christians would you die a martyr

[jpk1313]

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.

 

[Lapey]

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.

St Lawrence, a great Deacon of the Church, died a death that was truly amazing, he was BBQ’d, literally. When he was done on one side he called his persecuter to “turn him over”. Now that is a true connection with the Holy Spirit!

 

[crazzeto]

If I could go down a Martyr that would be absolutly terrific honestly. Not that I have a death wish or am partial to pain. But hey, if you have to go (and you have to) why would you want some insignificant death when you can go down for the best cause there is, proclaiming God

 

[crazzeto]

St Lawrence, a great Deacon of the Church, died a death that was truly amazing, he was BBQ’d, literally. When he was done on one side he called his persecuter to “turn him over”. Now that is a true connection with the Holy Spirit!

I’ve heard his exact words were “Ok, I’m done on this side you can turn me over”.

 

[latin_rite]

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.

 

[Nine_Two]

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.

I agree. It is easy to say you would, and at one time I think I would have without thinking. However I also can’t see myself renouncing God in order to escape pain or death, I don’t know how I’d be able to live with myself after doing that.
So two very bad options, I know which one I’d like to say I’d pick, but can’t say for certain.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

I’m probably a bit of a coward as far as being flayed alive or burned at the sake, but I think many Christians die little deaths to themselves every day & face subtle persecutions at work & in the world.
Doesn’t “martyr” mean witness? In that wider sense, I think we might all aspire to that title before we die.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I voted none. No offense man but God gave you a life. Don’t throw it away so recklessly with an attitude like that.

Honestly, ever since I started delving deeper into studying religion, I become more convinced that such martyr mentality isn’t compatible with trying to spread the Gospel.

In case you didn’t know, Muslim suicide bombers are willing to die for their faith too.

Think about it.

 

[latin_rite]

I voted none. No offense man but God gave you a life. Don’t throw it away so recklessly with an attitude like that.

Honestly, ever since I started delving deeper into studying religion, I become more convinced that such martyr mentality isn’t compatible with trying to spread the Gospel.

In case you didn’t know, Muslim suicide bombers are willing to die for their faith too.

Think about it.

Think about what? A person who kills themselves by blowing up a bus full of school kids is somehow the same as someone who dies because he won’t renounce GodI don’t think they are one and the same? I dont think the great Christian martyrs threw their life away. Not as if they woke one morning and said “hey. I might go get myself killed i nthe name of God today.” And i think they spread the gospel better than just about anyone. Remember the original Christian Jesus Christ was also a martyr for his faith. I believe a man as smart as he was could have talked his away out of being killed. But what he and other Christian martyrs have baically said was" I believe in God. And no matter what you do or say to me. I won’t change, i wont abandon him." maybe you’re the one who needs to go and think about it

 

[crenfro]

I pray that I won’t be put to the test.

I guess I’d prefer to be slowly martyred by the pin pricks, over the course of a normal lifespan.

God never gives us more than we can handle and tells us that His grace is sufficient, so I find comfort in that.

Good question and thank you for it.

Please pray for me.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

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.

I’d die a martyr if I had to, but the conditions would not be of my own choosing. Like Christ, I’d try to get out of it if I could, particularly if I knew it would be particularly painful. In other words, I wouldn’t go looking for martyrdom. But it may find me.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Think about what? A person who kills themselves by blowing up a bus full of school kids is somehow the same as someone who dies because he won’t renounce GodI don’t think they are one and the same? I dont think the great Christian martyrs threw their life away. Not as if they woke one morning and said “hey. I might go get myself killed i nthe name of God today.” And i think they spread the gospel better than just about anyone. Remember the original Christian Jesus Christ was also a martyr for his faith. I believe a man as smart as he was could have talked his away out of being killed. But what he and other Christian martyrs have baically said was" I believe in God. And no matter what you do or say to me. I won’t change, i wont abandon him." maybe you’re the one who needs to go and think about it

Right, you become a Christian, then go get yourselves killed by recklessly spouting off Christian messages in hostile areas. That’s using the God-given gift of the human intellect all right.

In case you didn’t notice, Jesus didn’t say “go forth and get yourselves killed for me”. Furthermore, recall basic salvation history please. Jesus’ death was not an act of martyrdom (at least solely). It was His sacrifice. There’s a difference between giving yourself for someone else and what I’m defining as religious recklessness. Even Jesus told His disciples to buy a sword before sending them out. Please don’t tell me that wasn’t for self-preservation.

Reading the OP’s post, I’m getting the impression of someone who does not value the life that God has given him and is only thinking of dying for his faith. I thought we were supposed to live it? Let me tell you something, you can’t spread the Good News when you’re six feet under mmkay? Sure, one might be pressed in the scenario you present but if anything, they are something to be avoided not desired.

 

[Reuben_J]

Every Christian is called to be a spiritual martyr, that is, to die to the self. He is also called to love God with all his heart, mind, strength and soul. Thus he has to overcome all obstacles which make that unachievable. Based on that principle I would die a martyr if situation warrants it but without asking for it.

We are also given the wisdom to act accordingly and power and divine protection in the course of our witnessing life so that we would not needlessly give our lives in vain. If should we be martyred then it is done to achieve the greater purpose for the greater good of the believing Community.

St. Maximillian Kolbe gave his life to the Nazi in exchanged for another so that the man who had more to live for could live to rear his family. Today Fr. Kolbe was such a great encouragement for us as someone who imitates Christ who loves by giving his own life.

