All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Would you die for your faith?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by melanny manuputty on
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is not easy to respond especially like Indonesian i saw a lot of persecution in Borneo ( Kalimantan ) between Dayak people with the other tribue.
The moeslem people persecuted cristian a lot of churches close was burning
Is not easy to follow Jesus,event me actually here in my small city in Gemona ( north Italy )
My neighbour put the distance they make a groups to stay far away from me.especially the religion spirit not accept the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Anyway . I don't know if God want I must die to Him i will die to Him but i must wait His plan to me event if one day i will die to Him i believe i will live together with Him.
Melanny
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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I will give as straight and honest answer as I can.
I would rather live for my faith than die for it, but if circumstances came to pass that required me to reject my faith or die, I believe that I would hold fast and die. Now the question that I must ask myself is, am I sure? The answer, is I believe I would, but have not been put in that position at any time in my life and I know that in the midst of a storm or trial we do not always respond the way we had hoped.
I am sure some would think poorly of me for this response, but the truth is until I or we experience that moment and have to make a decision, we can only believe that we would.
Until then, lets live for Jesus and follow the path He sets before us.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Sue Schenfeld on
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Yes, I can say without a shadow of doubt, if called upon to renounce My Savior or die, I would die for Him! Am I that strong & brave & courageous? NO. I just know that God is faithful to give 'dying grace' as much as He is to give 'living grace!'
To have the 'gift' of martyrdom has to be a surprize. You won't know you have it, until you need it! God is GOOD all the time. If He sent angels to strengthen Jesus in the garden, He can do it for YOU!
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Permalink Reply by inibehe on
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This is a tough one.The apostles did die for their faith. If dying for faith is not motivated by love for God as in 1cor 13:3b, it is of no profit. Apostle Paul saw death as gain(Phil 1:21-23) because he had the conviction that he will be with the Lord. Phil 1:29- says "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake". The Lord Jesus did warn his disciples of the consequences of following him. These include persecution and death. Most of us are so blessed that many had already laid down their lives for our liberty to serve God today. We do face little persecution in relationships, work place,family because of what we believe in.
Accepting to die for my faith is a higher commitment to the Lord.I can die for my faith but i do not pray for it. I believe i have to be alive to serve God. It is actually the selffish motive of what to gain in death that has pushed many in Islam to become suicide bombers. I would not want to stress this issue because it is capable of pushing some into conflict for gosple sake. If we can show maturity and understanding in resolving issues that could lead to many deaths ( like it is the case in my country where christians clash with muslims), then we will also understand that "to live is Christ" . Its my opinion. But what do you think?
inibehe.
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Permalink Reply by MaryAnn on
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Hi Carla, This topic is HOT...and definitely not something we like to think about! I really appreciate the honesty of the answers so far.
My response is 'Yes, Of Course I would die for my Faith!' As LT pointed out though, we won’t know for sure unless it happens. Peter did not think he would deny Jesus, yet he did. But in the end, he died for his faith.
Dying seems like such a big deal, but have you noticed that when people die they are remembered for awhile, then life goes on and we forget, although we do not forgot our loved ones. We must remember that God is Sovereign and HE has an amazing plan for each of us, and if that includes dying for our faith, however that happens, my hope is that it would be with bravery, and in a way that would glorify God.
And the best thing is we get to be with Jesus on the other side, in heaven. Our true citizenship is of Heaven…no more tears, no more pain, face-to-face with Jesus...sounds pretty good to me.
May the LORD strengthen each of us in our time of need, if we ever need to make this choice. May we always choose spiritual life, which may mean physical death. In the meantime, let's continue to serve HIM with our whole heart, mind & strength, and love our neighbour as ourselves.
Your mom & sister in Christ
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Permalink Reply by candy on
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eh does this mean .....would i die for jesus .......if it is so yes i would ...
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Permalink Reply by Alan on
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We in the states want to hold on to life as tightly as possible, our society is geared to youth and pleasure. This makes it hard for us to grasp the concept of a bond slave. This is the term that Paul refers to when he speaks of his relationship towards doing the will of God. This is a position that a person who served the house as a slave could assume when the period of servitude was over. The person when offered their freedom would choose to stay and serve the house out of the love that they had for those in the house. That person chose to become a bondservant to that house, a slave to that family and the group of people living there. There is a special mark that the bondservant took, the head of the house took the servant out to the post of the enterance gate of the house and pierced the earlobe of the servant's right ear. A ring is put through the ear and that person became part of that house for life. Their life was not their own any longer but now belonged to the house.
