Posted: 11/9/2014 5:48:30 PM EDT
During the message in church this morning, a rather dramatic video produced by Voice of the Martyrs was shown depicting what life as a Christian is like in Syria. Unless you have been living off-the-grid for the last six months, you are almost certainly aware of ISIS and how it's adding even more conflict to that part of the world. Americans tend to take religious freedom for granted, but that's not the case in regions governed by Islamic sharia law, and being killed because you believe in Jesus and not Allah is the epitome of being martyred for Christ.
 My confusion comes when we as Christians appear to laud martyrdom as being the first tool to be grabbed from the toolbox. I submit that while there are situations where such is the case, there are also situations where other, more kinetic tools might be more appropriate as a first response. However, any talk of resistance to such evil is often met with disapproval at best; I've been rebuked for suggesting that while dying for Christ is indeed an honorable thing, my preference would be to see the fanatical Islamists die for Allah instead. Does that demonstrate a lack of maturity as a Christian? I don't know - maybe. I would submit, however, that Christ was not a pacifist. Standing by while others are being threatened/injured/killed while you have the ability to prevent it would seem to be at odds with what is in the Bible (see I John 3:17-18, among others, for example). Just as surely as everyone is not called to be a defender or protector, not everyone is called to be a martyr. To glorify the later without recognizing the need for the former is folly. |