Agreed! Bible=God's Forgiveness displayed time and time again.
(Thank you, Jesus! :*)
In the Old Testament is the story of either a general or leader who loved the true God, but his job was to escort the king at the time to the pagan temple so the king could worship idols--I remember the held the king's arm and as part of his job he had to bow/kneel before the idol as well--he asked a prophet if God would forgive him, and he was told, YES. I'm trying to locate the specific passage to quote.
I know without a doubt that if Steve and Olaf were forced to comply with the terrorists' demands to 'convert', and they truly did not, that God *will* indeed forgive them for doing what they did.
Daniel and Mordecai come to mind, but neither bowed to idols.
I don't recall the exact story you describe. It will be interesting to read if you find it.