As we've studied the history of Christianity in the days of the Roman Empire and the centuries after its fall, I hope you've had an opportunity to consider the incredible price that was paid by early Christians as they faced terrible persecution for their beliefs. The bravery of these men and women is astounding, and modern Christians should be mindful that we have the Word of God preserved only by His grace and their faithfulness. Of course, people are still being martyred and imprisoned today for their Christian beliefs.
This week I'd like you to research a Christian martyr and share his/her story along with a personal lesson we can learn from them. Here are a couple of good websites you can access to begin your work.
http://www.biblebelievers.com/foxes/findex.htm
http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/voice-of-the-martyrs.htm
Remember that your response must be at least 200 words and that you must respond to at least two others (a total of 150 words). Failure to complete your homework assignments can have a dire effect on your grade!
Martyr is defined as a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing and refusing to renounce his or her faith. We have all heard stories of martyrs whether it be from Akers history class or some other source. There has been and still are many many martyrs that suffer and die for their faith in Christ. Because of the sufferings of these people Gods word has been preserved and many have come to faith in Christ.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for me to imagine the pain these martyrs went through. The disgusting and gruesome ways that the leaders came with to torture and kill Christians is unimagineable. They boiled them in oil, beheaded them ( which probably was one of the kindest ways to die ), crucified them, burned them, beat them, cut, hung upon sharp poles, and many other ways.
The martyr I choose is Agatha, a Sicilian woman. She was known for her piety and also her exceeding beauty. She was considered to be so beautiful that the governor of Sicily fell deeply in love (or maybe deeply in lust) with her. He tried many times to get her to compromise her purity but found her to be insistent on remaining pure. Intent on satisfying his desires he handed her over to very infamous prostitute who tried unsuccessfully to win her into prostitution. The governor, angry that his plans had not worked, became very resentful of her.Upon finding that she was a Christian he became determined to at least satisfy his want of revenge since he could not satisfy his desire. Upon his orders she was scourged, burned with red-hot irons, and torn with sharp hooks. Because she bore these tortures admirably she was laid naked upon hot coals then carried back to prison where she died soon after of her injuries.
Somethings I can learn from reading of these martyrs especially this one is: One, the temporary pain is well worth eternity in heaven. Many would have had to endure eternity in hell as opposed to the temporary torture they went through if they had renounced their faith. Two,I am thankful for these martyrs because through many of them God's word has been preserved and now I can know God's word too. Three,is do not compromise your faith for anything! Not even for the threat of death. Four, I feel guilty that sometimes I wont share my faith with someone who is lost because I don't want to be embarrassed or laughed at or something but these people not only endured embarrassment but also torture and death because they witnessed to the lost. I am thankful that I can learn these lessons from them and that I can share my faith with people without the fear of torture and death. Some people around the world today are being put to death because of their faith and because they are witnessing to the lost. We all need to have that kind of devotion and drive to reach the lost.
Willi Nowak
ReplyDeleteMy Essay will be about the first christian martyr, Stephen. He died about 34 A.D. in Jerusalem, Israel.
Saint Stephen was preaching the gospel in Jerusalem on the Passover after Christ’s crucifixion. He had, in my eyes, an awful death because Stephen was cast out of the city and stoned to death. But the question in my opinnion is who would stone him? One of the people who where at the event was Paul of Tarsus. I think they all, whoever did this, made sin. After him followed about 2,000 Christians martyrdom during the same time.
The story is in the bibel in Acts 6 and 7.
Even today are in a couple of churches, for example in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran or Eastern Orthodox Churche, feast for him. It's in the most churches on December 26, often in the western parts, or 27, most time in the eastern parts.
Soo I think he was in my eyes, like many other martyrs, more than a person. He was more as a hero.
