How Martyrdom Affects Civilization

 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

-Acts 7:54-59

What you just read was a story about a young man named Stephen. Stephen was an evangelist of the gospel; in fact he was one of the first. The people he was evangelizing to didn’t like the words that he was saying, so Stephen was cast out of the city and stoned. Steven is what’s known as a Martyr. A Martyr is someone who was prosecuted because of the Christian faith and killed. 

Throughout history, many people from all times and countries have tried to stomp out the flame that is the Christian faith. But no matter how many times they try, the Christian faith hasn’t been entirely put out. Why is this?

History is full of stories of countless Christians who gave their lives up for Christ. Ever since Steven, Christians have been mocked, teased, and killed for their faith. Even today Christians are persecuted all the time. Did Jesus talk about this? Yes, he did. 

“If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

-John 15:18-19

The Bible says very specifically that we should expect the world to hate us Christians. And honestly, the Bible speaks truth here. Not only do you have countless examples of this throughout history, but even today Christians are prosecuted to the fullest extent. Even I feel this struggle. The world tells me to believe one thing and act this certain way, and when I don’t the world punishes me for it. Some of you will have similar stories and experiences, and it won’t be the last in your lifetime.

The Bible says to be ready for persecution and even martyrdom, but what effect does martyrdom have on civilization? It’s not what you might expect.

One of the first books I read for Omnibus this year was Foxe’s book of Martyrs. In the book, Foxe outlines a bunch of martyrs and their stories. While reading this, I noticed a particular pattern. Where people tried to put out the Christian belief, them trying to put it out made the Christian belief more prominent! I remember reading one story (I tried to find the book for this essay to quote it, but I haven’t been able to find it) where a guy was sentenced to be martyred and the executioner got ready to kill this Christian, and instead instantly declared on the spot that he was a Christian too. He joined the Christian in martyrdom that day. This is one of countless examples where Christians were martyred, and as a result, converted people to Christianity.

I guess my moral to all this is don’t be scared of martyrdom. God shows us that even something as terrible as death can be used to strengthen and convert people to Christianity. So go and preach the Gospel and don’t be afraid of doing it. God will comfort you all the way.