OL: Martyrdom

ME:
In the preface of Pocket: History of the Church, Bingham states that we will only find selections from church history that he believes to be important to Christianity in the twenty-first century. Later, in chapter one he talks about martyrdom. It seems that he believes martyrdom is one of the more important happenings in Christianity. Also, Bingham seems to believe that martyrdom is the ultimate sacrifice and most honorable things one can do. Is martyrdom really one of the most honorable things a person can do in their faith. I find that it's harder to live for Christ than to die for Christ. It's real easy to just let somebody behead you or shoot you, and then you get to go party it up with Jesus in heaven. However, to live for Christ, to face persecution, challenges and struggles all in the name of Jesus to share God's great news- now that's honorable. I don't want to belittle martyrdom by any means, but I just don't agree with what seems to be Bingham's view that martyrdom is the ultimate sacrifice.


Jesus came to us to be an example of how we are live our lives for God, and then to die on a cross for our sins. I do believe this, but I fear some Christians confuse the understanding that it is how Jesus lived that we are to do like wise, not how He died. If we are to die as Jesus did then I feel we are missing the whole point of Jesus' purpose.

From my understanding, all sin is equal in God's eyes and same with good works. To God, murdering is tantamount to lying, just as, martyrdom is tantamount to feeding the homeless.

So dying in the name of God doesn't give a martyr any more favor with the Lord than the one time when a little boy gave his morning muffin to a hungry homeless man.

To die like Jesus died to be worthy of a place in heaven, is like saying that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross wasn't good enough or not necessary. He died a most terrible death so we wouldn't have to, so we could be forgiven of our sinful nature. By saying that being martyrs is the way to go; then that's like saying "Thanks, but no thanks" to Jesus "I'll pay my own debt," a debt that is too big and cannot be done on our own.
 
 
Professor:
In this instance, I don't think that Bingham was recommending we all go out and get killed. When he describes Martyrdom as the "ultimate" sacrifice, he only means that there is simply nothing additional that can be offered when a Christian gives his/her life. It is the ultimate because it is final - it is to give all. And in the context of the early church, it was probably necessary. If the martyrs had not done what they did, Christianity may not have survived. These martyrs showed Christians and pagans that they did not have to fear death - they could go on living in faith in spite of great persecution, and their faith made the church famous and made it grow. Between the 1st and the 4th centuries, the Christian church grew from about 1,000 members to over 30 million. And all of this occurred in the context of great persecution and martyrdom. The martyrs were the examples that made people believe Christianity must be true. It is very paradoxical.


However, you are right to suggest that we should not celebrate martyrdom. It seems that some Christians were so ready to die that the church had to make guidelines for martyrdom. Christians were forbidden from seeking it out and celebrating it. They should only give their lives if they were forced to do so because they were being asked to deny their faith.

I'm curious about what others of you think about Elizabeth's post above. Would it be easy to die for the faith? If you were taken before a judge and offered the chance to go free - to go back to your home and family - if only you would say a simple prayer to a pagan God, would you choose to be thrown to the lions instead?


Classmate 1:
As for martyrdom, I think Elizabeth has some good insight. I agree with what Elizabeth said about how it is hard to live for Christ and undergo the persecution and struggles that come along with it; sometimes it seems like dying for Christ would be easier because it would put us out of our persecution and take us to heaven to be with Christ. At the same time, I don’t agree that martyrdom is easier because to be a martyr, this most likely means that you have already been living for Christ and have been suffering persecution, etc. to even be put in such a situation. We wouldn’t become a martyr for Christ (at least in most circumstances) if we weren’t already living for Christ and standing up for what we believe. In this regard, I believe that dying for Christ is the ultimate sacrifice, but we should not be going out in search of becoming a martyr as Dr. Hollan said. When the focus shifts from “I want to live for Christ” to “I want to become a martyr for Christ,” it shows that our perspective is not where it should be. Martyrdom is a very honorable thing but should not be sought out. Instead we should live for Christ and be willing to die for Him if put in a situation where we are given the options of either denying our faith and living or dying for our faith.

Classmate 2:
As for martyrdom, I agree with Elizabeth. If one has to die for his or her faith, then so it be, but I do not think one should be as willing to die as perhaps Polycarp, Perpetua, or maybe Ignatius. If we were all to become martyrs, who would actively spread the news of Jesus Christ?


What do you think? I'd enjoy hearing what you think or feel about the subject. Feel free to post your thoughts and comments :)

Have a fabulous day!