The Japanese warrior code said that when the warrior took up service with the lord of the land the warrior pledged his life to the lord. This meant that the warrior was dead from the day he had commited his life to his lord and every day that he lived was a gift. The gratefulness of the warrior for that gift showed in everything that he did.
This thought is not unlike the statement buried with Him in death raised in newness of life. Due to our culture we are not willing to serve anyone or anything let alone acknowledge that our lives our not our own, we were bought with a price we should live like it.
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Permalink Reply by christopher lingk on
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OOOOO, very interesting subject indeed !! I've never really put alot of thought into that one really. I suppose it's because we here in the United States really haven't had to experience much persecution for our faith. So, we kind of take for granted that living for God isn't too difficult. However, I can sense that the time is soon coming when even here we (the christians) will probably have to suffer for our beliefs. Personally, I couldn't say what I'd do if I was told, "Deny your faith, or die" !! I'd like to believe that God will give me the strength to stand firm when the time comes. In my own strength, I'd probably chicken out and deny. But, I believe God will help us when those times come just like He helped the apostles.
I'm always amazed when I hear stories of christians in other nations even now who are killed for standing for Christ. It's really hard to fathom as we live in a nation that pretty much allows freedom to believe what you wish. My heart goes out to the believers who die in the name of the Lord. But, I know that their reward will be great indeed just as God's word says !!
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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Thank you for all of your responses. I think Paul says it best and really sums up many of the answers given here:
Phl 1:20-25
For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die.
For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better.
Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live. I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith.
1 John 3:2,3 ( We will one day see Jesus face to face)
Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure.
So then I too would die for my faith, but certainly not in my own strength. I choose you Lord!
With Love in Christ, Carla
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Permalink Reply by Ron Payne on
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Hi Carla, A grave question. (Excuse the pun)
I guess one has to know what it would be like to face executioners who depending on the answer you give, are bent on cutting your head off.
I believe the Bible describes this as the way Believers will be executed towards the end times.
I am terrified now of the thought of ever being in that situation.
South Africa has had it's fair share of Mob executions where an old tyre is hung over the shoulders of the victim, petrol poured into it and set alight.
It is known as "Necklacing" It is terrifying to even watch, let alone be the victim. Another mob practice is to take the spoke of a bicycle wheel and cut it to a foot in length. Place a handle on it and sharpen the end.
Plus minus six gang members will surround the victim each with this weapon. They then push their "spike" in and out his body rapidly as if he were a pin cushion. Naturally he collapses and dies. There is very little evidence on the outside of the victims body apart from small specks of blood, where the long needle like spikes have gone in and out. But internally there is not one organ that has not been affected and bled profusely. My reason for telling these gruesome tales of gang murder ordered by some gang lord. Is to bring home the reality of what it might really be like to face such a mob, demanding you tell them where your allegiance lies. I believe the victims described above were asked that question but never given a chance to reply.
In answer to Carla's question, I can only look to Stephen in the book of Acts, where he was given a vision of the risen Lord: "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" Acts 7:56. MY answer then is that right now, I fear the very thought of this happening to me or any others whom I love. My prayer is: "Lord if I should be placed in that position, please share Stephen's vision with me as well."
Looking back into history at the Saints who were murdered for their faith, I believe that they were strengthened by the Holy Spirit, in that they too were given the vision Stephen was given.
May the Lord comfort every one of us as we appear to be approaching these perilous times. Give us the strength to answer boldly: "As for me and My house, we will serve the Lord."
Ron
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God will lead us through whatever He brings us to...
1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
3. Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
6. The world shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun refuse to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.
7. When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.
Love in Christ, Carla
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Permalink Reply by Charlie Carter on
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Well when you think about it by having our faith we really are dying. In 2nd Corinthians 4 Paul rights about living through dying. What he means by this is that what we are, (our flesh;bodies) will eventually perish because that is supposed to happen. But once you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, as it also says in those verses, "we have the treasure within us." God puts trials and tribulations in our lives to break and hone down the outer man, while the inner man thrives. It sounds crazy but to die in your faith is to live.
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