Martyrdom question

[HardRockGTR]

This is the first question I pose on this forum

I was thinking this today; a martyr dies “for” Christianity. Does this mean that a non-Christian who defends Christians in a war against Christianity, out of compassion and moral duty for the people, and dies on the battlefield in order to prevent unfair treatment of practitioners, can be considered a martyr? Moreso, does this count as baptism by blood?

I have the impression this is a question that will have different answers among different congregations.

 

[dshix]

This is the first question I pose on this forum

I was thinking this today; a martyr dies “for” Christianity. Does this mean that a non-Christian who defends Christians in a war against Christianity, out of compassion and moral duty for the people, and dies on the battlefield in order to prevent unfair treatment of practitioners, can be considered a martyr? Moreso, does this count as baptism by blood?

I have the impression this is a question that will have different answers among different congregations.

The definition of a Christian martyr is a person who dies for the sake of Christ particularly, not the Church.

Thus, if a non-Christian died in a war in the circumstances you mention, he would not be considered a martyr necessarily, but we could certainly consider that God might have particular mercy on his soul for his virtue.

Baptism by blood, or martyrdom, is when a person dies for Christ ( even if non-Christian), and remains faithful to the end, proclaiming Christ as King.

 

[atheistgirl]

Does this mean that a non-Christian who defends Christians in a war against Christianity, out of compassion and moral duty for the people, and dies on the battlefield in order to prevent unfair treatment of practitioners, can be considered a martyr?

I would have anyones back if they were being badly treated, regardless of their faith.

I would not want to be considered a martyr were I killed doing so, because I would have been killed fighting against the injustices visited upon the believer as a fellow human being, not supporting the faith the believer held.

Moreso, does this count as baptism by blood?

I hope not.

I would be very annoyed if, after I was killed in action, people started saying I was a Christian through Baptism by Blood



Sarah x

 

[HardRockGTR]

Thanks for the answers