I used:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/voice-of-the-martyrs.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen
For my essay this week i believe i am going to wright about John Wesly. Now he didnt exactly die because he stood up for his beliefs and God. But he died always believeing in his beliefs and God. John Wesly was born on the seventeenth of June in 1703 in England. He was the fifteenth of nineteen children! Weslys father was a preacher and his mother was a "remarkable woman in wisdom and intelligence." She brought all nineteen of her children in very close contact with all the bible stories. John Wesly went on to Oxford there he was a leader, and during the latter part of his course he was one of the founders of an organization called the "Holy Club" It was full of serious minded christian students. He beacame more in love with God at that point. He and his brother Charles were sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gosple to Georgia, whear both of them developed their powers as preachers.It is believed to be noted by John Wesly in his diary that, in a great tempest, when the English people on board lost all self-possesion, these Germans impressed him by their composure and entire resignation to God. He also marked their humility under shameful treatment. JOhn Wesly died believeing strogly in God and shareing his love for God to hundreds of people. I only hope that i in some way can do the same as John Wesly
ReplyDeleteI used http://www.biblebelievers.com/foxes/findex.htm
ReplyDeletefor all of my info =)
Rachel Joy Scott
ReplyDeletei first heard about rachel's story in the winter of my 8th grade year, after being told about this couragous young woman for the first time a sort of flame lit in me and it set fire to my curiosity, i wanted to learn the whole story so i went and bout the book that was inspired by rachel's journal... all through out the book are passages from her journal. rachel was 17 years old and she was the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre, which claimed the lives of twelve students, one teacher, and the two perpetrators that day.
rachel was so passionate in her walk with Christ and rachel was know for her strive to be different and to do anything possible to not conform to the things of this world. rachel left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.
on the day of the shooting rachel was sitting at the lunch table eating with a friend when approached by the perpetrators. they got her on the ground and asked her if she believed in God and without a second thought she replyed yes. because of her love for God rachel was the first targeted student in this massacre, rachel gave her life for Jesus because he gave his life for her.
when i was younger and i thought of martyrs i thought of some old man that just died for what he believed but as i matured and i learned about rachel scott i gained a whole new perspective on the issue... rachel wasnt that much older than me and she gave her life for her one true love... Jesus Christ :)
Rachel's Tears, p. 32.
ReplyDelete↑ 5.0 5.1 S.C. Gwynne (1999-12-20). "An Act of God?". Time magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,992875,00.html?promoid=googlep. Retrieved 2009-05-05
Imagine waiting on a bus outside of your home, then suddenly hearing gunfire, and being shot down in cold blood. Can you imagine the terror that would inflict on people? But what if it went further then that? What if your sister was also shot down and your mother wounded by the same people that killed you? What would the world think? What would you die for?
ReplyDeleteThe situtation I asked you to imagine actually happened. On November 12, 2008, in the country of Iraq, the above situation became reality. Two sisters were mercilesly shot down and their mother wounded by a gang of Islamic extreamists. This family lived in the Al Qahira section of Mosul, Iraq. One sister was waiting outside of there home for a bus, perhaps to go to school or to a friends I don't know, when she was shot and killed in cold blood. Her murderers then rushed inside her home, shot and killed her sister, and then they injured her mother. Why did these Islamic extreamists kill these girls? The answer: They were Christians.
These girls, perhaps they were our age, perhaps they were older, were killed for their faith, mayrtered. Their aren't in some old, dusty, smelly book that was written hundreds and hundreds of years ago that only old people read. No. They are on the internet, in articles written a mere three years ago!
In Iraq, the killing of Christians is a common thing. Islam is big over there, and Christianity is strongly frowned upon. Many believers have been chased out of the country for fear of their lives. Yet, many still remain. Many still preach the Word of God to the lost of Iraq. Many of these believers may become martyers in the next few years, some may even become martyers today or tomorrow.
Martyrdom isn't a thing of the past that never happens today. We are past all that boiling in oil and burning alive and beheading and crucifying stuff, you may say. True, those forms of torture may be gone, but martyrdom isn't. The methods have changed, instead of burning alive they are shot, stabbed, or bombed, but the idea hasn't. Christians are still being killed for their faith in Christ in many parts of the world.
Reading stories like the one of the sisters makes me realize how blessed we are to live in America, the land of freedom. We can worship God all we want and no one will try and kill us for it. Other places are not blessed like that. China, Iraq, Turkministan. Christians are tortured and killed just for beleiving in Jesus and saying they are a Christian. Our prayers should constantly be with them. We should pray for safety, strength, and the confidence in the Lord to protect them and help them minister to nonbelievers. "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us."
