January 27, 2008 |
Volume XXVII - Number 4 |
Could You Stand Up for Jesus?
Mark Ray
The incident mentioned in this article occurred in the summer of 2006. The article confronts us with a very thought- provoking situation and raises a soul-searching question.
John Pigg, preacher for the Lake Harbour church of Christ in Ridgeland (formerly the South Madison congregation), related the case of the Fox News journalist Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig who had been held hostage in the Gaza Strip. To win their release after several weeks, they had to agree to pay a large ransom, make an anti-American video and agree to publicly convert to Islam.
In following interviews, Centanni and his cameraman have both made clear the fact that to them, converting to Islam was not a big deal since they did not happen to be all that religious anyway. But this got me to thinking . . . What would I do in that situation? If someone held a knife to my throat and told me to confess Allah as the only true god, what would I do in order to be free again?
How strong is the temptation to see my home once again, to hold my children once again in my lap, even to take an additional breath? Is my belief in God strong enough, true enough, zealous enough to even give my life for Christ's sake? Many I have asked about this situation have told me they would openly deny Christ because of their fear. Others have rationalized the situation and said, "I would just repent when I got home." But Christ demands our faithfulness even to the point of death, Revelation 2:10. Christ said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33.
What would you do?
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Ladies' Work Group It's A Girl
Please help out as much as possible. FSOP Lectureship Book Wednesday Devo
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TODAY'S SERMONS
AM:"Must We Sin? " PM: FSOP Sudent Preacher PRAYER LIST
James Huggins, Gladys Wagner, Wanda Greene, Frances Kidwell, Gaylon West, Zach Mathis, Cindy Chambers, Luther Pendergrass, Steve & Gloria Jones, Wilda Cox, Brian Green, Pete Peeples, Pansy Sims, Brice Oliver, Gina Dupree – Shut Ins – Ken Skinner, Robert Cox, Frances Black, Jason Powell, Mattie Hughs – In The Nursing Homes – Robert Pearson (Tandem) |
The annual Cupid's Café fellowship meal (usually held on the Sunday evening before Valentine's Day) will be held this year on the last Sunday in February (24th). Cupid's Café is where the men prepare and serve a meal for the ladies.