This morning we began our study of the book of Acts and I spoke about the resurrection of Christ. Luke explains that Jesus gave "many convincing proofs" that He was raised to life after His death and burial. One of the many proofs that we have that Jesus is alive is the eyewitness testimony of each of the apostles that died for their faith in the resurrected Jesus.
The fact that these men would die for their belief in the resurrected Christ is significant to me. I made the statement that I believe that people will lie to live, but will not die for a lie. There are plenty of people that would lie to save their lives. But no one would die to save a lie.
The apostles knew that Jesus was alive and they died for that belief.
After the service today, someone asked me about terrorists. She asked, "Don't terrorists die for a lie?" That is a good question. And the answer is of course yes. But there is a difference in the death they die. They die the death of suicide assassins. They die this death because they believed something that was told to them.
The apostles died not because they believed something they were taught since childhood. These men died because they were perpetuating a claim. They died believing and spreading something they had seen and were responsible for others having their lives shaped by their teaching. If their faith claim about Christ was a lie, they would have simply denied it and lived. It is not a lie. Jesus is alive and the apostles chose to die and live with Jesus in heaven rather than live on earth lying about their Lord.
That's my take on the difference between terrorists and the apostles. What is yours?
2 comments:
Wouldn't one major difference between the two also be the way they die for their beliefs? The apostles faced a lifetime of persecution, and over and over again they stood for Jesus and His teachings. At their death, they faced it with love and forgiveness for those trying to end their lives - a terrorist hopes to kill others in the name of his god, conversion through intimidation.
Thank you, Jason. I appreciate your further explanation, and there is ABSOLUTELY a huge difference and distinction between the two and your comment now makes perfect sense. Of course it does as it was based on biblical principals. :)
I appreciate Jeep-n-pink's response and insight as well.
It was great to be reminded of these truths in such a beautiful way.
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