I can't even imagine - Jacob Clabo

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As I was reading through chapters 4-6, I could not get my mind off of of the fact that the samurai put the lives of the village people in Rodrigues' hands. The Japanese knew the religion of the Christian people well enough that they knew Rodrigues would accept death and become a martyr if he had to. I can't even imagine being forced to live and watch people be tortured because I stood in my faith. This part in the story just stuck with me because it really shows how the Japanese were willing to try everything just so they could break the Christians. Even if they were not the ones being tortured at the time (which wasn't too often), they were exposed to mental torture knowing that the pain of others was all because of their choice to do the right thing.

We all know what the correct thing to do in that situation is, but it is a completely different thing to have to make that decision yourself in person and watch others suffer for your choice. Did anyone else have thee feelings too?

P.S. I commented on Cade's and Moriah's.

Comments

lwhite said…
I agree. I can not fathom the pain and struggle of being given the choice between saving others and renouncing my faith or standing strong while the others struggle. Endo pulls his readers into the story for them to consider these things themselves. He has done an excellent job at writing such a thought provoking novel that makes us consider moral dilemmas like this. There was a lot of self assessment as I was reading.
January 20, 2020 at 1:02 PM
Breanna Poole said…
I can sincerely agree with what you are saying. It's easy to say from this vantage point that we would never do something, but until we are placed in that situation we may well never truly know. That's why we should listen to these cautionary and heartbreaking stories, to remind us that people have and will suffer for Christ, and that we should not be swayed by whatever is that comes are way. It can be difficult to actually go through with, as we so often see in non-fiction accounts. The important thing to remember is that all things have a purpose, even suffering.
January 20, 2020 at 1:32 PM
Spencer Wood said…
I agree man it is a gruesome event to imagine. it's almost like the Japanese were trying to get the most bang for their buck with the torture by creating an audience role. but we even see this with the Romans having public executions and torture. I think that Christians really shelter ourselves from the brutality of the cross and forget just how gut-wrenching the death of Christ really is.
January 20, 2020 at 7:25 PM
Joshua Evers said…
The persecution by the Samurai is brutal. They are not trying to simply kill Christians, but exterminate. Their methods are debilitating on the mind and require the constant rebuilding of faith in every believer. We become discouraged when a pastor or great Christian simply dies a peaceful death, but it's a horrible thing for the death of fellow believers, especially those who were spiritual leaders to many in the community.
January 20, 2020 at 8:24 PM
Cade Wood said…
I can definitely agree, man. This is something I have thought of often, but I suppose under different circumstances. I agree with spencer's blog post in saying that claiming we would die and suffer for our faith without actually being put in that situation is just words but would like to believe that I wouldn't renounce my faith. Granted, I have never been in that position, but still... The thought has crossed my head, "What if it is my family suffering in front of me for my faith, what then?" I don't honestly know what I would do, and I pray I never have to find out.
January 20, 2020 at 8:30 PM
Luke Killam said…
These Japanese Christians were amazingly selfless. Their pursuit of Christ, even through this catholic priest, shines throughout this narrative. I don't know if I could stand the same, to be completely honest with you. I pray that i would remain firm and unmoved if the same persecution arrived here.
January 20, 2020 at 8:32 PM
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