Christian woman faces death for blasphemy

An incident occurred at the well
when a group of Muslim women
called her names and insulted her
faith. Instead of responding with
grace, love, and truth she decided
to call them names and insult their
god!! Childish; but in Muslim
lands you can be put to death for
this!!

Brother sojourner,
In the news articles that I have read, she did not say anything against Muhammad. One man accused her of this.

My point was her response should
have been more in the Spirit of
Christ !!

We need to pray for the persecuted.

I know many people in islamic countries who say the persecution has greatly increased in the past few months. They are burning churches and the government is putting many peaceful protestors in jail.

There is great deal of lies and misinformation that goes on in these cases.

If she was asked if she believed Mohammad was sent from God and she said no, that would be considered blasphemy,and insult.

If she was asked if she believed Mohammad was sent from God and she said no, that would be considered blasphemy,and insult.

yup! So don't judge soujourner, you weren't there! :))

I love how Greg put this in the Devotional Thoughts section, whether purposeful or not.

I'm not judging. I simply said
her response to insults could
have been more Christ-like!
see 1 PETER 2 vs23

I want to remind readers on SI of what is written in Word that you become like that which you worship. The Allah of Islam teaches his followers to be liars to get what they want. I have experienced this in my own interactions with Muslims. We are facing the very issue of lying right here on SI in days where Krispy (Steve) is demonstrating the Truth by coming clean about his deception. If we sweep what he did under the carpet, we are acting no better than Muslims whose god has taught them to lie to us. I have seen my Muslim friend turn against me in a moment to protect his honor before men.

Do you know why God Almighty has to swear by an oath? It is because the Scriptures say, "Let God be true and every man a liar." It is because of us, we as men are liars without the Life that comes by the Holy Spirit. Do you misrepresent yourself and God? Do you let people think that the revelation on Scripture that you share is out of your own skull when it was from God? Or do you let people praise you for the changes God has wrought in your character? Do you take the glory of God on yourself? Do you give God the glory for providing your needs? How about thanking Him for the strippings and trials that change your character to be more Christ-like?

Sojourner7,

Some reports have it she insulted them back while others never mentioned it, instead it went very different. We have no idea which one is the truth.

Even if it turns out she insulted them back, is it right to pick on her (by saying what you did) at this point in time when what she and her family need is prayer. Where's your compassion. Would you dare to tell her family to their face what you've written here. Would it show Christ in you for you to say such things to them at this point in time or even to write this remark here. I very much doubt it. What if we reverse it and its yourself and your family in their place and a Christian make such a remark.

How did Jesus treat the woman that was going to be stonned for adultery in John 8. He showed compassion and asked her to sin no more. He wasn't acting Pharisee like by pointing to the law which called for stoning.

I don't think Islam teaches Muslims to lie. If their followers lie, its because of their ownselves.

In the bible, you will find Christians lieing. Abraham lied twice, Jacob pretented to be Esau, Rahab lied and others also but God did not ask them to lie.

We wouldn't like it if others were to then say that the Christian God asked His followers to lie, would we. They would have a greater 'proof' to substantiate their claims, after all these people were God's chosen people and you don't find God rebuking Abraham, Rahab etc for their lies. In fact, God protected Abraham and so on.

Just as a Muslim friend can turn against you, so can a Christian turn against their own kind. Pick up Andrew's God's Smuggler book, you will find a pastor there that underwent torture (his fingernails were pulled away from his hands) and still served the church. He did help Brother Andrew some (not fully because of the terrible suffering he went through), but later he did provide some info. to the government. God told Brother Andrew to tell him that he forgive this brother.

(a bit off topic: Most of us have not undergone the kind of suffering that these people did. If we were to go through it, I wouldn't be surprise if most of us end up faring worse than what these people did. )

No, we shouldn't sweep a lie under the carpet nor be stepping over one another in 'congratulating' a person for admitting that he lied. Just forgive and move on.

Compassion is in a Christ-like
attitude and response. I pray
for this woman, for GOD is just,
and Jesus will be her Advocate!!
If she had been more Christ-like,
maybe she would have avoided jail
and a sentence of death!! As
believers, we need to examine our
actions, are they in the Spirit
of the LORD or not??

Sojourner7,

You have not shown compassion the way Jesus did. Rather you are acting pretty legalistic.

Maybe she would have avoided jail/death sentence if her words were better (and we don't even know the true story although you seemed determined to believe that she said those words), so what. If we were to be dealt with every time we were less than Christ-like, we pretty much would be living very miserable lives. Why don't you deal with everyone of us everytime we write badly in this forum. You will be extremely busy.

God is extremely gracious and he gives us many chances to grow into His image. We don't grow into His image immediately and there are times we falter badly. God does chastise us but he knows when to use compassion and when to use harsher method. Matthew 12:20 (A bruised reed he does not break).

We all must examine our actions, whether we are in the Spirit or not, but it doesn't mean that every time we make a mistake, that is--the punishment has to be harsh/meet the crime or remarks like yours are made. As I said earlier, we would be extemely miserable if God is as harsh as you. Look to your own life, and see how gracious God has been.

I don't think there's anywhere in the bible where Jesus treated a suffering Christian and/or his family the way you are treating her.

Prayer is good. But your heart is not right.

If she had been more Christ-like, maybe she would have avoided jail and a sentence of death!! As believers, we need to examine our actions, are they in the Spirit of the LORD or not??

Not trying to point you out here Sojourner, but I do not think that "trying to avoid going to jail" is her intent here. Otherwise she probably would have said nothing. Perhaps she really felt the Spirit of God pressing on her to open her mouth? Perhaps someone will get saved at the risk of her going to jail!! Wouldn't that be a Praise the Lord? :)

Perhaps she could have done things "differently" but NONE of us will be perfect until we see Christ. I am sure she learned out of the experience.

We prayed for her at the AFG prayer meeting last night. There were many tears with this prayer for this young mother. They did not say what she did or said, just that she was one of us, a believer in Christ. Please continue to pray for her. They asked us to also pray for the law so that others will not so easily be accused. If she is found guilty she will die and if she is let go they will kill her anyway.

But all things are possible with God.

The young man sharing could hardly speak. He was choked up. He was told there was the daughter crying and holding on to her mother and a man who was also crying. But he was crying because he was happy to see the law being fulfilled. Let's pray for both. This man needs his eyes opened to the love of Jesus and His tears turned to the joy of the Lord and compassion. Be glorified here Lord Jesus.