The True Martyrs

[Cajun Huguenot]

I put the following post on the Church history forum, but I think this forum is a better fit:

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In the last several years, Muslim extremists have tried very hard to hijack the Christian title of “martyr.” The modern Muslim “martyr” is not a true martyr, but is someone who is murdering as many innocent people as he can, while killing himself in the process.

The modern Muslim “martyr” is a cold-blooded killer who thinks nothing of slaughtering innocent women and children in his attack. His actions are designed to generate terror in the civilian population. The act of Murder/suicide is not martyrdom.

The Greek word “marturia” from which we get the English word martyr,is found 37 times in the New Testament. It is most often translated as “witness” or “testimony.” And in the traditions of the Christian faith, a martyr is one who is put to death for his witness or testimony to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Christian martyr is one who did not attack his enemies, but instead he loved them enough to go to them and tell them about Christ, even when he knew that his witness may (and often did) lead to his own death, at the hands of those he brought the Gospel to.

In the book of Acts we learn of the martyrdom of St. Steven. Steven, the first Christian martyr, was disputing with men who denied Christ and those opposed to the faith were loosing the debate. These men became angry because of what they heard and since they could not defeat Steven’s arguments they killed him instead.


Steven did nothing more than disagree with those who killed him and told them why he disagreed. The early church was outlawed, because the Church declared that Jesus Christ was Lord instead of Caesar. The Christians did not take up arms and attack those who persecuted them. Instead they prayed for those who wronged them, and brought the Gospel to them, even when the price of “witnessing” or giving “testimony” of Christ’s Gospel might mean that they would be arrested, tortured and thrown to wild beasts (in the arena), and/or put to death.

A true martyr is a witness to the Gospel of Christ, who gives his/her greatest witness to the truth of that Gospel, in his/her willingness to be killed by those who hate the Christ and His Gospel.

It is a horrible misuse and distortion of the noble Christian title of “Martyr” to apply the term to someone who willingly murders innocent people because they think differently than he does. Muslim radicals who willingly, and enthusiastically, murder innocent men, women and children, at the same time they blow themselves to bits, are NOT martyrs. These men are bloodthirsty killers, who send themselves to hell by their murder/suicides.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[billwald]

It is also a misuse to use the term for those who intentionally go in harm's way to provoke other people to kill them. Two examples. First, Servitus (sp?) who was officiallt told that if he returned to Geneva that he would be killed. He retuirned and was killed.

Second, Person announces he wants to go to a place to evangelize. He is told by many people to stay out of the area or he will be killed. He goes there and is killed.

Third, a person knows that there is only one God and there is no reality behind wood idols. He is ordered to offer a grape to an idol. He refuses and is killed.

 

[Poke]

I've always thought of a martyr as someone who chooses death rather than renounce his faith. In this since, Mohammedan suicide bombers are not martyrs.

But, technically, Mohammedan suicide bombers are martyrs. They are dying for their faith, doing what they believe is necessary before God.

Cajun Huguenot, don't say or imply that Rome is reponsible for the martyrdom of Stephen. The Book of Acts is very clear, the Jews killed Stephen.

While I'm setting the record straight, I also disagree with you saying that the Church was outlawed because the Church declared that Jesus Christ was Lord instead of Caesar. I don't think Rome cared that the Church taught Jesus was Lord. In the execution of Jesus, Harod blew off that charge and Pilate said he found no fault in Jesus.

Initially, the church would have been outlawed because of pressure from the Jews. Rome was interested keeping the Jews from revolting. This put Christians in an easy position for the infamously wicked Nero to scapegoat for Rome's problems.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I've always thought of a martyr as someone who chooses death rather than renounce his faith. In this since, Mohammedan suicide bombers are not martyrs.

But, technically, Mohammedan suicide bombers are martyrs. They are dying for their faith, doing what they believe is necessary before God.

Cajun Huguenot, don't say or imply that Rome is reponsible for the martyrdom of Stephen. The Book of Acts is very clear, the Jews killed Stephen.

While I'm setting the record straight, I also disagree with you saying that the Church was outlawed because the Church declared that Jesus Christ was Lord instead of Caesar. I don't think Rome cared that the Church taught Jesus was Lord. In the execution of Jesus, Harod blew off that charge and Pilate said he found no fault in Jesus.

Initially, the church would have been outlawed because of pressure from the Jews. Rome was interested keeping the Jews from revolting. This put Christians in an easy position for the infamously wicked Nero to scapegoat for Rome's problems.