Works Cited: http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTA%3d
jess_megs15,
ReplyDeleteI love your essay. I remember glancing at your book in 8th grade and thinking it really really amazing. The story of Rachell Scott is truly insipiring. After reading your essay, I couldn't help but think "What would I do if that had happened to me?" The honest answer is, I don't know. For her to instantly reply "yes" knowing that she was going to die for it is just incredible. Her faith is something to be admired and remembered. If the situation happened, I believe that all of us want the courage to say "yes" like she did, even if it means our lives.
I’m really excited about this essay. I feel like God has been really working within my heart about my weak faith. I’ve heard many stories about martyrs lately and every time I hear one, I ask the question, “Would I die like they did?”
ReplyDeleteTurns out, the answer to that question is a tiny little maybe, not a definite, confident yes. How many of us could stare death in the face, knowing that if we say yes to the Lord we’ll die right then? That takes a lot of faith; the kind of faith it takes to move mountains. Something I’ve learned over the past few days is that having this amount of faith isn’t impossible. If God tells us to have that kind of faith, it isn’t unattainable.
I wanted to talk about a fairly modern martyr. It is so encouraging to know there are people out there who have the true faith of a martyr. On April 13th of this year, a pastor and his wife were abducted and killed by supposed Islamic extremists. Pastor Ishaku Kadah and his wife, Selina, were living in their home at the church in Nigeria when they were abducted. Their burnt bodies were discovered hours later.
I can only imagine their fear. I would have been horrified. I want the faith to move mountains; to stare death in the face and say, “yes, Lord!” So often we try to make faith seem like a simple thing, but it really isn’t. Still, it is real. When you begin seeking after the faith of a martyr, you have to be relentless. It is attainable, but the road to get to that faith is extremely difficult. Someday, if it’s God’s will, I want to be joyful when I stare death in the face. I want to be joyful because I have enough faith to say, “yes, Lord!”
http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjUy
ReplyDeleteI'm going to write over Martyrs in Germany.
ReplyDeleteAfter the time of Martin Luther, a courageous reformer, in Germany; the pope was so terrified of his success, that he engaged the German emperor Charles V to fight against the new movement, called Protestants. Martin Luther translated the Bible into German and wrote 95 Theses, where he writes about the mistakes in the church. He published these 95 Theses by nailing them on the door of the church from the city Wittenberg. I think Willi is from that city.
Well anyway, after that all Protestants were Martyrs.
Henry Sutphen, an eloquent and pious preacher, was taken out of his bed in the middle of the night, and had to walk barefoot a long way, so that his feet were terribly cut. He wanted to have a horse, but his conductors said, in derision, "A horse for a heretic! No, no, heretics may go barefoot." When he arrived at the place of his destination, he was condemned to be burnt; but, during the execution, many indignities were offered him, as those who attended not content with what he suffered in the flames, cut and slashed him in a most terrible manner.
I always thought to burned alive is one of the most terrible ways to die, but after my research I read so much about how you can make it even worse.
I think we really should be happy to live in a country where you can belief what you want and say it out loud. We often don't realize how valuable it is.
I used
ReplyDeletehttp://www.biblebelievers.com/foxes/fox110.htm
The persecution was one awful part of the early church history.
ReplyDeleteThe first martyr for what would become the Christian Church was the persecution with
Jesus himself.
Lots of Christians died for their faith.
For my essay this week I want to write about Saint Stephen. Saint Stephen's name means in the Greek "crown".
About 34 A.D he died for faithful manner in which he preached the Gospel to
the betrayers and murderers of Christ. Stephen is the first to be killed because of his commitment to Jesus Christ.
They cast him out of the city and stoned him to death.
My question is how should it work and how could someone make it. It sound very horrible and I couldn't imagine.
His persecution was promoted against all who believes in Christ as the Messiah. About 2,000 Christians suffered during this time
This part is in the bibel Acts 6 and 7. Stephen is in the New Testament, a deacon of the early church in Jerusalem.
