I just learned of the release of the two kidnapped reporters, Steven Centanni Olaf Wiig, in Gaza. We thank God for their release and safety. They reported that they were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint and they complied.

The implications of this are profound. A Christian who says any statement against Christ (be it coerced or not) has committed the sin of apostasy. “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Matt 10:33.

The Chronicles of the first 500 years of Christianity testify that this was the gravest sin known to man, far worse than sodomy, adultery, murder, etc. because it is a direct act of blasphemy against Christ. It is forgivable, but it is the worst sin because one denies the very channel and mode of forgiveness and salvation, that is Christ Himself.

But my worries are that most Western Christians see no problem with this. “Oh, they didn’t really mean it. They were a gunpoint!” All the early martyrs were at “gunpoint,” and they refused to speak against Christ, affirm the gods, or confess Caesar as “Lord.” St Paul could have “tricked” his persecutors and continued to evangelize the world by getting out of jail free if he had just said to Nero (if even he didn’t mean it in his heart), “Yeah, yeah, Nero. You are the Lord. I won’t be a Christian anymore.” But St Paul did not do this. He refused to act or speak against Christ and instead he bore his neck and allowed his head to be cut off for the glory of Christ. And his witness was magnified.

Everything we do matters. Every single thing and our witness to the world, our evangelism, depends on our steadfast testimony to Christ at all times in all places. If the Muslim sees that we are not willing to die for Christ they will not see that Christ is worth living for.