Miriam,
Let's get back to Miriam's question...I would like to know the church's teachings on this matter. How does it differenciate between honest faith, zealotness and fanaticism? What does it say about martyrdom?
As I matured and grew to "know" myself I realized that maybe I was not so sure of the death part.
This is a wise statement to make. I have come to realize that it is not within our strength to die for our faith, but that God gives us the strength, if He so wills it. I also have wondered if I could endure. That's why the saints taught that we should pray to God to give us the strength to endure any hardships, because we should never feel that we are sure about it...that comes from pride.
If the path of martyrdom was so easy then the way to heaven would be littered with literally millions of souls. Yet there are not that many who have been given this crown, even in our times.
So true.
Your description of the priest and his so-called martyr-complex is right on the ball. His remark DOES reflect a fanatical suicide attempt. There is a fine line between martyrdom and suicide. I don't know of any description of a martyr's death that consisted of suicide. All the martyrs I've read of were being persecuted and witnessing to their faith against those haters of truth who were trying to get them to deny it. They had to deny it until they had to be killed.
A burning church is a tragedy, I know, mine burnt down, but to run in and drag your wife and children in and die is totally fanatic.
The defense of our faith comes in building strong walls of faith that evil cannot breach. It lies in fulfilling the commandments of God. It lies in having the love of Christ in your heart. Sowing discord, hatred and "holier than thou" righteousness will not achieve a defense, it only provides the evil one a door through to your soul.
Again...so true. I know what you mean about "defence of our faith". Although, George was being nit-picky about your wording, I can see what you meant. Of course, God doesn't need defence, but I felt that you meant it more about what we believe. When we are attacked, we obviously try to defend ourselves, and in this case, it is about our faith.
Miriam, from what I've learnt from the readings of saints' lives is that the intention of the person to die must not be due to pride.
There is the story of the women in Greece who jumped off a cliff so the Turks wouldn't get them, back during the occupation. The Greeks even wrote a song about that. But, that is a national heroism. I had asked the same question as you have. To me, these women committed suicide, but they are considered national heros. But, I don't see them commemorated in the church. If I'm wrong, please, someone, let me know.
Suicide is considered THE MOST unforgivable sin. One, because we take our own lives which is a gift of God. It's like saying: " Well, I believe I should die today". It's a decision that we believe is above God's...that's blasphemy, since God gave us our lives in the first place. As the devil believes his decisions are superior to God's. The devil drives people to that point, which shows the force behind the action...and then he has our souls. Because we did the devil's will, not God's.
Two, taking someone else's life is less of a sin because we can repent from it and still be obsolved by holy confession. But, if we take our own lives...we have no chance to repent because repentence is based on us still being alive, in the flesh, to receive the absolution. Once we die, we go straight to our personal judgement.
The devil is excellent in mind games.
I would like to know the church's teachings on this matter. How does it differenciate between honest faith, zealotness and fanaticism? What does it say about martyrdom?
The judgement of these differences is based on the individual's motif. If he did it out of fanaticism or honest faith... we will come to see it. The priest you refer to was just speculating. Maybe he was feeling very high on some spiritual reading...but don't put much thought into it. He was just talking. The moment of truth will determine the action of this man.
Let me offer you this one last thought...a martyr is put in a position where he/she has to witness his/her faith or die. That is a true martyr.
In Christ,
Joasia
