Posted on 12/16/2014 3:17:08 PM PST by Garfunkel Oates
From the article:
"The Rev. Franklin Graham says Christians should never deny Jesus Christ in order to spare their lives from slaughter by terrorists, such as ISIS, and further asserts that doing so would be a betrayal against martyrs who stood strong for their faith, despite persecution.
"Christians have been martyred going all the way back to the Romans when they fed them to the lions. We would be betraying every person who stood for their faith, who stood for Jesus Christ, if we turn our back on Jesus Christ. … I think we take a stand for our faith," Graham said on Fox News' "The Kelly File" when host Megyn Kelly asked if Christians should lie in order to save their lives when confronted with death at the hands of Islamic terrorists."
Let's say ISIS captures you and your choice is denounce God until you get rescued or die? I think God would be ok with you telling some stinking Muslims what they want to hear so you can survive to see your family, He knows what is in your heart.
Well God might be ok with it but I am not sure I could live with myself. I think about those little children who had the faith and strength not to deny Jesus and were killed by ISIS the other week and I pray that I would have their courage. My family will see in me an example of how much my faith meant to me. That fact and God himself will sustain them.
2. "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
I may not have the courage if I am put to the test, but I will not make excuses for myself if I prove a coward. God forgive me if I do!
God forgave Peter’s betrayal but it was still a sinful act by Peter. Just because the sin is not unforgivable does not mean it is not grave.
yes, God knows your heart. but i believe he wants more.
as for lying, i think it depends on whether you are lying out of fear or love (your cases).
if your lying to save your life, especially by denying Jesus, you may be lying out of fear. “...whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
one thing i know, Jesus can’t abide an unrepentant coward, because i’ve been one. i hope i can stand up for Jesus if, God forbid, it ever comes to that. i’m with Pastor Graham.
Back in the day of Rome, there was a split with some Christians who rejected those who denied Christ, but still maintained that they were Christians.
I would imagine that there is the same kind of split in Christian circles today, too ... on this issue.
I would maintain that once someone is truly saved and “in Christ” that they cannot be “unsaved”.
No. If we deny Christ before men, He will deny us before the Father.
In other aspects of life, it is forgivable to tell lies. But not when it comes down to our Savior.
Graham’s right on this one. The only correct answer is “Jesus is Lord”.
These are the times that try mens souls. I do not claim to be a brave man. In fact I will admit not to be. Until you have been faced with the prospects of torture, you do not know how you will react. I know. I have been there. I failed miserably. I cried and shook. I flinched and finally broke. Yes, I denied the dress made her butt look big. But on the bright side I saved 15% or more on my car insurance.
I have read the isis is beheading their captives after they convert to islam. So lying to save your life won’t work.
I don’t know about that. I think God is pretty adamant about these sorts of things. “You are either with us or against us” as George Bush would put it. I will never deny Jesus for some yahoo, hellbound beast.
I quite agree. Martyrdom when you fight against it and the tyrant prevails, is one thing. But far too often, people seek martyrdom out of vanity. And this fails as a virtuous act.
Some people are inherently suicidal. Some are willing to take their own lives, but others want to stumble into self-destruction, by engaging in risky adventures which could get them killed. And these are often just a hair’s breadth from wannabee martyrs who seek their martyrdom.
While Muslims sometimes proclaim that their Allah is a god of death, Christians hold that Christ and his followers love life, both on Earth and eventually in heaven.
Jesus is not so neurotic or self-important that he would sponsor death so that his followers would not renounce him by mouth, if not in their hearts, to save their lives.
IIRC, the Koran does not allow new “converts” to be beheaded because they were formerly infidels. However, Moehamhead’s religion makes no sense anyway. But, why would someone want to convert to such a savage “religion under any circumstances ?”
See Post #3. I don’t think there is an out for denying Christ, especially when Jesus said if we deny Him before men He will deny us before the Father.
How can that be reinterpreted differently?
I have pondered having my neck tattooed:
“Permission to cut is granted by Jesus Christ, Son of God.”
Seems pretty clear.
Matthew 10:16 (King James Version)
16: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
I’m glad Jesus has already died for my sins. Because as I made my final statement of belief in Him, kneeling before some muslim head-chopper, I would spin around and rip his nuts off.
Each individual Christian must be ready every moment to lay down his/her life if there is no honorable way to extend it. Denying Lord Jesus Christ is not honorable to Him; that’s not an option. Our (eternal) life is hid in Him anyway.
Too many Christians have preceded us, including young innocents who only knew the name “Jesus” and that they loved Him and He loves them.
Let’s say ISIS captures you and your choice is denounce God until you get rescued or die? I think God would be ok with you telling some stinking Muslims what they want to hear so you can survive to see your family, He knows what is in your heart.
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