Martyred Leadership
Have you ever thought about your own death? The death rate is 100%. . . all of us are going to die. My mom died at an early age. On the night of her death, I slept on the floor by her bed which was strategically placed in the living room so that we could be with her in her last days. Awakened around 3:00 a.m. by an eerie stillness in the room, I went to her, her body lying cold, just the dust part was left, and the breath part (her spirit) was gone. She was with Jesus. Life is so short.
I have a daily choice to bring glory to the One who gives me every breath I breathe. As we reflect on our life’s final chapter, a question to meditate on might be: How did I live for Christ in my apprenticeship to him? How would my words, actions, and meditations, bring glory to the Father?
Like Paul, in his letter to the Philippians did I see dying as gain? Or in Jesus’ words,
“Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?” Matthew 16:24, MSG
Thinking about death, as morbid as that may seem to some, has an impact on the choices I make today. Dr. Jana Dluehosh, former Spiritual Care Supervisor, in a recent blog post about spiritual pain and suffering, ponders, “When we all encounter the last months or years of our life we will be faced with meaning?” [2] In the earliest days of the Church; the Spirit of God was moving, empowering the apostles and the community of believers, gathering together followers of the risen Jesus. Authorities had intended an end to a problem instead, however, it exploded into a movement so large, so powerful, that followers of this Rabbi, Jesus, threatened to disrupt every part of society. Some scholars estimate that in A.D. 300, Christians comprised no more than 10 percent of the empire, if that; but by the year 360 Christians comprised over 50 percent of the empire. [3] Clashes were bound to happen, and with them came the persecution of Christians.
A Brief Summary
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs serves as a vivid reminder of the courage of conviction and pondering the legacy we would like to leave, especially as a Christian pursues a life of holiness and surrender to the will of the Father. It was originally titled Actes and Monuments, and is a work by John Foxe, first published in 1563. The book is a history of Christian martyrs, particularly focusing on those who were persecuted for their faith during the early years of Christianity, as well as during the Protestant Reformation. [4]. Foxe, an English historian and martyrologist, wrote the book to document the suffering and deaths of Protestants under Catholic rulers, particularly during the reign of Mary I of England, also known as “Bloody Mary,” who attempted to restore Roman Catholicism in England. The book emphasizes the bravery and steadfastness of these martyrs in the face of brutal persecution.
The work became highly influential in England, particularly among Protestants, and was used as a tool to promote Protestant beliefs and condemn Catholic practices. It was widely read and remained a key text in English Protestantism for centuries, contributing significantly to anti-Catholic sentiment in England. Though historically important, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs has been criticized for its bias and occasional historical inaccuracies, as it was written with a strong Protestant perspective. [5].
Suffering for our Faith
The stories of these early martyrs, the accounts of their courage and faith in the face of death, are woven tightly into the fabric of our faith. Name after name of Christian after Christian suffered persecution in various forms of torture including beheadings, floggings, scourgings, being dissected to pieces, stretched with pulleys until the bones of their body broken, boiled with oil, frosted with tar and pitch on their naked flesh and then lit on fire like torches, drowned with stones around necks, pierced, executed, and more.
In those early days of the Church, many followers of Jesus Christ took their witness to Him, and the power of his resurrection, to the point of sacrificing their own lives. It is crucial to recognize that for many Christians around the world today, persecution is a daily occurrence, and faith can be a matter of life and death. When I read The Voice of the Martyrs, I read story after story of Christians who are persecuted for their faith. For example. . .
- A 19-year-old woman, who as a young bride saw her husband shot to death by militant Fulani Muslims. The attackers then shot her in the hand. Pregnant at the time, she collapsed and was taken to a hospital, where her baby was delivered by cesarean session. [3]
- An Egyptian Christian convert from Islam who faced intense family pressure since becoming a follower of Christ. The woman’s father, an imam, made it difficult for her to be in public without scrutiny. Christian converts from Islam often experience harsh opposition from their families. Christian converts are sometimes killed in “honor killings” by their close relatives. A front-line worker reported that this Christian woman had now gone missing, and he requested prayer for her. [4]
More Christians are being martyred for their beliefs now than ever before. Missionologist David B. Barrett estimates that 160,000 Christians were martyred in the year 2000 alone. [5] They were martyred in that year for the same fundamental reason that led to the deaths of Polycarp in 155 and Perpetua in 202. The early martyrs believed that if Jesus is Lord and the sole Savior, He tolerates no rivals—whether a person, religion, ideology, or empire. They believed that being a Christian means fully and joyfully committing to the belief that Jesus, who came as God in human form, is the only way to God. While most of us won’t have to die for our faith, we will all face times when we must choose between following Christ or something else that demands our ultimate loyalty. In other words, how do I live for Christ with the life and breath that He gave to me? Faith in Christ has been a great empowering presence in my life, helping me walk strong when so often I feel weak.
