Does Anybody Here Truly Not Fear Death?

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1130458' date='Nov 29 2006, 02:26 AM']
Reminds me of Sojourner's old sig: "She knew she could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quickly."
[/quote]
yeah, I was thinking about that too. Seemed like about my speed.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1130457' date='Nov 29 2006, 12:26 AM']
Well, as long as God also directs the man to have life insurance then that's fine. I have never been comfortable with assuming God will take care of everything.
[/quote]
We needn't assume it, we may rest assured of it.

That isn't an invitation to presumption, but to confidence. Certainly, we must do everything we can to live for God before it is necessary to die for Him (I like the way St. Thomas More says it in "A Man for All Seasons").

[homeschoolmom]

[XIX]

I'm not afraid to die for Jesus as much as I'm afraid to live for Jesus.

[Sojourner]

[quote]"She could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quick"[/quote]

Yeah ... that statement is pretty much true of my take on martyrdom, and on my faith in general. Flannery O'Connor is a fricking genius when it comes to succinctly describing the state of my soul.

I do so much battle with fear and doubt and anxiety that I'm pretty sure sainthood is out for me. Maybe I could be the patron saint of those perpetually afraid of being hurt and taking risks.

My one hope at achieving any sort of special status in heaven is a quick martyrdom. I'm with toledo in the explosion thing ... as long as I didn't know about it for too long beforehand. If it were longer, God would have to seriously up the amount of grace I'd receive so I could persevere, because I don't have much natural holiness to carry me through.

[catholicinsd]

I think that if anyone desires death, even matyrdom, they should seek help.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Sojourner' post='1130478' date='Nov 29 2006, 12:43 AM']
Yeah ... that statement is pretty much true of my take on martyrdom, and on my faith in general. Flannery O'Connor is a fricking genius when it comes to succinctly describing the state of my soul.

I do so much battle with fear and doubt and anxiety that I'm pretty sure sainthood is out for me. Maybe I could be the patron saint of those perpetually afraid of being hurt and taking risks.

My one hope at achieving any sort of special status in heaven is a quick martyrdom. I'm with toledo in the explosion thing ... as long as I didn't know about it for too long beforehand. If it were longer, God would have to seriously up the amount of grace I'd receive so I could persevere, because I don't have much natural holiness to carry me through.
[/quote]
That's the thing...we have to trust in Him to provide the grace...and when we do that...all will be well.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1130485' date='Nov 28 2006, 10:51 PM']
That's the thing...we have to trust in Him to provide the grace...and when we do that...all will be well.
[/quote]
That is exactly true.

I just wish it were easier to implement stuff like that. Like the last several months, I've felt as though God threw me in the deep end of the pool with no swimming lessons or floaties. I've only recently started to figure out that if I just quit struggling so much, staying afloat is much easier. But overcoming that fear instinct to thrash about when you're afraid ... even the willingness to start doing that takes a bunch of grace.

I'm sure that relates to martyrdom somehow ...

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Sojourner' post='1130494' date='Nov 29 2006, 01:08 AM']
That is exactly true.

I just wish it were easier to implement stuff like that. Like the last several months, I've felt as though God threw me in the deep end of the pool with no swimming lessons or floaties. I've only recently started to figure out that if I just quit struggling so much, staying afloat is much easier. But overcoming that fear instinct to thrash about when you're afraid ... even the willingness to start doing that takes a bunch of grace.

I'm sure that relates to martyrdom somehow ...
[/quote]
It does relate to martyrdom.

First, I like the imagery of thrashing around to stay afloat. I've been having a very hard time spiritually here lately, too.

It relates to martyrdom because our thrashing results from our trying to keep ourselves afloat instead of letting Him keep us afloat. Human body fat accounts for some of the reason we float in water...and our breath accounts for the other part of the reason. In much the same way, we try to swing our arms around and do things our own way, reaching out to hold on to things we don't need and gasping for air instead of trusting that we'll have it...but if we trust in God and relax, we will find two things: (1) we were made to float (it's part of who we are, that is, it relates to bodyfat by analogy) and (2) God's Spirit fills us to keep us afloat.

Yes...I like that metaphor a lot.

Anyway, if we let go of the things we're trying to hold on to and trust in God to give us His spirit, I think we'll have much more confidence in Him.

[track2004]

I'm not really afraid to die, but not because I would die for the cause, just because I've watched Fight Club too many times and have adopted parts of Tyler's theory on life.

[MIKolbe]

I fear a spiritual death.. not a physical one.

[Resurrexi]

I fear death... a lot. It's one of the scariest concepts to me. I would, though, be willing to die the death of a martyr if I ever had to. If there was no-one (or One) you'd be willing to die for you must not love anyone (or One) very much.

[scardella]

To tell you the truth, yesterday morning, a bright and sunny morning if there ever was one, I found myself thinking, "I wish I would die, Lord." And I was more than half serious. The thought was simply that if I must die to reach heaven, I want to die as soon as the Lord allows. Isn't the glory of God worth more than any treasures we have on this earth?

Therese of Lisieux figured that out as a little kid. She's awesome.

[RandomProddy]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1130404' date='Nov 29 2006, 04:47 AM']
I wouldn't mind dying for God.
But I'd hope it was quick. Like an explosion.
[/quote]

Lol, so true.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='scardella' post='1130743' date='Nov 29 2006, 08:55 AM']
To tell you the truth, yesterday morning, a bright and sunny morning if there ever was one, I found myself thinking, "I wish I would die, Lord." And I was more than half serious. The thought was simply that if I must die to reach heaven, I want to die as soon as the Lord allows. Isn't the glory of God worth more than any treasures we have on this earth?

Therese of Lisieux figured that out as a little kid. She's awesome.
[/quote]
St. Paul says something very like this in Philippians 1:
[quote name='NIV']21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.[/quote]