That's why to Christians, they have God to lean on in times of difficult times, even when they're between life and death.
"But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 10:33
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"So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 10:32
"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." - Luke 9:23
"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." - Romans 1:28
Should I keep going on? There's more to quote from the Holy Bible. Okay, last one.
"If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;" - 2 Timothy 2:12
Rev. Fr. Teresito Suganob is a priest of Prelature of St. Mary in Marawi City whi abducted by the Maute terror group.
The priest is being held a "prisoner of war" (POW)by the militants in Marawi pleaded to the President Rodrigo Duterte to end the war by letting the terrorist do what they want and let them take over the whole city if Marawi.
A video was post on social media where the said priest begged the president to stop the gunfights.
He was abducted along with churchworkers, a professor of the Mindanao State University, teachers from the Dansalan College Foundation Inc., carpenters, household helpers, children, Christian settlers, and tribe members. The priest estimated that they were about 240 kidnapped.
Suganob stood in front of the video recorder. The background of the video was a devastated buildings and gun shots can be heard at the background.
"Mr. President, we are in the midst of this war. We are asking your help to please give what your enemies are asking for," he begged.
The priest said that the terrorist weren't asking for too much other than having the military forces retreat from Lanao del Sur and Marawi City, stop air strikes and canyons.
Suganob, who seemed to be near tears as he pleads, also asked the President to consider thair situation being in between life and death.
"Mr. President, they do not ask for anything. They just ask that you leave this place peacefully. Do not give so much attack. The city in my background is ruined like this," he said.
"And Mr. President, if you are in our place, you will consider us," he added.
Suganob continuously begged Duterte to consider them for they still want to live for another day, another mother and they want to live few years.
He also said that they do not asked for anything "after all, this is their place."
"Do not use violence because your enemies, they're ready to die for their religion," he added.
Suganob stated that since the president is from Mindanao as well and he knows the history, and asked the president to understand the terrorist group, that they have the right to live there and they have the rights for their laws be respected
"Do not be happy Mr. President that we are the collateral damage of war," he said. "If you want me to kneel before you, in favor of our families who are crying out there in different places, and for those other 240 Mr. President, we'll do that [kneeling]," the priest added with a shaky voice.
It's true that the abductess situation gets worse by the day. However, as someone who upholds the words of God. Shouldn't he be manifesting a very strong faith in God during this time?
His faith in God is questionable by asking the President to save them. Ideally, Duterte should save them but he has no control over what the Maute's will do to their abductees. Withdrawing from the war and letting the militants take over doesn't give assurance that people kidnapped will be set free, especially the Christians.
Denying God just to live for another day is something a proclaimed Christian should do. Even justifying the cruel practices of the terror group, that they'll ready to die for their religion, isn't that something Christians should be willing to do, too?
Wouldn't it be better to preach to the other abductees about keeping and having a strong faith in God even during a crisis instead of begging for your life and asking the President to withdraw from the clashes.
"It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit (emphasis mine)." - 1 Peter 3:17–18
He renounced his faith in God and begged a human to save them instead and asked to let a vicious terror group have what they want in exchange of the their lives, which will then endanger the lives of thousands or worst the whole country's safety.
If you were on the priest's shoes, would you do the same thing he did? Let us know what you think!
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