How Much Can You Forgive?

17 " 'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
18 " 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:17 & 18 (NIV)

"O Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes," he said, "then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance." Exodus 34:9 (NIV)

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a] Matthew 18:21 &22 (NIV)

This afternoon, I watched a brief video concerning the Muslims population. Then, I thought about a message from a pastor who had worked in a Muslim country. He said, "Once a nation arrives at a 70% Muslim population they publicly execute Christians who refuse to bow to "Allah." After that, I thought about a friend of mine at school who told me she was afraid to renounce "Allah" as her god. She was afraid of being beaten, or even killed.

What kind of religion kills people for non belief or abandonment? Certainly not a loving or free willed one. Why does anyone even consider that kind of faith? My God is loving and merciful. Yet He created the heavens and the earth. He seeks love from His people on a free will basis.

I am really struggling with the fact that we may see public executions and this country and that America may be a Muslim nation before I die. Do you know what and why you believe? Is your faith worth dying for? Jesus Christ gave His life freely for me. I'll gladly live and die for him, but I am not without sin. Jesus knew no sin. He became the ultimate sacrifice for any sinner who would invite Him to be their Savior and Lord.

Will I be able to forgive others if they kill my friends and family in Christ? That's one I'll have to pray about, because it's hard to forgive others who harm my loved ones. How do you feel about this question?