TENACITY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
"I don’t want to die…I want to live…my life is important to me". These were the words of the kidnapped Korean man who was beheaded by muslims militants in Iraq. It was reported that he was a devout Christian. Were these the words of a devout Christian? Could it be defined that he was religious? A Christian with a real relationship with Jesus would not utter such words as he/she has no fear of death. Isn’t Christians suppose to die to themselves everyday so as not to be caught off guard in any drama that they do not want to play? The Korean man was forced to play in this drama and he does not know how to respond as a Christian. Are these words going to be echoed by many so called professed Christians in the future when they will be threatened by the greatest terrorist of the whole of human history - the Anti-Christ, the devil in human form. The tenacity of the Christian faith is to overcome every situation even to the point of death. Hope this episode will serve as a wake up call to the shallowness of the faith expressed by many Christians. If this Korean man had responded differently, there will be no video to show to the whole world on the fear of death. He could have seized the opportunity by saying to his captors…"if I have to die, I will die…but I will not put up a front to the whole world that I fear death….Jesus loves you". However, he played into the hands of the terrorist or rather into the hands of the devil who is the influence of all these acts of terror.
DOES IT MATTER?
The discovery of the supposedly burial cloth of Jesus - The Shroud of Turin - is not a big deal at all. If it is true, then it speaks about the death of Jesus and that's all! The big deal of the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus and that's the hope of all humanity. As it is written somewhere in NT that Christians are the most pitiful if Jesus has not risen from the dead. If there is an exhibition on The Shroud of Turin, don't bother as the Buddhists have their supposedly the "tooth" of Buddha!!!
COURAGE AND COWARDICE
It has been said that people who embraces the Christian faith are weaklings. When Jesus calls each one to deny oneself, take up the cross and follow him daily, He is providing a solution from being a weakling to a person of courage. Cowards are those who can't accept the call of Jesus.
