02-08-2005, 11:08 AM
Quote:Is that an action of faith, Dave, or is that the type of person you were speaking of who are just thrown to the dogs by God, having obviously done something wrong?
This was interesting. Here Paul was attributing the act of death with faith in relation to denial of islam. I thought about it for a bit.
What's funny is, I'm not sure why folks would think that they should worry about renouncing Jesus when such an act is not part of the heart. I mean, if I speak out the words "I renounce you Jesus and I accept islam" it has no meaning within me because that is not what my heart really wants or means. It's quite easy to turn around and say " Sorry Jesus, I didn't mean that" and I would get the nod from heaven inside and be about my business. Even if I was made to write it out, it would have no meaning.
To formally renounce Jesus I would have to have that true desire within my heart to do it on my own, obviously being made to do it at knifepoint is not of my will, and He knows that.
There is no condemnation with those who are of Christ.
There is no guilt someone can throw at me over actions like this. I'm clothed in His righteousness, not my own, so how could I at knifepoint truly renounce Jesus when I am being forced to accept something else. It is not of my own freewill. I could go through the motions of it and it would mean nothing simply because I don't feel that inside and I didn't do that on my own.
I'm not sure what to make of it, other than those people were not truly aquainted with The Lord, because He would have given them the knowledge otherwise what to do in the situation, and it looks like that didn't happen if people were dieing for whatever cause this was.
Did these people prey upon their insecurities? Most likely, but it shouldn't have had affect.
I don't know, maybe I just have a better view towards living to fight another day. Really, the true enemy is satan, and he can be chipped down to size over time, and it doesn't take that long in prayer if you know what your doing.