Recently, the Lord laid upon my heart concerning the Church's attitude and commitment towards Him. I was watching the Christian channel and the Christian World News was on. The topic presented was the increased number of martyrs around the world in Indonesia, China and especially the tribulation in the Sudan. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in established industralized nations (US England, Austrilia, etc) are thriving in spirit however,he membership of the church among certain demoninations, have eitherg,remained the same or have dwindled. The point the anchorperson stated,"The Body of Christ, in industrialized nations are getting fatter and have taken the church for granted.....has the Church lost their heart to die for the sake of Gospel, unlike their brothers and sisters in other countries?" My question is......One day, you were church and the service was hot! The preacher was preaching his/her heart out, congregation, shouting. Then all of sudden, two men dressed in black bust in the sanctuary with machine guns, to kill everyone in the place. They gave the preacher and congregation a choice, either deny Jesus or die. What would your answer be? Right now, at this moement are you secure to the point that, if a situation arose like this in your church, would you be proud to say, "Yes I Christian!!" Or, would you deny the total existance of Christ and ever knowing him? Are you ready to die for such a cause? Do you have a martyr's heart???

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Answers

I'd take my pistol out of my bible cover and blow them away. Amen Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2001

Brother Paris, You don't really have a pistol in your Bible do you? But seriously...

I believe it's coming. My reasoning is outlined on the AME interactive forum page. Hard to say when though.

We can't rule out assault and vandalism by individuals and mobs, but what could the government do? Look for a move against home schooling and corporal punishment. This could have children removed from homes. Also look for boycotts of Christian owned businesses, and lawsuits stemming from our positions. We've already seen cases where homosexuals have tried to force Christian schools to hire them as custodial staff.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

If we will recall during the shooting in the Colorado High School, one of the teenage girls was shot because she was a Christian. The young man asked her, and she replied yes and was killed. I praise God for that young lady's heart. Her father is not bitter, but having been going around spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing their daughter's testimony.

That was a good question, and one to take very seriously. I believe it was Paul to exhorted us to examine ourselves, and see if we be in the faith.

In Christ,

Carmen

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

A serious answer. The girl in Colorado would have been shot regardless of her answer. Also, in the situation you describe the same thing exist. You would be killed anyway. Correct me if I am wrong, the martyers did not have themeans to defend themselves and therefore did not resist, Stephen for example. However, in the book of Ester, the Jews were allowed to defend themselves. So I suggest we have every right to defend ourselves by every means possible. And yes, in Texas we have the right to get a license to carry concealed weapons and some of the areas that I travel in my ministry requires that I do so. As a matter of fact, a Baptist minister was killed while refueling his car in Dallas a few years ago. The crime statistics in the inner city of Dallas and Houston is such that it is not safe for anyone. Blessings Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

Sir,

Are you calling the preacher and such like him martyrs? Regarding the teenage, we really don't know if she would have been killed anyway. We do know that she was asked that question. I didn't read where any of the other victims were asked.

If the preacher is a martyr, for what cause did he die? I am just not clear on your answer.

In Christ,

Carmen

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2001

Saints.....your points are vaild, however, maybe I didn't make myself clear. Are you at this moement, ready to die for the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ? Does your life exemplfy the highest love you have for Him? Paul says "I am crufied with yet I live it is not I but Christ that lives in me." Is your flesh dead totally to point that like Paul, in the II Timothy, he said that he was ready to be offered up? In Phillipians 1:21 "For to live is Christ and to die is gain" is this your testimony or, are we giving God lipservice?

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2001

Truthfully, I am not willing to die for any cause and thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for having done it in my stead; I don't think I should be or must. Martyrdom is not a state, which any have willingly sought, but one to which some have inevitably come. However, if the question were reversed, I most certainly am willing to LIVE for Him to the fullest extent that this earthly life can afford. Therefore, I am also certain that when that is no longer possible, I shall LIVE eternally with Him. For since we are quoting Saint Paul here, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and that truly will be all our gain-- in God's own time and God's own way.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2001

As I read all of the answers to the question of would you be willing to die...I began to think about the various answers given. If we are striving to be Christ like and we are striving to "stand up for Jesus" how could anyopne even think about an answer. There is no thought to the word YES!! However, because we are all human and God knows each of us individually the way he knew who was going to betray him before the cock would crow thrice....God already knows....So many of us responding should have no need to make up an answer that is logical in the public eye. We need to remember that God is the author and Finisher of our lives, if you are not yet finished then instead of answer, begin to pray!!!

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2001

I don't have a Martyr's heart for as it was pointed out earlier I think events happen that place individuals in positions where they may lose their lives. When I first got to Montana I received death threats and bomb threats from white supremacists groups. I was attacked in the newspapers because I am a clergywoman. I stayed because in my prayers to God, he told me to stay! It has been hard at times, but there is no greater love that I have than for Jesus. Because I have stayed and followed God's will there has been great work done in the name of Jesus. I might add that my name is still on the lists of certain groups to be killed. I cannot think about death, I can only rejoice in the gift of life that Christ has given me, and then tell of that gift to others. For me the question is not an academic question for those of us in the AME church in Montana have all had our lives threatened. But God protects and strengthens us and because AME churches are in the Pacific Northwest, the influx and power of white supremacists groups are held at bay. Not only in Montana, but also in Washington state, and we are trying to get a church started in Idaho. Please keep all who are on the mission field in prayer, whether it be oversees, inner city, rural ministry they all need prayer. Let's pray that we have Jesus's heart and go forth in boldness and in love.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2001