This saint died in the darkest days of World War II as an inmate of a death camp. Some people were chosen to be put to death for some trivial infractions. Maximilian Kolbe, a Catholic priest, offered to take the place of a man who had a family and stepped forward.

 

[latin_rite]

Right, you become a Christian, then go get yourselves killed by recklessly spouting off Christian messages in hostile areas. That’s using the God-given gift of the human intellect all right.

Its using the strength of faith he has given you. Once everywhere was hostile to Christian teaching. If those people didn’t risk their life or indeed paid with their lives. to spread the message we wouldn’t have it now. So yes it was using the intellect that God gave them.

In case you didn’t notice, Jesus didn’t say “go forth and get yourselves killed for me”. Furthermore, recall basic salvation history please. Jesus’ death was not an act of martyrdom (at least solely). It was His sacrifice. There’s a difference between giving yourself for someone else and what I’m defining as religious recklessness. Even Jesus told His disciples to buy a sword before sending them out. Please don’t tell me that wasn’t for self-preservation.

I noticed. He told them to spread the word. The mere saying of “take a sword with you”??
Instead of take a good pair of running shoes with you.Is evidence that spreading Gods message was going to be dangerous.And not to run. Which they didn’t and which when faced with certain death stood by what they preached. Which made the faith even more stronger to the ones who followed it and despair to those who fought to have it destroyed. He did sacrifice himself for our salvation. He also gave himself over so that Gods word could carry on. Which other martyrs have done. How many people were saved then and indeed now by their “sacrifice”?

Reading the OP’s post, I’m getting the impression of someone who does not value the life that God has given him and is only thinking of dying for his faith. I thought we were supposed to live it? Let me tell you something, you can’t spread the Good News when you’re six feet under mmkay? Sure, one might be pressed in the scenario you present but if anything, they are something to be avoided not desired.

Who are you to say he doesn’t value his life? the fact that martyrs valued life is even stronger testimony to their strength of faith. I’m sure all martyrs valued their live its just that they valued God more. And no amount of torture or the threats of death would make them change their minds.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Its using the strength of faith he has given you. Once everywhere was hostile to Christian teaching. If those people didn’t risk their life or indeed paid with their lives. to spread the message we wouldn’t have it now. So yes it was using the intellect that God gave them.

You forget that these people had a way of going into hiding. There’s a difference between that and just going off without a plan and, as the one poster said, vainly throwing away the life God has given you.

I noticed. He told them to spread the word. The mere saying of “take a sword with you”??
Instead of take a good pair of running shoes with you.Is evidence that spreading Gods message was going to be dangerous.And not to run. Which they didn’t and which when faced with certain death stood by what they preached. Which made the faith even more stronger to the ones who followed it and despair to those who fought to have it destroyed. He did sacrifice himself for our salvation. He also gave himself over so that Gods word could carry on. Which other martyrs have done. How many people were saved then and indeed now by their “sacrifice”?

I suggest you know another difference. That is: the difference between standing up for what you believe in and deliberately fantasizing about getting yourself killed. The latter is hardly any more different than suicide.

Who are you to say he doesn’t value his life? the fact that martyrs valued life is even stronger testimony to their strength of faith. I’m sure all martyrs valued their live its just that they valued God more. And no amount of torture or the threats of death would make them change their minds.

Do me a favor. Could you read those little choices up there? Frankly, they disturb me. What kind of martyr would gleefully make preferences about how a he/she would die? Are we not a pro-life religion? What I see up there, doesn’t look pro-life to me.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

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.

 

[latin_rite]

You forget that these people had a way of going into hiding. There’s a difference between that and just going off without a plan and, as the one poster said, vainly throwing away the life God has given you.

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.
Who is talking about going off without a plan?

I suggest you know another difference. That is: the difference between standing up for what you believe in and deliberately fantasizing about getting yourself killed. The latter is hardly any more different than suicide.

who is fantasizing?

Do me a favor. Could you read those little choices up there? Frankly, they disturb me. What kind of martyr would gleefully make preferences about how a he/she would die?

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?

Are we not a pro-life religion? What I see up there, doesn’t look pro-life to me.

Yes we are a pro life religion. Thats what makes their sacrifice all the more powerful.

 

[crazzeto]

I voted none. No offense man but God gave you a life. Don’t throw it away so recklessly with an attitude like that.

Honestly, ever since I started delving deeper into studying religion, I become more convinced that such martyr mentality isn’t compatible with trying to spread the Gospel.

In case you didn’t know, Muslim suicide bombers are willing to die for their faith too.

Think about it.

Under what premise are you answering this question? I approched it as a persecution type senario.

 

[ljubim]

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.

I completely agree.

Personally I would say that the martyrs didn’t feel much pain… that’s what’s so miraculous about their deaths. There was this one time that something absolutely horrible was going on, and myself and my sister were just sobbing outside our rooms. And suddenly we began to say the rosary and despite the most hopeless feeling I think I’ve ever felt, this incredible peace came over us, to the point that we were smiling(more like beaming) and even sort of laughing. And for no reason at all I said, I think this is how the martyrs felt, and my sister nodded. And that incredible peace lasted until the situation resolved a bit later.

So armed with that, and a few mini-persecutions(all in perspective:thumbsup, I would very much like for God to give me the chance to be that holy, as to give up my life for His glory. I voted for the first choice, such as being roasted, skinned, fed to lions, etc. Not only that, but it would be very nice to have a bit of time to prepare myself for death. Pain in terrible, but God takes the pain away.

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.

 

[bridgeforsale]

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.