christians would you die a martyr

[bridgeforsale]

If it is by God’s will I die peacefully, it is by God’s will. If it is by God’s will I die a martyr, it is God’s will.

Sometimes I wish the martyrdom would arise again in the west - I always believed the Church under persecution was always the Church at its best.

how about if it’s god’s will for you to die and come back as a coconut?

 

[swariffin]

I would love nothing more than to die a martyrs death and with the groing anti-christian attitude in the world that seems like it might just happen. so would you be willing to die for your faith and how would you want to go? I would want it old school maybe skinned alive and set on fire or crucified that would be cool.

My soul is willing, but my flesh is weak. I must admit that. Pray for me, my brothers and sisters, that I can at least keep my Catholic faith within the muslim majority country.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

No one should seek a martyr’s death. But should the situation arise, we should not flinch. Like Cranmer, withdrawing his recantion in the flames, we should be ready to be witness to the truth.

OK, I know I am being provocative!

 

[ralphinal]

We must look at this from a spiritual point of view. Anyone who willingly dies for the faith, in the classic sense of going peacefully to their death, forgiving those who attack them, is truly showing a connection with the Holy Spirit. Courage, a gift of the Spirit, is not available to everyone like that. That is why it puts you on the fast track to sainthood.

We should not bash those who hide, either. Had all First Century Christians died for the faith, there would be no faith left.

 

[Publisher]

I answered i don’t know. Sitting here safe and sound in my arm chair.It’s hard to say. I would like to think so. But to be honest. I hope i never have to get put to that test.

Agreed…I hope my faith is strong enough…but it’s easy to be an “armchair martyr” when there’s no possibility of it happening today…In the movie “The Hiding Place” Corrie tenBoom asked her father about dying and courage…he asked her…“When you ride on the train, when do I give you your ticket?” She answered…“Right before I get on the train.”…“So too will your Father in heaven give you the strenght and courage to die when the time comes.”…

I choose to live believing in the mercy and grace of God…I choose to believe that same mercy and grace will carry me if the fires should befall me…but to be perfecly honest…I don’t know what I would do in such a situation if I were placed in the position of walking away un harmed by speaking a few words…or facing torture and death by holding onto my beliefs…only God knows until the time comes.

 

[Binary]

There is roughly a 100% chance that the threadstarter is under 18, and has no concept of or experience with death.

 

[Xavierlives]

I’m sure Christian martyrs weren’t given much of a choice other than “Renounce and live. Testify and die.”

Can you imagine though… “Hey, would you prefer a bear or a lion?”

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

There is roughly a 100% chance that the threadstarter is under 18, and has no concept of or experience with death.

You said it.

Sue they had a way of going into hiding. But the fact that there are martyrs Says either
1.hiding didn’t always work.
2. they didn’t always work.

Read ralphinal’s post. If all the First Christians died a martyr’s death, Christianity would never have survived past the first hundred years of Western civilization.

who is fantasizing?

Read the choices and the OPs post! How is that not fantasizing!?

Well the sort of person who became the first Pope of the Catholic church. thats one.
You do realize that St Peter asked to be crucified upside down don’t you?

He did it because He did not feel worthy to die the same way as Jesus did. He did it out of shame. He didn’t do it because he thought it was something cool or epic like what the OP is insinuating.

To downplay martyrs and the wish to be persecuted is the very attitude that is destroying Catholics all around the world. Such as saying that certain saints were crazy, and were reckless to lose their lives like that. I mean come on, you call yourself a Catholic! They say the biggest honor is to die for your country… do you not find this disturbing too? Jesus told us, the greatest love is to lay down one’s life for a friend. I don’t know when or if it will happen, but I would absolutely love to be a martyr. For God to use me like that, to take part in the suffering of Christ, would be the most worthy use of my little worthless life that I can think of, be it persecution or martyrdom. Plus skipping some Purgatory time would be incredible.

Look it is a noble thing to die for a greater cause be it God, country, family, friends etc. However, to deliberately seek death (regardless for what cause) is not a good thing. It’s suicide.

Death is something to be avoided. Ask yourself, what good are you when you’re dead? Your soul may reach heaven but your body’s just going to rot there when you could’ve used it for even longer for God’s glory.

I would honor those who chose death if there was no other choice. The OP however (heck all of us, sitting here in the security of our homes) still have the choice to live on, to live our faith.

Heck, I can’t believe I’m the one saying this. I’m not religious and I’ve got a lot of issues with myself before I go about being a Catholic example to others. However, I know this: When you’ve reached a point where you actually desire people to hate you, it won’t be long before you actually would prefer people to hate God too. You would become the type to antagonize people and shun them away from the faith.

Look at Jack T. Chick! He’s got a persecution complex! Look where it’s landed him. You still think having a complex like that is a sign of an effective Gospel messenger?

Personally, I doubt it. I highly, highly doubt it.

 

[TheQuestioner]

]
In case you didn’t notice, Jesus didn’t say “go forth and get yourselves killed for me”.

**Matther 16: 24-25
**
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

We don’t necessarily have to die as martyrs in order to enter into heaven, but martyrdom is definitely something we are called to should the situation arise. We must avoid sin at all costs, and to deny Christ is a sin (and a great one). Even if it means death, we must keep faith and never renounce him. Ever.
But yes, no martyr has actually gone out and deliberately sought martyrdom. That would be vain glory.

