Encouragement from the Martyrs

Jesus plainly told his followers what to expect in the world. He said, “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake” (Mark 13:13). Christians can count on the fact that the servant is not greater than the master. As the crucifixion of our Lord was bloody, the history of God’s people has been marked always with the distinctive characteristic of Christian blood.

Take for instance the recent April 5th incident in Baghdad. Father Youssef Adel of the Assyrian Orthodox Church was gunned down, after receiving threats to force him to step down from being principal of a mixed Christian and Muslim high school in the Karradah district. Adel was not killed because he was a westerner or because he was white. Adel was killed because his religion taught that Jesus is Lord.

We do see incidents of violence in the United States. The one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting is evidence that the same evil exists in the hearts of men everywhere. Yet, Christians in America and Christians in Iraq have very different levels of concern that their lives are in constant danger. More often in America, Christ is contradicted not by the barrel of a gun, but by being ignored. And because you follow Jesus, you might be considered just as irrelevant as many consider Christ.

What’s the appeal? To pray for the persecuted church? Yes, certainly. But don’t forget to take inventory of how you respond to the persecution you face, whether it be in your family, at work, at the academy, or in the public square. Don’t pity the martyrs, but be encouraged by them to be faithful to Jesus no matter what it costs.

ARG

BPC Intern