Posted on 08/27/2006 6:41:55 AM PDT by mcg2000
GAZA (Reuters) - Two kidnapped Fox journalists appeared on a new videotape released by their captors on Sunday in the Gaza Strip, in which the reporters said they had converted to Islam, the Fox News Channel said.
Palestinian Interior Minister Saeed Seyam said efforts were under way to secure within hours the release of Fox correspondent Steve Centanni, a 60-year-old American, and New Zealand-born cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36.
Both journalists appeared to be in good health in the new video. They were seized on August 14.
They were shown separately sitting cross-legged, reading a statement which Fox said was an announcement that they had converted to Islam. At times in the video they were wearing long Muslim robes.
Wiig called on leaders of the West to stop "hiding behind the 'I don't negotiate with terrorists' myth". He then read some words in Arabic.
"The issue of the two kidnapped journalists is on the way to being resolved," Seyam told Reuters. "Efforts are under way with several parties to secure their release within the coming hours."
The previously unknown Holy Jihad Brigades claimed responsibility on Wednesday for the kidnapping and had warned the United States to free Muslim prisoners or the captives would face unspecified consequences. The deadline expired on Saturday.
The United States has said it would not make "concessions to terrorists".
A videotape released on Wednesday showed the two men, dressed in tracksuits, sitting on a blanket in front of a black background. They appeared fairly relaxed and in good health. Both said that they were fine and being treated well.
The kidnapping is the longest-lasting abduction of foreigners in the Palestinian coastal strip in more than a year.
“Reasonableness”? Who said that? You?
A martyr is someone who dies to further something of more valuable than a disgraceful life abounding it, like freeing those early Christians from oppression, not someone who refuses to mouth obvious nonsense at gunpoint for the freedom to renounce it.
Correct. What about latin america? They did the same thing there. It was either 'conversion' or beheading.
Yeah, I bet. If you're captured you'd admit to be anything.
The Lord helps those who help themselves.
I'm sorry...but C-O is a maroon on this one.
You've chosen your screen name wisely Elfman.
That’s just your own interpretation of “Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heave.” AFAIK, it’s not biblically supported. It's of your creation, not God's.
This video was apparently a deal for freedom (including the freedom to renounce any nonsense he was forced to read), not some dishonorable alternative to those stoic last words of Hugh Latimer on the stake. Think clearly, even when they try to drive you mad.
You're reduced from nonsense to whining about screen names. Go get some sun.
If they don’t, I’ll put a big apology here posted to your name.
In these apparent latter times, who really knows if there are pre-destined who will play a role in the final battle for the souls of men? Or what those roles will be?
Vessels of honor or vessels of dis-honor? I don't think all here are pre-destined, but are here to observe, learn, and make choices based on what resonates with us as good (God), in addition to seeing examples of those things that anti-thetical to religion and showing itself to be everything that a religion should NOT be.
I don't judge people, but I sure am within my rights to judge ideas and situations -- and those things that some try to pass off as a 'religion.' I have, therefore, passed my judgement on the muzzie plan of world conqest. Just say no and quarantine the thing so it won't infect the world and set civilization back a thousand years.
Whether to die a martyr, or of sickness or old age, it would seem to be the province of God who provides the circumstance.
Yes, judge not. Thanks for your reply.
Matthew is certainly not of my creation: I didn't write it. But consider the context of verse 33. The entirety of chapter 10 is Instructions for Service to the followers of Christ. In verses 1-15 Jesus commissions them and sends them to the Gentiles. He instructs the disciples to move on if the people they talk to don't want to hear their message. He ends, however, with a warning to those who reject the message of the disciples.
Then, in verses 16-23 Jesus warns the disciples that following Him will not be an easy road. Well, here, read it for yourself.
Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. 17 "But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues; 18 and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 "But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak. 20 "For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21 "And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 "And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 23 "But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.
And here is the rest of the chapter. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! 26 "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. 28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 "So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; 36 and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. 37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."
And here is a key point, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Don't forget that we're talking about a man's eternal destiny, not just some easy, quick way of getting out of a temporal situation.
And Latimer's example is indeed relevant here. He is still a moving example for a steadfast faith in Christ since October 16, 1555--some 451 years. I wonder how long Steve Centanni and the other guy will still be remembered for the stand they took?
They don't have to reveal anything to the media....what they said in order to get their release from those savages is between themselves and their God. Who's to know what prayers these two men prayed to get themselves out of this horrible situation, or what pact they made with God? Steve Centanni didn't say "Thank Allah!" He said, "Thank God." That was his natural reaction. I really doubt that they gave up their religion to convert to Islam. That they are released is the major thing. God Bless.
Please. In a situation like that I'd "convert" to the worship of Konchichi the Insect God if they put a gun to my head.
LOL...and so would the holier than Thou schmos on this board. A conversion comes from the heart, not from a gun to the head. This is much ado about nothing.
Right, and what you wrote is certainly not of Matthew's creation. No one in that video converted to anything. It’s like what you called a key point, the terrorist’s did not get the journalists soul, they got their bodies to read some obvious fiction. Steve Centanni’s presumably still of the same religion he was last week.
I may be able to put a gun to a supermodels head and convince her to say she loves me, but I can’t get her love,… like Islam certainly did not get Centanni’s soul. If I can tell the difference, God can. (I don't understand why so many here can't. Maybe on some level they fantasize about martyrdom or maybe their thinking is just confused with emotion.)
From reasonableness to subjective definition, I see. Subjectivity is a liberal's dodge:
Here is an objective definition of "martyr" from Dictionary.com
mar-tyr
–noun 1. a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.
2. a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause: a martyr to the cause of social justice.
Seems pretty clear to me.
God knows if you mean it or not. End of discussion.
Not the end of discussion. The Bible distinctly states that if a person denies Christ on earth, He will deny knowing that person before God's throne. It's the verbal confession/denial that counts.
I would have probably converted (with my fingers crossed, in front of the camera) forty or more years ago, but now I would have said, "stick it up your a$$ sh@thead (with a middle finger salute), and prepared myself to meet the Lord.
5.56mm
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