff up to God.
I'd like to think that I wouldn't deny Christ in such a time. But I hope to God that I'm never in such a situation. None of us can say with certainty what we'd do.
But God is forgiving and he gives us many chances to get it right (490 at a minimum). I would imagine that because of his experience, he will be bolder the next time. The fact that he admitted at this time that he lied to the terrorists is courage enough for me. He has set himself up as a prime target for their next attack. That's more than I can say about me.
and Rahab lied about the two spies sent by Joshua... and they let her hide them out...
Plus, you've got the severe question of whether a guy holding a knife at your throat is your "neighbor". Lying to the devil or his authorized representatives, is morally OK by me.
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