 

[jpk1313]

There is roughly a 100% chance that the threadstarter is under 18, and has no concept of or experience with death.

No i’m really 28 and I was 4 years ago clinicly dead from a gun shot for 3 mins. I know a great deal about death and suffering. Like lossing all my friends when I told them I was going to be baptized, Beating, rejected by family all becuse I live for Jesus Christ. Maybe i have somewhat of “deathwish” but I chose to look at it as a “Lifewish” becuse the more I die to myself the more I live for christ.

 

[crenfro]

…becuse the more I die to myself the more I live for christ.

true enough… I certainly need to hear that reminder… many blessings to you. I’m so sorry you’ve had such a difficult time of it.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

But yes, no martyr has actually gone out and deliberately sought martyrdom. That would be vain glory.

That’s exactly my point! I mean it’s one thing to be driven in a corner where death is the only option. However, such situations should not be desired. If anything, God gave you a head to use to avoid those things in the first place.

No i’m really 28 and I was 4 years ago clinicly dead from a gun shot for 3 mins. I know a great deal about death and suffering. Like lossing all my friends when I told them I was going to be baptized, Beating, rejected by family all becuse I live for Jesus Christ. Maybe i have somewhat of “deathwish” but I chose to look at it as a “Lifewish” becuse the more I die to myself the more I live for christ.

What country do you live in? I know there are some pretty anti-Christian countries out there and if you’re in one of them, my sympathies to you.

However, it wouldn’t hurt if you were more careful and thought of safer means to be a witness. There are other things you can deny yourself than your life (which is one of the most precious gifts God has given you).

 

[youngsaint]

I’d want it old school.
More Graces

And it would be just plain cool

 

[jpk1313]

That’s exactly my point! I mean it’s one thing to be driven in a corner where death is the only option. However, such situations should not be desired. If anything, God gave you a head to use to avoid those things in the first place.

What country do you live in? I know there are some pretty anti-Christian countries out there and if you’re in one of them, my sympathies to you.

However, it wouldn’t hurt if you were more careful and thought of safer means to be a witness. There are other things you can deny yourself than your life (which is one of the most precious gifts God has given you).

I’m in canada (yes there are gun related crime just far less thanks to the wisdom of our government putting in gun control) and there is anti-christian attituds every where. Safety is of no concern to me becuse the messed up violent people who are likely to do harm to you are the very ones who need to hear the gosple the most. If I were to die a martyrs death (or any kind really) it would have no real impact on my day to day life. I pray for people here on earth and I’ll pray for them in heaven the only difference is my address. Like Pope John Paul II said in his opening address to the world “BE NOT AFRAID” we should all be soldiers for christ and go where the gosple message is most needed which is usaly where christians are afraid to tread. Go read psalm 91 then go find your self a demented crack head and tell him “Jesus Loves you” and give him a big hug. And watch the gosple and the holy spirit in action. Bringing a sinner to christ is better than sex. Don’t belive me go tell random people the gosple and watch them as they convert and learn of god’s love for them it is the most profound experience there is it is like being saved all over again. I’ve been used by the spirit to bring convicted murderers to repentance, prostitutes, junkies, alcoholics, compulsive gamblers and yeah there is the possablitiy of being hurt when talking to such people but what would be worse than a beating or death would not telling them. Someone has to if not us then no one will and they will die in there sins. Jesus came to call sinners and if he were walking the earth today these are the ones he would be hanging out with. Go preach the gosple and if someone pulls a knife or gun on you tell them about Jesus Love and give them a hug and watch as they repent becuse they see in your lack of fear the truth of what you say.

 

[Janet1983]

If I have a choice which way to go…
I’d say however that beheading might be as fast as a bullet if the instrument is well maintained and well edged…

 

[bridgeforsale]

Need a choice (for the poll) that reads something like: Heck no, I’m not dying for ancient myths that have little chance of being true. I’d rather die for something real, like freedom, trying to rescue someone or help a buddy, trying to stop evil, etc. I like things things that can be objectively defined and have NO nexus to unproven myths or unverifiable paranormal claims (so I don’t have the feeling that I’m being dupped by men in funny uniforms). I know being free is good, I know murder is bad, I know eating is good and hunger is bad, I’m pretty sure snakes can’t talk, dead men can’t come back to life, the water in rivers cannot be transformed to blood, and virgins can’t have babies (unless they’re artificially inseminated).

I like to live, have no desire to martyr myself, and I think wanting to die for anything is either stupid or crazy (and most likely both). That I’m willing to die for certain values isn’t the same as hoping to die for those values. The former is courage and a sense of duty, the latter is insanity (and instability).

Seems to be too many people in the world today willing to kill or die for things we lack proof for, that probably aren’t true, that are really just bizarre fantastic myths which reduce to absurdity, and that teach virtues and doctrines that are so inconsistent (and in some cases plain horrible) there’s no way they could have been produced by an omniscient and omnipotent god (much less a loving one).

If there’s a god who loves me, then he doesn’t want me to be his slave (love and slavery aren’t synonymous, and I think it’s stupid to believe they are). If there is a loving god then he doesn’t want me to die for him. Loving someone and wanting them to die are inconsistent. If someone wants me dead, yet says they love me, I’d rather they hate me (maybe then they’ll just leave me alone).

Why am I not religous? See above :ballspin: