Posted on 05/31/2004 9:00:49 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, May 31 (Reuters) - A Christian Arab who was held captive by al Qaeda militants in Saudi Arabia said on Monday he lied to them about his faith and praised their battle against the West, to save his life.
Nizar Hajazeen, a Jordanian software businessmen who was at the Tower hotel in the Oasis compound during the 25-hour drama in Khobar, said the militants lectured him about Islam and their aim to liberate Saudi Arabia from "infidels and crusaders".
The complex where the militants held about 50 foreigners -- including some Westerners -- was their last target in the violence in the eastern Saudi oil city in which they killed at least 22 people.
Hajazeen, 32, had tried to call a cab to go to work on Saturday but the phone lines were jumbled.
"I went down and the Filipino receptionist told me there were terrorists in the compound and gunshots were heard," he told Reuters.
He tried to help security guards close the hotel entrance gate but the lock did not work and a manager recommended he hide, Hajazeen said.
"I went to the room of a Jordanian colleague. Someone banged violently on the door. We opened and there were two men, one with a machinegun, another with a revolver. They were wearing black track suits," he said, adding that one had a wounded arm.
Both were in their twenties.
"They asked us if we were Arab or Westerners. We told them: 'We're Arab'.
"One then asked if I was a Christian or a Muslim. I told him we were Muslims and showed him my colleague's Koran as proof. I told him we supported them and that we were against America and Europe. I had to say that."
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
Residents of the compound said the attackers asked everyone they encountered if they were Muslim or Christian, before taking them hostage or killing them.
An Oasis manager said the gunmen shot and killed several Westerners as soon as they entered the complex.
The gunmen made two Indian hotel staff with master keys show them where the Westerners were, Hajazeen said.
His brother called him on his mobile phone to wish him a happy birthday -- a day late -- just as the militants were saying their motive was to drive Americans and Christians from their country.
"They asked me to turn off my mobile but did not take it away as they did with others," Hajazeen said, adding that they told him and his colleague to stay in the room and left.
"We stayed locked in our room. One of us was hiding in the shower, another one was hiding in the bathtub," Hajazeen said, adding that from time to time they sneaked back into the bedroom to watch the news on television.
He said that before commandos freed them on Sunday, compound security guards called his mobile to ask him to check if the militants had rigged his floor with explosives. He found nothing.
"Before the commandos came, there was heavy gunfire and one explosion shook the hotel. We could hear glass being smashed, screams... It sounded like someone was giving out orders."
Saudi security forces later called them out, saying: "Do not be scared."
Making his way to freedom he saw the bodies of four Indians and an Italian cook.
"They had been shot dead. Some were on the staircases."
I suspect that he's merely an "ethnic Christian"; i.e. the decendent of Christians. The title is thus deceptive.
Peter denied Jesus before he was filled with the Holy Spirit and before he was saved. He was then restored by Jesus on the beach after the resurrection.
A girl at Columbine refused to denounce her faith and was murdered. Of course, chances are even if she did denounce her faith they would have shot her anyway.
...and she is now absent from her body and present with the Lord.
"This is a very tough question: is it ok to deny your faith to save your life? How "bad" of a lie is this? Is it worse because you're sort of "reverse witnessing" or would it be worse to die and not be able to live and witness to more people?"
Others have answered the question above with this scripture: "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33
I would add: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
I would question this person's true "salvation" or commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. He loved this life enough to save it, instead of hating this life to save the eternal one. Jesus said about those that remain faithful unto death, to them will He give the crown of life. This man did not remain faithful unto death. As for witnessing, lying to save your life to witness again is no witness at all. The "witness" would have been to the terrorists themselves to "remain faithful unto death".
But, what do I know?
I know Paul. I've worked with Paul. Paul is a friend of mine. You're no ....... You're correct insofar as the argument concerning circumcision. But we can't yet claim the stature of Paul for ourselves.
My thoughts exactly!
LOL. Point is, sometimes the truth doesn't sound pretty.
"Suicide is making a decision to die when you don't have to. "Don't have to" means there's no point to be made by your death. Everyone that will, or would be swayed about this already knows the bad guys are killers."
