A Martyr's Death Puts Faith Into Perspective
Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010
by Aaron Taylor
Aaron Taylor
Fatu was 25 years old when her father and his two sons burned her to death. Her crime was converting to Christianity in a Muslim land. When Fatu's father first discovered that his daughter had become a Christian - in order to save face - he married Fatu off to a local imam. The imam believed that Fatu had been bewitched by Christian "sorcery" and that he could "heal" her. His way of "healing" her was to torture her for two weeks, force her to recite the Quran, while blaspheming Jesus to her face. Her testimony remained firm as she continued to say to her husband, "Jesus is my Savior. In Him only I believe. He is the way and the truth."
When I came across this story, it definitely put some things in perspective for me. For the past few years I've cautiously become more and more identified with the progressive faith community, often finding myself caught between the two worlds of "progressive" and "evangelical." The "progressive" side of me sees some serious flaws with the fundamentalist approach to Scripture, wants to promote peace and tolerance between Christians and Muslims, and is troubled by the militant nature of right wing Christianity, especially in America. The "evangelical" side of me clings ferociously to the truth that it's through Christ's crucifixion and resurrection that sinners are saved, and every believer is mandated to share this gospel through their life and witness.
If you'll humor me for a moment, I'll let you listen in on "evangelical" Aaron giving a lecture to "progressive" Aaron.
Progressive Aaron. I know that you don't want to perpetuate negative stereotypes against Muslims. I know how you've seen these stereotypes abused by right wing preachers that use stories like these to promote hatred and mindless war-mongering. But you out of all people should know that this isn't an isolated incident, rather it's the norm of what happens when Muslims go public with their faith in Christ.Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Have mercy on me, a sinner!
I also know that you're struggling to formulate a more inclusive theology that doesn't divide the world between us' versus them' precisely because you've studied Church history and seen the nasty fruit of where that thinking leads. But please, please don't forget that there are people around the world that are suffering and dying for their faith, and the reason why they're willing to suffer is because they're seeking a homeland that's not of this world. While you may sit in your air-conditioned office and wonder if fundamentalists have misinterpreted I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me', people are dying in horrific ways with this testimony on their lips. If you abandon them, you've abandoned a part of yourself.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)You're coming around Aaron. Proselytizing is narcissistic and controlling, not anyway near what it is portrayed it to be. Christians, Jews and Muslims are all violent, and have been at each others' throats for centuries. Aggressive Christians, fundamentalists, have been the cause of more deaths as a result of religious wars than any other religion. Practice your faith and leave other alone. They will find their way without your "help." Maybe even a much better way where they actually know how to love and accept their neighbors as they are, rather than looking upon them as merely fodder for Christian dogma and conversion :)
What a terrible story, leaves me speechless. For what it's worth, I'd say that anything which promotes tolerance has more value in it that that which promotes judgmentalism and militancy.
All you below need to get real and wake up. Aaron, keep it up, I just wish I had what you have and the obvious strength you have. Jesus was an outlaw and a radical Jew, who called on people to turn away from the religious standards of the day and toward GOD. Emulate Jesus and do GOD's work. That's it. While we all sit around and wait for the Muslims to become tolerant they will KILL YOU and everything you love. Is war between the religions coming. I hope not. But if it does I know what side i'm on. Tell me what address can I send you money to continue to bring these so called religious people out of their ignorance and to Jesus Christ.What a perfect example of religious stupidity. Keep it up. Can I send money to you to keep up the stupidity for all to see? Wow, no wonder America had gone downhill since the Christian right has tried to take over. I'm beginning to understand why Christians are hated so much all over the world, and why Christians, in the name of their God have killed more people than any other religion. Talk about conceit! Talk about brain washing! Talk about stupidity! There is no hope for you my friend, you must continue to live in your self made hell of anger and darkness.Amen to that. To the guy who said the MUSLIMS WILL KILL US, he missed the message of this article by a mile. I can appreciate Aaron's dilemma, but I'm pretty sure the message is not "fight fire with fire; meet hate with different hate."Thank you Anonymous. I hope you don't mean that you would fight in a religious war against Muslims. If you would like to support my ministry, you can send a check to:Great Commission SocietyP.O. Box 400Arnold, Mo 63010
Aaron. You are not replying to your readers comments.I usually stay out of the conversation, unless there's a compelling reason for me to chime in.The compelling reason is courtesy to your readers.
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