[1] Philippians 1:21, English Standard Version; “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
[2] https://blogs.georgefox.edu/dlgp/meaning-of-suffering-meaning-of-life/
[3] Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1996), chap. 1.
[4] “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Last modified August 15, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxe%27s_Book_of_Martyrs.
[5] Foxe, J. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs [Rev. ed.]. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000).
[6] The Voice of the Martyrs, September 5, 2024; https://www.icommittopray.com/request/2717/gift/
[7] Ibid.
[8] Gerald Sittser, Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007).
About the Author
Cathy Glei
Cathy Glei serves as an instructional leader and pastor with over 27 years in education and ministry. She is dedicated to discipling others as they grow in their relationship with God, others and the world. Cathy has facilitated numerous professional development sessions, trainings, and workshops in both education and ministry. Passionate about supporting others in uncovering the Creator's design within them, Cathy lives in Michigan with her husband, Steve, and their eight-year-old Springer Spaniel, Otis. Cathy is a mother of three daughters and "Gooma" (grandma) to two adorable grandsons (emphasis on adorable 😊). She enjoys listening and exchanging laughter and stories with others, hanging out with friends, both old and new, as well as being outdoors, enjoying activities such as cycling, camping, hiking, and kayaking.12 responses to “Martyred Leadership”
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Hi Cathy,
After our time in Oxford, I remembered you commented, “Am I ready to die for my faith?” I forget the exact time you made that statement. But….
You are my hero.
I don’t say this flippantly, I can categorically state that I could not be a martyr for my faith. This spiritual level was not something I even thought of until you said it.
Instead, this verse comes to mind, “Matthew 26:52
ESV, Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
At some part in my Christian journey, I had accepted this as my fate. In short, I would go down fighting for my family and my country. I would execute, “Holy Violence” upon those who would harm mine.
In my research on this topic, I did a quick google search and found this comment on
https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/26/Matthew-26-52.html#:~:text=Jesus%20rebukes%20Peter%20for%20trying,it%20back%20into%20its%20sheath.
Jesus is not interested in an armed conflict in this moment. According to Luke, Christ immediately heals the servant’s ear (Luke 22:51). Jesus rebukes Peter for trying to use violence to stop what is meant by God to happen in this moment.
Some have pointed to Jesus’ words here as a reason to never take up arms in conflict. That is reading too much into this event. He does not tell Peter to throw the sword away, but to put it back into its sheath. We know from John’s account that Jesus told his arresters to let His disciples go (John 18:8). In that context, Jesus seems likely to mean that He does not wish for Peter to die by the sword tonight in a foolish attempt to save Him. Christ, Himself, does not need to be protected by an earthly sword (John 18:36).
Sometimes I joke with my wife that I find it odd that I would be in a Mennonite (Pacificist) University. Especially, as I am a Christian Realist.
It is also a bit humorous that my wife comes from Mennonite stock (specifically from the Pennsylvania Dutch).
Truly, you and many of the cohort exist at place that I can only aspire to…martyrdom as your first choice.
For me “I remain in the sheath.”
Shalom….
Epilogue…. In Ukraine, Samaritan’s purse has reduced it production of food boxes in Ukraine. Specifically, because it costs them $7.00 a box, while the Ukrainian Mennonites in country can produce the box for $4.00 with food produced in their Ukrainian network.
While not fighting, (one presumes), the Ukrainian Mennonite community is not separate from this existential threat from Russia.
Selah….
Russell,
Thank you for reading my post. I am no hero. I read the circumstances of those persecuted for their faith both past and present as well as the stories of the desert mothers and fathers and am challenged to reflect on: how am I doing at surrendering my will to the will of the Father, knowing fully that I know who I have believed and am persuaded that He is able, more than able. Thank you for your encouragement!
