Martyrs of the Faith

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” – Acts 21:13

Scripture gives us many accounts of men (and women) who were martyred for their faith—even prophets of God (Mat 21:33–44; 23:29–39; Luk 11:47–50; 13:34; Mar 6:17; Heb 11:37; Rev 16:4–7; 18:24), the apostles, and innocents (babies; Mat 2:16–18) have been caught up in the madness and barbaric brutality of this fallen world filled with evil and cruel human actions.1, 2 But know that God will be their (and our) justice and vengeance on Judgment Day (Rom 12:17–21; Heb 12:29; cf. Luk 11:49–50). I encourage you to read, study, and learn from their examples in Scripture, which can serve as a source of courage and inspiration when facing difficult circumstances.

It is also good, wise, and profitable to read books on early Church history so that you are not ignorant of what the early saints (and martyrs3) had to endure for their faith.4 The more we understand and accept the reality of the fallen world that we live in, the better able we will be to handle it, and anxiety can be minimized.5

Let’s close this chapter with a few verses that I have found to be enormously helpful whenever I see AWDF starting to arise:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. – Rom 8:28–30

CHAPTER PRAYER

Father, I see the reality of the fallen world we live in, and while I don’t like it, I know I must accept it while also knowing You will be with me in everything that I face—all the way until the very last day. I also know that Your will is being done, and You have promised a glorious heavenly future for those who call on Your name and remain obedient and faithful. You have promised to give me wisdom, courage, strength, peace, and humility to help me get through any tough times. You hear my prayers and see everything that happens to me, and all things work together for good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. I take comfort in all those things.

Father, I pray for those who find themselves in lonely, faraway, dark, or dangerous places or circumstances, some due to their own actions and some unjustly so. Many of these men and women have little to no hope of anything whatsoever, and they have nothing left in this world except You. Father, I pray that You would lift them up with encouragement, give them wisdom through Your Word, and also impart to them the courage, strength, and power necessary to endure their situation and remain steadfast in Your love for them. Please lead them all the way to final glory, paradise, in heaven with You.

And Father, for those who don’t yet know Jesus, please guide them into the truth of Your Son and the good news of the Gospel so they may also come to know Your love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, peace, and hope—and the free gift of eternal life in Jesus by His blood shed on the cross for them. Help them know that their hope is in You and not in man or the things of this world.

It is only by and through the blood of Your holy Son, Jesus, that I approach Your throne and make these requests. Amen.

1 See: Abel, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Stephen, James, Philip, Peter, Paul, and others. I’m not going to cite them all here; the reader is encouraged to seek out their examples in Scripture. According to tradition and extra-biblical sources, all the apostles suffered martyrdom except John, and even he was dipped in boiling oil. Early church history indicates that Peter was crucified, and Paul was beheaded in Rome.

2 → [The Reality of This Fallen World]

3 Remembering: Origen, Irenaeus, Ignatius, Polycarp, Telesphorus, Metrodorus, Pionius, Agathonice, Ptolemy, Maturus, Sanctus, Blandina, Attalus, Biblis, Pothinus, Apollonius, Plutarch, Serenus, Heraclides, Herais, Basilides, Potamiaena, Marcella, Dionysius, Alexander, Metras, Quinta, Apollonia, Serapion, Cronion, Julian, Besas, Epimachus, Ammonarion, Mercuria, Dionysia, Dioscorus, Nemesion, Faustus, Priscus, Malchus, Alexander (another), Peter, Anthimus, Domnina, Bernice, Prosdoce, Lucian, Tyrannion, Zenobius, Justin Martyr, William Tyndale, John Rogers, and untold thousands upon thousands of other saints.

4 Suggested reading includes Foxe’s Book of Martyrs; The Church History; The Christian Church: Its Rise and Progress; and The Pilgrim Church. → [Helpful Resources]

5 In this case, I am referring to real physical fear, so anxiety cannot be completely eliminated because there is the very real threat/possibility of physical harm that can come to Christians if they walk in truth (i.e., there is a physiological element of “fight and flight” response in all of us). The important point, though, is to allow “the peace of God” (Php 4:6–7) to rule in our hearts, regardless of physical circumstances and danger.

R. John Anderson

Author and photographer R. John Anderson has journeyed the world over to capture the natural beauty of God’s creation. Having traveled to many countries and continents in a span of over thirty years, he has seen the amazing artistry that can be found in all types of locations, from the glacial fjords of polar Greenland to the wild Serengeti plains in Tanzania to the rich rain forests of Costa Rica. Nature’s greatest natural beauty often lies in the harshest deserts, remotest wilderness, and sub-zero ice-covered regions.