Would you?

[Antoninus Verus]

Would be willing to die for your faith?

 

[Clem is Me]

No. The chair will be there whether anyone admits it or not.

 

[newfoundsalvation]

Be more specific. Jesus died for HIS faith (so to speak), so if what you mean is would I die for God to show others the way? YEP.

 

[Antoninus Verus]

No, I mean like if there was an invasion by annother country. A soldier kicks down the door to your house, points a gun at your head and asks "Are you ______?" And you know that he will kill you if you answer with your true religion.

 

[Soc12]

No, I mean like if there was an invasion by annother country. A soldier kicks down the door to your house, points a gun at your head and asks "Are you ______?" And you know that he will kill you if you answer with your true religion.

Lol, I think anyone would agree with me that I would say I was whatever he wanted me to be. Just because you say you aren't a Christian to someone who wants to kill you doesn't mean you are denying God.

 

[The Seeker]

I'd probably say "Who me? NO! Can't stand those blasted heathens, round 'em all up and shoot 'em, I say"

 

[psychedelicist]

Well I doubt that would happen, because my beliefs can't be summed up as "christian," "atheist," or any of that, so I could most likely say "no" to whatever he asks me.

If he was being oddly specific, however, and asked me to die for my beliefs, I don't know what I would do. Depends on whether or not I had accomplished all I want to accomplish during my life. If all I wanted to say and do had been said and done, then yes, because all that would be left for me to do is die happily anyways, and better to get a bullet to the head and die quick than to die of excruciating pain because I had cancer or something, I suppose.

 

[savvy]

Depends on the circumstances. If some random person aims a gun at my head and says he'll shoot me if I lay claim to Christianity, I will say "Nope!" in a heartbeat. There are good reasons to die for faith and stupid reasons.

 

[morningstar2651]

Would be willing to die for your faith?

No, but I'm sure that there are plenty that would want me to die because of my faith.

 

[Zalnavris]

I guss im crazy but i would never say i wasnt a christian just to live. If thats my time then thats my time. Whatever the reson i will hold strong to my faith.

 

[Isis-Astoroth]

I would prefer to live for my god, than to die for him.

 

[Rae]

Would be willing to die for your faith?

Nope. A dead Pagan does no one any good, not the Gods, not her husband, not her baby girl, not anyone. I'd be willing to lie to anyone, especially a terrorist like in your scenario, in order to preserve my life and my true faith...even if I had to hide it from everyone else in the world.

 

[JustJack!]

Dying's easy. Question is, are you willing to kill for your faith.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Would be willing to die for your faith?

I would be willing to die to preserve my integrity.

But I don't consider lying about my worldview to evil people a violation of integrity. I don't think I owe evil people the truth.

BTW, I would also lie to Nazi soldiers about having Jews in my basement.

 

[John832]

To correctly answer the question, more specifics would be necessary.

1) If the question was related to a label (i.e. Christian) I would have no problem saying no because that label is not clearly defined (even within Christian circles). Case in point, supposedly "Christians" decided this election but I am hardly in agreement with their decision (based on moral grounds). Some propose that "Christian good" is defeating some generic "evil" in this war on Terror. That is not my "Christian" ethic or theology. Therefore, it is entirely possible the label "Christian" was intended to mean something different to me and the person threatening me.

2) If they were more specific and were demanding that I declare that Jesus was not God, I would have a difficult choice to make. Do I lie for the sake of saving my life and therefore sin by lying or perhaps choose to stay silent and let what happens after happen? I would like to say I would stay silent but certainly would be tempted to lie because my heart is not truly proclaimed by my words and I would hope for God's grace in understanding this. Also, my "sin" of lying has little consequence other than disappointment on God's behalf since my sins were already paid for. I tend to believe that the unforgivable sin (blasphemy of the Holy Spirit) is a condition of the heart more than the spoken word (it can't not be committed by coercion or by mistake).

If however, the threat involved a more public or certainly permanent proclamation (i.e. taking a mark which denotes denial of God's authority and allegiance to another entity) I would not and would absolutely accept death.

3) If the question is purely, 'would you die for your faith', there is another interesting thought to me. Because of my faith (and I am not projecting the need for anyone else to agree with me as a position of “rightness” or judging anyone for acting differently) I would not choose to kill another human being. If I was drafted for instance, and it was ‘kill or be killed’, I would be killed so as not to break a key component of my faith. I am not a coward (i.e. I would accept death), but I would not kill either. I will concede that I can not know what my response would be in that situation since I have never been placed there. In theory, since this is a theoretical question, that is how I would hope to respond.

Good topic.

 

[coyoteBR]

I would die to save another person. no other reason is worth Dying, as I see it.

 

[fluffy_rainbow]

Would be willing to die for your faith?

That is really a difficult question to answer. I want to be able to say with absolute certainty, no hesitation, "YES! I would die for Jesus Christ!" But the human side of me wants to think, wow, my family should would be hurt. As close as I am to Jesus Christ, I don't think I could deny Him if someone asked me to. That would be like someone pointing a gun at my head and demanding, "Is that your father? If you say yes, I'll kill you!" I couldn't deny my earthly father anymore than I could deny my Heavnly Father.

 

[ClementofRome]

I think what we might have in the US anyway, is the Cassie Bernall syndrome. When she was killed at Columbine HS for refusing to deny her belief in God (Christ, or whatever was the case...I am pretty sure that her exact words have become urban legand at this point), this was touted by the Christian press as the ultimate sacrifice...being right up there with Jesus.

Now, I am a Christian and very unapologetic about it. However, the situation, as stated above by someone, certainly dictates my answer. I am married and have 2 children, and I am convinced that if someone points a gun at my head and tells me to deny Jesus or die.....I think that the old adage applies, "God helps those who help themselves." Can't imagine that God would want me dead and to not be there for my children as some means of testing my faith. In fact, the Bible states that we will not be tested beyond what we are able to bear.

 

[SquareC]

No, but I'm sure that there are plenty that would want me to die because of my faith.

And we (pagans) are pretty used to living with our faith in hiding because of that, too.

No, I would not die for my faith in that scenario. I can lie if need be, although I prefer not to.

 

[Ledifni]

Dying's easy. Question is, are you willing to kill for your faith.

Men who were willing to kill for their faith have been the source of most of the terrible atrocities mankind has endured. I cannot recall one good thing in history that came about through men who killed for their faith. Not one. I truly hope that very few people here will answer your question with a "yes."