
| The Question: The news media have made a big deal about how the Koran promises Muslims they will enjoy all the pleasures of Paradise if they die in holy war (jihad). Doesn't the Christian Church make the same promise?
The Response: First off, I should like to point out that there is an enormous difference between the church that Christ instituted in Acts 2 and what you refer to as "the Christian Church". Christ's church, the Body of Christ, is made up of all true believers. The so-called Christian Church is a loose arrangement of religions and religious who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Membership in this vague body varies with the person providing the information. Some more ecumenical persons might consider really "out there" assemblies, such as the Dolly Pond Church of Jesus Christ With Signs and Wonders Following" or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to qualify for inclusion in this body. I don't. In answer to your question, I am not aware of any modern Christian church that offers guarantees of Paradise (Heaven) to those who die in holy war. The Roman Catholic Church surely comes close with its doctrine of "Baptism of Blood."
Mother Church comes a lot closer than that with what amounts to a guarantee that those who die for the faith (though apparently not limited to casualties of holy war) are saved.
Lemme see now. The Roman Church has, at times, claimed to be Israel, or Judaism, fulfilled. I wonder whether she might also lay claim to being Islam fulfilled? Just so there is no confusion, I wish to point out that the Scriptures make it perfectly clear that no one is saved by works that they do, even dying for the faith. There is only one means to salvation, and that is by God's grace, through faith alone in Christ alone.
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