"God doesn't think this guy let him down in the least bit. In fact He is happy to see him alive, so is his family and so am I. Any Christian worth the salt Jesus spoke about also thinks it's good that he is and are happy to see him alive."
You'll never be wrong because you make up the rules as you go. Above you redefined suicide. Suicide IS KILLING YOURSELF FOLLOWING A DESIRE TO DIE. Sorry, but that's it.
You also know the mind of God: "God doesn't think this guy let him down in the least bit. In fact He is happy to see him alive,..." Could you maybe tell me what He feels about me at the present moment? On second thought--never mind! You also limit the good Christian to a definition of your own makeing. As I said such a man can never be wrong, in fact such a man can never get between a rock and a hard place, as he can just re-define a rock and the word hard.
There IS point to be made by a death in the situation under discussion and God would honor it. God defined it again and again in the Bible. It is the ultimate act of Faith in Almighty God. A man MAY get into Heaven even if he caves as this poor soul did (and Peter did for that matter) but a man who DOESN'T cave WILL get into heaven.
Christ is still alive, in heaven and interceding for us, so if this fellow has true saving faith, his sins are forgiven. All of them. I think the verse in question refers to a lifetime of denying Christ's ministry: the forgiveness of sins through his death and resurrection. It's clear that this fellow didn't lie because he wanted to lead a life of sin, or to bring Christ's name in disrepute.
Having said that, the better decision would have been to proclaim his Christian faith. But if he is truly saved, his sins will be forgiven and his place in eternity is secure. Peter, after all, denied the Lord three times. But he returned and received forgiveness.
You're thinking real hard there aren't you. First he's not a liar, because he was under extreme duress. Second he was speaking to satan in his native tongue, dealing out the rubbish he so deserves. He lives and that makes God happy and satan disappointed. Neither God, nor any that love him see this man's actions as a sin, they see it as triumph over satan and a bunch of his vicious clowns.
It is your duty to escape and screw the enemy were ever you can and this man did a good job of it. He is neither prophet, nor preist, but he denied them the best way he knew how.
I do know that had htis man died there would be no witness and you would never check to see if this man was a christian that dies professing his faith. You would never go out of your way to check to see if he had a family that you could take care of. See folks over there put up with this crap all the time and if they didn't keep to themselves, they'd be killed.
So when we say "I believe in Jesus Christ..." it only needs to be said when it's very easy to say it? Is Christianity just for the easy times?
Oh yes, folks, I'm fully aware that Christianity is already very much under siege. What I'm predicting within 20 years is something much more severe:
I think churches will be forced to either give up tax-exempt status or stop preaching against homosexuality or other sins that may be in vogue at the time.
They may be forbade from preaching against those issues outright.
I think churches and Christian organizations will be regular targets of harrassment through government investigations.
I think Christianity will by and large be referred to as a hate group.
Yes, it's already under way without a doubt; there are plenty of anti-Christians right here on FR. I'm just saying it's gonna get WAY worse.
MM
None of us can say with any certainty what God lead that man to do and say, moment by moment. He's God's servant and it would be audacious of us to criticize God's servant.
IMO.
Other than the fact that most politicians are also lawyers . . . .
For what purpose would he do that? Keep in mind that both God and satan know what is in his heart. Would satan's vicious clowns be swayed? Would the anyone else even know it took place? This is not open court and the rest of those present are dead.
Of course that's just how the former Commander-in-Chief figured when it was his time to serve in the military and he took the coward's way out -- he figured there was a better purpose for him --- not fighting for his country. God will judge him as he pleases but probably Faith is just as well off without it's cowards.
You are correct. I did not say "hold off on saying anything."
Semantics. He didn't have to die.
"You also know the mind of God:"
You were told, seek and you will find.
"... such a man can never be wrong, in fact such a man can never get between a rock and a hard place, as he can just re-define a rock and the word hard.
The truth is unique and unchangable. Never stop seeking the truth, be honest and look to see what it is and never allow someone else to define it for you w/o question. God said, Matt 19:14Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Little children always ask why. If you ask, God will tell you. That's what He promised. Now ask, what would be gained by this man telling satan's vicious children that he was a Christian? What's the point?
The 'toon's just that, a 'toon.
Can you answer the question?
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