Standing 4 faith

Please watch the video above. This is an incredible story of Rifqa Bary. This young girl as you will see grew up in a Muslim family from the island of Sri Lanka. Recently she converted to Christianity. Because she has converted the Quran, states she must be killed. It is described as an honor killing.

Here is the verse from the Quran: Sura 4:89, “They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them.” (Bold emphasis by me)

The UN Population Fund reports that nearly 5,000 family members are killed by “honor” in the Islamic community each year worldwide.  

For years, this young girl hid her Bible, prayed while her father was asleep, and snuck out to Christian prayer meeting despite her fear of being caught by her family.

Her father eventually found out after finding her Facebook page. Members of the Muslim community called and sent e-mails to her father about his daughters’ new faith. It was then Bary decided she needed to run away to spare her life. She had befriended a minister and his wife in Florida through Facebook, who agreed to allow Bary to stay at their house.

This story made me begin to think of my own faith in Christ. Would I continue to follow Jesus if I knew there was a chance I could be killed by my own family? Or would I compromise? I think I would follow Christ, however, I know the temptation to follow my family would be strong. In Florida, they are currently debating whether or not she should go back and live with her father. My question to all those who read this post is what do you do when people question your faith.

Do you back down and wimp out when people talk badly about their creator and disagree with what you believe in. OR do the people you hang out with, your coworkers and classmates, even know your belief or faith.  

The Bible says in Revelations 21:8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Lets focus on the word coward, or as the dictionary defines, the fearful. The Bible says those that are scared of sharing their faith with those that are around them will be in the same Hell as the liars and the murders.  

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power (boldness) and of love and of a sound mind.

My goal for this blog was not to condemn but to encourage you to share your faith. If this girl can face her parents and her Muslim community, then how hard is it really to share your faith with those around you? Trust me; most of them will not kill you. But in the extreme case they do, you can die as a martyr.

NOTE: This ENTIRE story was written by me Brent Harris.