In the movie The Others, there is scene where Nicole Kidman is sitting down at the table with her two children having a bible study. The kids giggled when the little boy read about the early Christians getting their heads cut off. She asked the children in a serious tone, “What’s so funny? Her daughter, the older of the two children answered, “They were stupid. They told the Romans that they believed in Jesus and then got killed for it.” 

The Others (2/11) Movie CLIP - The Children's Limbo (2001) HD

The mother, disturbed by this comment asked,” So you would have denied Christ?” Her daughter answered, “Inside I would have believed  in Him but I wouldn't have told the Romans that. God would have known inside that I really believed in Him and that I was just trying to save my life.” Her younger brother nods in agreement. The mother then said, “so you both would have lied, denying Christ? You would have saved your heads from being cut off by the Romans, that's true, but what would have happened afterwards, in the next life? You would spend eternity in hell!” [ 1 ] 

This raises a question about martyrs. If one makes great sacrifices or suffers to the point of death in order to further a belief, does that make the belief true? No. All you have to do is look at 911 and other terrorist acts. The fact that people die for their religion doesn't make it true.  What if someone put a gun to my head and told me to deny Christ? If I don’t deny Christ and he kills me does that make Christianity true? No. In that situation would I resort to self-defense? Would I take the children’s advice and play along , denying Christ outwardly while believing inwardly? What would you do ?

Matthew 10:33

But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Luke 22:54-60

Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.  After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

The Apostles were in a unique period in history. They were eyewitnesses of the risen Christ. Anyone may die for what they believe to be true, but no one will die for a lie. They knew for a fact whether or not Christ rose from the dead to the point where faith wasn’t even required. After the resurrection they went from discouraged to determined. More faith is required of us.

John 20:26-29

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Cited Sources: The Others directed by Alejandro Amenabar [ 1 ] ,