Bookmarked and saved!
AMERICA AT WAR
At Salem the Soldier's Homepage ~
Honored member of FReeper Leapfrog's "Enemy of Islam" list.
Islam, a Religion of Peace®? Some links... by backhoe
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."
You know, I have really been thinking about this as it pertains to possible future events for us as Christians. In Hebrews we read that the just shall live by faith. Denying our faith is denying what sustains us.
I don't claim to know what is transpiring between this man and God. I pray that he will be as Peter. Remorseful yet filled with such a love and zeal for Christ that he spends the rest of his life evangelizing or what have you.
And if this "neighbor" holding the knife were to repent and give his live to Jesus, he to would be saved and have eternal life. If God will give eternal life to this guy, I'm sure he will forgive the victim for his transgression. Thats the whole point of grace, NO ONE is without sin, and only by God's grace can we be saved.
Christ said that anyone who would follow him should love HIM more than his mother, father, sister, brother, etc etc. and that anyone who didn't wasn't fit to be His disciple. Your way of thinking is centered around man-made philosophy (i.e. utilitarianism), and not on what is plainly laid out in scripture.
Talk is cheap. We have many brave Christians here...fighting Satan at the front lines...of their keyboards!!!LOL. Onward keyboard warriors ;)
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
These people are evil; but, the expectation is clear from a Christian standpoint. From a Human standpoint, these people should be dealt with. But from a Christian standpoint, being ashamed of the gospel and of Christ in order to save one's neck.. big no no. Bad situation all the way around.
But that cuts both ways. Unless you are Him. It's not for you or I to decide if this man goes to Heaven or Hell. He said he lied to the moslem. What he said was not what he believed. If that's the case then he never rejected Christ.
This guy has just lost his eternal life. He'd better enjoy this one.
Something to consider ... one doesn't just deny Christ with one's lips.
One can also deny Christ with one's eyes, hands, feet, etc. ... in other words, ... by one's sinful actions (or inactions).Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:Everytime we give in to any temptation to sin, ... we deny Christ ... for our (subsequent) witness is that we are not christian.
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Fortunately, ... every sin ... except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, ... is forgivable.
We can be (and are) forgiven for our own denials of Christ ... and so can this man be.
Look. If you want a cafeteria style bible that just kind of skips over the passages about hell, you go right ahead.
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.
God, indeed, chastens His children.
But there is a big difference between being chastened by a loving Father ... and being judged as an unbeliever.1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
_________________________________________________________
Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Bookmarked and saved!
Bookmarked and saved!
Not everyone is cut out to be a martyr.
Glad you found it. Good luck with the review!
I hope I am never in that situation. However, I pray that if I ever were, I would stand for the name of Christ no matter the consequences to my earthly body
Peter denied Jesus three times and was in some pretty good standing with the Lord.
He did what he had to do.
OK!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.