Conversion stories

God, give me the graces necessary to become a martyr for You rather than make any statements denying You!!!

This has been bothering Hubby and I all day long. What concerns us is the souls of these men. I pray that they have pastors who take seriously what they did, because Jesus told us that if we love our lives, we will lose them. They did something very serious, and not many people are willing to say so! I mean, if Saint Barthalomew was flayed alive and Saint Lawrence grilled alive because they would not deny Christ, what's a gunshot that can kill you instantly?

I seriously pray that I'll be ready for martyrdom if the time ever comes that I'm told to deny my Faith.

Christine,

I think Kathy Shaidle put it pretty well.

"I guess they weren't really Christians or whatever in the first place, so it doesn't matter much to them. What God thinks, I couldn't tell you; Peter denied Christ three times and is still a saint..."

"On the other hand, it is safe to say that hostage Fabrizio Quattrocchi displayed the true Christian's response:"

Fabrizio Quattrocchi, a 36-year-old security guard kidnapped in Iraq, undermined the terrorists with his defiance. In contrast to Kenneth Bigley, the British hostage who never let up begging Prime Minister Tony Blair for his life, Quattrocchi refused to be humiliated. "I will show you how an Italian dies!" he declared in the second before terrorists murdered him. Rather than kneel before his grave, he rose in defiance. Canadian columnist Mark Steyn observed, He ruined the movie for his killers. As a snuff video and recruitment tool, it was all but useless, so much so that the Arabic TV stations declined to show it." This incident simply shows the power of defiance.

"We should all pray for the grace to do likewise."

Thank God for their release. This has been bugging me for some time.
And yes, the age old question, could I be a martyr? I've struggled with this for decades. I can only pray for the grace of the Lord to be brave for the moment.

Isn't this how Islam has always done its converting? The sword works a treat - after that, it is merely a matter of bringing up the kids in the repressed atmosphere and keeping them from ever hearing anything else. After a generation or so - you have an Islamic society/nation/whatever.
I don't think we should be too judgemental about these men's obviously terrified response to their captors. God will see what was and is in their hearts and will judge accordingly. Trust Him.

Islam and butter, both are best spread with the edge of a blade

I, too, pray for the grace to become a martyr if it will be called for.

We all face martyrdom daily and unfortunately most of us (at least, I am) are not up to it. Not just with being threatened with death unless we deny Our Lord. How many of us will be willing to risk ridicule by, just to give an example, refusing to watch a questionable movie?

Islam spread by the sword back in the day.

They upgraded to a gun now it seems.

Hmph, did these kidnappers ever consider the role of free will in conversion? So who's to say that the conversion of the two journalists, under duress, is valid?

Peter denied Christ three times. I'm uncertain how I would react under such circumstances, I hope bravely. There is one thing of which I am certain, I know the Father did NOT create me or anyone else just to be damned. He wants us all with Him and I'm thinking he wouldn't want us to "persuade" each other to Him by breaking the very commandmants He gave us. Namely, "Thou shalt not kill."

I think the Muslims have that one in their book too, but I guess somewhere further along in the Koran that commandment gets trumped.

Islam, in this case, is not so much a religion as a worldwide street gang. These guys were just beating the reporters into the gang. Now that's inclusivity! (Episcopal Church, pay attention!)

Loved the graveyard humor, Gerald ... but I too have been thinking long and hard (and praying of course) about whether I'd have the fortitude to hold fast for Christ in such circumstances. I keep remembering how many of the recent Islamic butcheries have been done with a rusty blade rather than a quick bullet. But as everyone here keeps saying, all we can do is pray for grace.

I've also been praying for good shepherds to give us good example, both in maintaining the faith and in martyrdom if it becomes necessary.
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Perhaps that's why it's called the "religion of peace!" If you don't convert, there will be a piece of you over here, and a piece of you over there, and....

I know that Peter denied Christ three times, but Peter was also heartbroken over it, and he repented of it! How many pastors are willing to point out that these men, no matter how frightened, need to repent now? THAT is the fear I have for them - that no one will tell them that they need to repent of denying Christ. (This, of course, is assuming that they are Christians to begin with.)

I have NO idea how I'd react, but I pray all the time that I am ready to be a martyr for Christ. Seriously. (It's been on my mind lately for some reason, and before this incident.)

Islam seems to care nothing for God's gift of free will. They are, indeed, famous for conversions brought by the sword. Sister Yesterday said it perfectly. Terrify the parents into "converting" and then keep the children from hearing the Truth. Pretty soon, the entire Christian Middle East pretty much disappears.