The 26th December is the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, Old Catholic Church,
the Lutheran Churches and the Anglican Church of the Feast of Saint Stephen.
When I hear stories of martyrs I am always in awe of their supreme bravery and trust in God. I think all martyrs should have some amount of recognition for their sacrifice for God. It was difficult to choose just one martyr to write about because they are all so inspiring but this certain mans story caught my eye. A man by the name of Hans Brael was traveling through the Pusterthal in Switzerland when he ran into a judge and his actuary. The actuary could tell there was something about this man. The actuary immediately began to question Hans.
ReplyDelete“Where have you been? What are you doing here?” He asked.
“I have been visiting my brothers” Hans answered honestly.
"And by your brothers, do you mean the rebaptizers?"
Once again answering honestly he said yes. The judge then began to bind Hans with his own belt. Then they made him walk next to the horses for an hour, across the Swiss valley of Puster. After examining Hans to determine the reason for the arrest, they put him in prison so they could try him the next day. When tried the Lord asked Hans to recant but of course he refused. Then the Lord asked Hans to tell where the other repaptizers were meeting. Because Hans would not tell, the Lord informed Hans that he would be tortured if he did not tell. Of course he did not budge. The judge wasted no time in getting him out of his cell and to the executioner He was brought to the rack. The executioner attached the ropes to his hands and stretched him until even the people watching were crying. When that did no good, they hung him by his hands from the ropes and tied a large stone to his feet. Again he was pressed for information but he refused to tell. They put Hans in a tower where he stayed so long that the damp air rotted his clothes. Still he wouldn’t give any information.
Hans later escaped and although he did not die for his faith he did go through great persecution for God so he is still considered a martyr. Hans display of great boldness is so encouraging to me. I pray that if I were ever put in a situation like this that I would have the boldness and love for God that I would be willing to go through anything for Him.
What tremendous and inspiring stories!
ReplyDeleteEmma.Delaine,
ReplyDeleteGood essay!! I really like the story you chose. It's a very interesting one and one taht shows remarkable faith. I can't imagine a worse form of torture then to be put on the rack. Just from what I have seen in the movies and on TV, I can tell that it was excruciatingly painful! I can't imagine being put on that thing and being tortured on it! But for Hans to be tortured multiple horrific ways and not budge an inch is amazing! He truly had great faith! Great essay!
I will be doing my essay on John Wickliffe. John Wickliffe has been called the “Morning Star of the Reformation.” He was born in 1324 and was raised to go into church work. He went to college at Merton College where he gained recognition for ending a problem that the college had with some begging friars. The friars were teaching the false doctrine that Jesus was only a common beggar and that the disciples were the same. They used this to justify their begging. Wickliffe wrote a treatise that proved the friars not only to be a reproach to the religion but to society. After this he gained a high position at Oxford. The position was then unjustly taken away so he appealed to the pope. The pope disagreed with Wickliffe because of something that King Edward the Third had done. A great argument started and Wickliffe used his incredible skills to disprove even the best argument the popes supporters could present. Wickliffe even called the pope the Antichrist. In 1378 two popes were fighting over who was the rightful heir to the papacy. it got so bad that a war broke out. This is when Wickliffe once again picked up his pen against the papacy. He wrote against the pope saying: “How he durst make the token of Christ on the cross (which is the token of peace, mercy and charity) a banner to lead us to slay Christian men, for the love of two false priests, and to oppress Christiandom worse than Christ and his apostles were oppressed by the Jews? “When,” said he, “will the proud priest of Rome grant indulgences to mankind to live in peace and charity, as he now does to fight and slay one another?” He died of palsy in 1384.
ReplyDeleteNow John Wickliffe wasn’t a martyr but he was on the website that we where given so I assumed that his story was fair game. He is an excellent example of an apologist. He used logic and reason the defend his views. He is a great example of not giving in to the beliefs of the day but instead searching the Bible and finding what the truth is for yourself.
http://www.biblebelievers.com/foxes/findex.htm
@Emma.Delaine:
ReplyDeleteVery good job on your essay! The story from Hans is really, really impressive! As I read how they strechted him I really thought OMG how can he still not talk. He had really great faith in God. I liked the way you wrote your essay and I learned a lot. Good job!
