topic Re: I Don't Understand Something in Community Chat

I Don't Understand Something

Plaid Pants2 — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:31:53 GMT

First off, prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the nine who died yesterday.

But, it has been reported that the shooter first asked the victims if they were Christian, to stand up.

Here's what I don't understand.

You see a mad man, pointing a gun at you, and he askes if you are a Christian.

Why would you stand up?

I'm not one, but if I were, I would be like, "Nope. Nope. Not a Christian."

I'd do it just to save my own life.

Now, please don't misunderstand me, I am in no way, shape or form, blaming the victims. I am NOT. It's beyond awful what happened to them, and they certainly did not deserve that.

But, as I said, I just don't understand why, when faced with the possibility of death, you would admit to something.

Why not lie, and live?

Re: I Don't Understand Something

CrazyDaisy — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:33:53 GMT

They did not know why he was asking. For all they knew he was going to kill the non-christian.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

Moonchilde — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:34:46 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
First off, prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the nine who died yesterday.

But, it has been reported that the shooter first asked the victims if they were Christian, to stand up.

Here's what I don't understand.

You see a mad man, pointing a gun at you, and he askes if you are a Christian.

Why would you stand up?

I'm not one, but if I were, I would be like, "Nope. Nope. Not a Christian."

I'd do it just to save my own life.

Now, please don't misunderstand me, I am in no way, shape or form, blaming the victims. I am NOT. It's beyond awful what happened to them, and they certainly did not deserve that.

But, as I said, I just don't understand why, when faced with the possibility of death, you would admit to something.

Why not lie, and live?

We NOW know the "right" answer for the shooter was to say "not", but the first few people would not have known what answer would save their lives. For all they knew, if they said yes it would save them.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:44:34 GMT

Is there a possibility that the Christians felt that stating they were not Christians would be a denouncement of their faith?

Re: I Don't Understand Something

sailor_moon — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:45:28 GMT

They may have stood up because even if,they knew,they were facing their own death, they would never deny their faith.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

151949 — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:48:56 GMT

Christians have been dying for their faith for 2015 years. Nothing new there. and Jesus said - he who would deny me to his brothers then I will deny them in front of the Father.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

onewhiteSparrow — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:49:13 GMT

He ask what religion they followed. He didn't point out one kind only.

Later he started to shoot everyone. No matter what religion or even non religion.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

depglass — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:51:12 GMT

Bible stories not withstanding, I think Jesus would be fine if you lied to save your life. Really.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

MomCat — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:53:53 GMT

Maybe it's just me, but I find it sad seeing a post like this.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

JustJazzmom — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:55:27 GMT

@depglass wrote:
Bible stories not withstanding, I think Jesus would be fine if you lied to save your life. Really.

I agree; after all, one of his disciples did and he now is at the very gate of Heaven himself.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

cater — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 23:56:07 GMT

From what I was told today if you said you were a christian he shot some of them in their heads. I your answer was no he shot them in their legs. My whole heart and thoughts are once again with all the family's and the ones who are in the hospital.I pray that some day they will be able to heal from what a terrible horrible event they were forced to be part of.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

jubilant — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:02:36 GMT

@151949 wrote:
Christians have been dying for their faith for 2015 years. Nothing new there. and Jesus said - he who would deny me to his brothers then I will deny them in front of the Father.

Jesus does say this. He did forgive Peter when Peter denied knowing him three times before the ****** crowed (Which Jesus predicted he would) Peter was sorry and deeply regretted it. Jesus accepted that. He understood his fear and forgave him.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

Q4u — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:15:06 GMT

First off, prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the nine who died yesterday.

But, it has been reported that the shooter first asked the victims if they were Christian, to stand up.

Here's what I don't understand.

You see a mad man, pointing a gun at you, and he askes if you are a Christian.

Why would you stand up?

I'm not one, but if I were, I would be like, "Nope. Nope. Not a Christian."

I'd do it just to save my own life.

Now, please don't misunderstand me, I am in no way, shape or form, blaming the victims. I am NOT. It's beyond awful what happened to them, and they certainly did not deserve that.