I did not imply that Rome had anything to do with Stephen"s death. The Jews killed Stephen for defending the Gospel of Christ.

I've been spending a lot of time reading the fathers (I bought 38 volumes of them a few years back) and it is clear that by the late first century/ early second century Christians are killed because they will nat say Caesar is Lord.

Rome killed Christians for the sole crime of being a Christain. This is clear in the writings of the Church and in the writings of rulers of in the empire. Pliny the Younger gives testimony of using his authority inexecuting Christians for the crime of admitting they were Christians.

More later (if needed) when time allows.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[Poke]

I did not imply that Rome had anything to do with Stephen"s death. The Jews killed Stephen for defending the Gospel of Christ.

Yes, you did. You mention Stephen being killed and in the very same paragraph, you give your reason why Rome would kill Christians. You don't mention Jews.

I've been spending a lot of time reading the fathers (I bought 38 volumes of them a few years back) and it is clear that by the late first century/ early second century Christians are killed because they will nat say Caesar is Lord.

If read the Gospels, you'll see that Jewish pressure was the reason Jesus was executed. If you read through Acts and the NT, you'll see that Jewish pressure is the reason for all of Rome's acts against Christians. For another example, read Acts 24.

The church was initially outlawed because of Jewish pressure.

Rome killed Christians for the sole crime of being a Christain.

Yes, after Christianity was outlawed.

 

[billwald]

For the first 50 or so years Rome considered Christianity a Jewish sect and gave them the same protection they gave Jews.

Read someplace that it was the gentile Christians who first gained notice from Rome.

I think it was during the Bar Kochba rebellion that the Jews excommunicated the Jewish Christians.

 

[HelloToAll]

I put the following post on the Church history forum, but I think this forum is a better fit:

********************
In the last several years, Muslim extremists have tried very hard to hijack the Christian title of “martyr.” The modern Muslim “martyr” is not a true martyr, but is someone who is murdering as many innocent people as he can, while killing himself in the process.

The modern Muslim “martyr” is a cold-blooded killer who thinks nothing of slaughtering innocent women and children in his attack. His actions are designed to generate terror in the civilian population. The act of Murder/suicide is not martyrdom.

The Greek word “marturia” from which we get the English word martyr,is found 37 times in the New Testament. It is most often translated as “witness” or “testimony.” And in the traditions of the Christian faith, a martyr is one who is put to death for his witness or testimony to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Christian martyr is one who did not attack his enemies, but instead he loved them enough to go to them and tell them about Christ, even when he knew that his witness may (and often did) lead to his own death, at the hands of those he brought the Gospel to.

In the book of Acts we learn of the martyrdom of St. Steven. Steven, the first Christian martyr, was disputing with men who denied Christ and those opposed to the faith were loosing the debate. These men became angry because of what they heard and since they could not defeat Steven’s arguments they killed him instead.


Steven did nothing more than disagree with those who killed him and told them why he disagreed. The early church was outlawed, because the Church declared that Jesus Christ was Lord instead of Caesar. The Christians did not take up arms and attack those who persecuted them. Instead they prayed for those who wronged them, and brought the Gospel to them, even when the price of “witnessing” or giving “testimony” of Christ’s Gospel might mean that they would be arrested, tortured and thrown to wild beasts (in the arena), and/or put to death.

A true martyr is a witness to the Gospel of Christ, who gives his/her greatest witness to the truth of that Gospel, in his/her willingness to be killed by those who hate the Christ and His Gospel.

It is a horrible misuse and distortion of the noble Christian title of “Martyr” to apply the term to someone who willingly murders innocent people because they think differently than he does. Muslim radicals who willingly, and enthusiastically, murder innocent men, women and children, at the same time they blow themselves to bits, are NOT martyrs. These men are bloodthirsty killers, who send themselves to hell by their murder/suicides.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Very interesting. God bless all Christian martyrs!

 

[Poke]

For the first 50 or so years Rome considered Christianity a Jewish sect and gave them the same protection they gave Jews.

Read someplace that it was the gentile Christians who first gained notice from Rome.

I think it was during the Bar Kochba rebellion that the Jews excommunicated the Jewish Christians.

For the first 50 or so years, Jews spent all their time trying to get Rome to kill Christians by telling Rome that Christians were troublemakers. What protection did Jesus have? How about Paul and the Apostles have?