This is a deeply moving reflection on death and the significance of living for Christ. I appreciate how you drew from your personal experiences, particularly with your mother’s passing, to emphasize how fleeting life is and how our choices in this life should glorify God. It reminded me of similar thoughts I’ve had after losing loved ones—it’s a perspective that shapes how we lead our lives.
Your mention of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs also stood out, as it highlights the incredible faith of early Christians and how persecution has always been part of the Christian journey. The courage those early martyrs displayed really underscores the importance of living with conviction and purpose, something we are all called to do, whether through everyday actions or, for some, in the face of persecution. Your reflection resonates deeply with how we approach suffering and self-sacrifice in faith, just as Jesus instructs in Matthew 16:24. Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and poignant perspective.
Thank you Mathieu. See you in DC!
A bible college professor used to say to our pastoral ministry class that “the job of the pastor is to prepare people to die…and in doing so, they actually live!”
Obviously, his point is that we want people to know Jesus, so that when they pass away, they are ushered into eternity with the Father, rather than eternal separation.
Just this last Sunday, having come off of TWO memorial services on Saturday, that we ought to “live a eulogy life, not a resume life.”
I so appreciated your post. I’ll be re-reading it because of how rich it is. Thank you.
I love that idea. . . “live a euology life, not a resume life.” John, weren’t you the person who shared (when we were in Capetown) that you have “tombstone” or something on your desk to remind you to live “the dash” or “eulogy life”? Maybe that was Tim?
Cathy, you wrote, “While most of us won’t have to die for our faith, we will all face times when we must choose between following Christ or something else that demands our ultimate loyalty.” I pondered that for a bit, and then I thought about all of the competing little “g” gods that compete for our allegiances. I would imagine many martyrs (I admit I have NOT yet read Foxe’s book) could have been tempted to enjoy the counterfeits of power over the giving up of power, control over trust, comfort over risk, or security over trusting God with whatever circumstance he put before them…and yet they clung to Christ. Something else came to mind as I read your statement. It’s something Martin Luther said in his commentary on the first commandment in the Book of Concord: “If your faith and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these two belong together, faith and God. That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.”
Thanks Travis! See you in DC!
Hi, Cathy,
I, too, used the Foxe’s Book of Martyrs for this post. I don’t know about you, but the graphic depictions were very difficult to read. I had to put it down several times and walk away. And yet, the sad thing is, many of our brothers and sisters around the world cannot simply walk away and “take a break.” I am all the more inspired to pray for the persecuted church around the world.
Yes, Esther. I also found the graphic descriptions of their deaths were very difficult to read. It also brought understanding to some of the context of the Roman Empire for me. I have never had a course on the History of Christianity that shared how many were martyred for their faith so I was very intrigued and challenged.
That’s a deep read Cathy….thanks for sharing both your reflections and your personal story. Healthy reflection of our own death should, in the end, enrich our current life.
I’m sure many of us have wondered, “Would I die for my faith?” I certainly have. At other times, I have wondered if the harder question is whether I am willing to live out my faith, despite the consequences: For example, if our Canadian government decides to legally make the historic Christian view of human sexuality a form of ‘hate speech’…am I willing to lose my work? Find a lesser paying job? Move my family to a less comfortable house? Endure the shame of a front-page headline? What about jail time? How tempting would it be to adjust seemingly small convictions to blend in and avoid standing out, appearing foolish, being named a bigot, etc…?
If I let my imagination go for a few moments, I can start to picture living for Jesus almost as uncomfortable as dying for him. Perhaps the more uncomfortable part is that martyrdom is unlikely in Canada…but some fairly uncomfortable living for Christians is not out of the question in the decades ahead. May God’s power and faith-filled presence meet us all in our weakness and need when it is time to count the cost, pick up our cross, and follow Him.
Scott, is the decision that you mentioned in your response one that you anticipate coming soon?
I think your question is right on. . . Am I willing to live out my faith, despite the consequences? I pray a prayer written long ago by Richard Chichester’s . . .
Day by day, dear Lord,
of thee three things I pray;
to see thee more clearly,
to love thee more dearly,
to follow thee more nearly,
day by day.