For my Spiritual Formation class at Kuyper (hence this blog) we are currently reading the book, Water from a Deep Well by Gerald Sittser. The first chapter was of the spirituality of the early Christians. Sittser states, “We will never understand Christian spirituality- what it is and what makes it unique-unless we grasp the significance of martyrdom.” How often do we think of martyrdom in this day an age? To be honest, I don’t. It wasn’t until a good friend of mine just recently said, if he could choose how he would die, it would be while he was spreading the word of God, teaching others about the gospel, and dying for Christ. I ended up thinking long and hard that night about my faith. Would I die for Christ? Could I die for Christ? What state would my heart have to be in, in order to confidently say yes?
Over this last week the stories I read in this first chapter have really lingered in my mind. Being a martyr is not only a way of death, but also a way of life. These martyrs encourage me today to completely give my life to Jesus Christ, just as they had. Paul states in Philippians, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now and always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
We may or may not die for our faith, but what we all will have to choose between God and something else that competes for our commitment. When those times arise, may we have the courage and strength to choose God.
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