But, as I said, I just don't understand why, when faced with the possibility of death, you would admit to something.

Why not lie, and live?

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Actually I thought the same thing.... but in retrospect, we've had time to analyze their situation, somelthing they didn't have. No one knew why he was asking and as it turned out if you were Christian he shot the head, if not, he shot the legs.

But there was a hero at that school, and it was Chris Mintz. And more needs to be said about him.....

(CNN)When Chris Mintz heard gunfire at Oregon's Umpqua Community College on Thursday, his thoughts were not of himself.

Instead, he thought first of protecting others. Then he thought of his 6-year-old son, Tyrik.

Nine people were killed when a gunman opened fire at the College on Thursday. Nine others were injured.

Oregon shooting hero Chris Mintz

When the shooting broke out, Mintz, 30, a military veteran and a former high school football player in Randleman, North Carolina, tried to save the lives of others.

"Tries to block the door to keep the gunman from coming in," his aunt, Wanda Mintz, told Fox 8, a CNN affiliate in High Point, North Carolina.

"Gets shot three times," his aunt said. "Hits the floor."

"Looks up at the gunman and says, 'It's my son's birthday today,' " his aunt said.

Still, there was no mercy. The gunman shot Mintz again. It's not yet clear exactly how many more times, but both his legs are broken, said family members who talked to him by phone on his way into surgery.

"He's going to have to learn to walk again," Ariana Earnhardt, his cousin, told Fox 8. "But he walked away with his life, and that's more than so many other people did."

Frantic students hid behind backpacks, chairs

Some on social media hailed Mintz's courage and encouraged people to remember him rather than the killer.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/02/us/oregon-school-shooting-hero/

Re: I Don't Understand Something

Marp — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:17:13 GMT

@MomCat wrote:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it sad seeing a post like this.

Why?

If OP asked the question with a sincere interest then IMO there is no reason to be sad as s/he is seeking knowledge and understanding. Which, again IMO, is a good thing.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

dmod nj — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:19:07 GMT

Hi PlaidPants.

I think CrazyDaisy and others brought up some good points. I thought the same thing you did, until I heard some updates recently.

I would hope everyone would say whatever they had to say, to save themselves, if that was possible.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

onewhiteSparrow — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:20:42 GMT

Look at history ....as far back as 2,500 B.C. killings and wars was about religions. And it still continues to this day around the world.

Make you think if this planet had no religion would earth get closer to peace on earth?

Re: I Don't Understand Something

jubilant — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:47:18 GMT

@dmod nj wrote:
Hi PlaidPants.

I think CrazyDaisy and others brought up some good points. I thought the same thing you did, until I heard some updates recently.

I would hope everyone would say whatever they had to say, to save themselves, if that was possible.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,People have been dying for causes for a long time. Soldiers die for their country for example...or a mother for her child. In all honesty I don't think these people knew what would happen. I would like to hope I had the courage to die for something I really believed in... but do we really know until we are in that situation what we would do? I don't think so....not if it came upon you so fast.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

GingerPeach — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 00:50:54 GMT

It doesn't seem to me that these people died for a cause of their choosing. They didn't die for a cause at all.

So even if they knew they would be killed for admitting their faith (and I'm not saying that is what happened), how would that benefit them, or their families, or anyone?

It seems to me trying to stay alive by fooling a deranged gunman would be the optimum for continuing on their own good paths and continuing to be around for their family, friends, community, and more. And to continue to practice their faith.

Do we even know of any faiths that would condone, much less demand, that someone die just because some individual took this type of action?

Re: I Don't Understand Something

spent2much — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 01:01:23 GMT

If I were in that situation, I would *hope* that I would not deny my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. But Peter did, and I'm no better than he.

I do find, though, the older I get, the more I look forward to an eternity in Heaven... not because I deserve it but because God offers that free gift of salvation to ALL, and I have claimed it.

Re: I Don't Understand Something

Oostende — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 01:19:51 GMT

I guess they could have lied and cowered and saved their skins. Instead, they died as they lived. They died in Christ.

I am struck by their courage. And their faith.