A martyr is defined as “a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion. A person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle a martyr to the cause of freedom” (online dictionary).
Although there are not too many martyrs in our society, there are more often self imposed martyrs. These martyrs are those who put themselves in a position, taking a position or a stance in order to be made a martyr. This martyrdom is not true martyrdom. A true martyr does not put himself/herself in the position and does not seek to be martyred.
In our own minds we may believe we would suffer martyrdom, true martyrdom, being martyred for our faith, rather than give up our faith. Perhaps we may not be so hasty in our bold proclamation. Until it should happen, we really cannot say distinctly what we would or would not do. The good news is that God has never asked us to be martyrs, at least not outright martyrs. And prayerfully we will never have to find out whether or not we would be willing to die for our faith.
Having said what we just said, the more difficult thing is to live for the Lord. Dying might be easy as in one is dead and in heaven enjoying complete perfection. Often it is more difficult living one’s faith as in living may mean persecution, pain, suffering and affliction. And God does ask us to live lives of faith, to live as priests, to offer our lives as living sacrifices in our vocations. Indeed, this living may be a more difficult task than dying.
Perhaps it is best to live, not seeking or fearing martyrdom but living a life of faith being filled with the gifts of God, being strengthened in faith through His means of grace, so that should the necessity of martyrdom presents itself, we may be ready, not only to live for the Lord, but to die for our faith as well. And finally we are convinced in our hearts that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
10 of 52 © Rev. Dr. Ronald A. Bogs (2018)
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