@Abbie:
Very good job on your essay! As I read your essay I saw that you're really interested and fascinated by these people or martyrs. I can understand that. I learned a lot by reading your essay and felt very sorry for this family. But that shows that even today there are a lot of Christians who are chased and killed because they believe in Jesus.
When I was younger, everytime I heard the word martyr I thought of people who died for their Christianity, but now I know that it can be anyone who dies for whatever their belief might be. I am astounded by all the horrifying stories of people that courageously took a step of faith and chose to die for what they believe. It is very inspiring to me and makes me want to take a stand for my faith. Hopefully I won't ever have to face a situation where I have to chose between my life and my faith but I would absolutely love to think that I would stay strong and trust God.
ReplyDeleteFor my martyr story I chose Isaiah from the Bible. This guy was the greatest of the prophets and his ministry began some 740 years before Christ. Isaiah was a contemporary of the prophets Amos, Hosea, and Micah. He was martyred under the reign of Manasseh, said to be one of the most wicked kings recorded by the Old Testament. In the end, Isaiah is sawed in two. But as he is sawed in two, he communes with the Holy Spirit. By the way, commune means to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity or intimacy. I thought that was really neat that although Isaiah was dying a very hard, painful death he pretty much died talking to God, the God that he was being martyred for.
In this specific story I wonder what exactly was going though Isaiahs mind. The story makes it sound as if he wasn't even frightened or scared, as if he was content and in peace. I wonder?? I know that through Isaiahs strong faith it has challenged me to become stronger and more bold about living out my faith and try to not fear because God is controller of everything and every situation.
http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/noncanon/summaries/mart_isaiah.htm
Abbie, Great Essay. I like your question "Would I die like they did?" Thats a really neat question that I also wonder. The Martyr you chose was very sad, just like every other story about martyrs, but its more encouraging than anything.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to say Abbie, that the last paragraph of your essay really made me think. It really got to me. I would also like to be able to say "yes Lord" but like you also said that the road to get to that faith isn't just a breeze but rather very hard. Good job Abbie, I really liked your Essay a lot!!
I love this weeks assignment because this word ‘martyr’ has been on my mind ever since Mr.
ReplyDeleteAkers talked about it in class. Martyrdom is something Christians in the past faced and we still face today. When i look at these many martyrs and see the LOVE they had for the heavenly Father it makes me check myself. For the past couple weeks i have asked myself over and over again, “Would you die for this relationship with God?” That is a very tough question, but if it is in God’s will, i will follow. I know this assignment isn’t supposed to be about me, but when i read what the assignment was i could help but pour my heart out. This kind of stuff is so heavy.
I chose to write my essay on Peter, because not only did he die for Christ, but he honored His
holy name till the end. He requested to be crucified upside down because he didn’t feel worthy enough to die in the same way as Jesus. This to me is just completely amazing. I mean honoring God’s name even as you suffer the ‘consequences’ for serving Him. That was such an honorable thing to do. This we can apply to our lives, but in a different way. For example: our Christian walk consists of ‘seasons.’ We have our seasons where all we want to do is love on God and we can feel Him so close, but other times God puts us through ‘silent seasons’ where we can’t really
hear His voice as well and we feel distant and dazed. Now, Imagine our ‘silent season’ like
Peter’s crucifixion and when we press forward through the tough time and focus on God; but
then, like Peter, we take that extra step and not only focus on God but love on Him even more,
worship Him deeper, and read His word with a vulnerable heart (Meaning we are open and
susceptible to His spirit.) This i have dealt with myself and i can sure talk like i know what I’m doing, but when it comes down to it, it knocks me off my feet like the next guy. I say all of this to, hopefully, help some of you and even myself through those tough times and to learn to trust God fully.
I apologize if i confused anyone with the way i word things. My mind works so much faster than
i can type so yeah... Well, again, i loved this essay because it not only gave a little history, but i got to write a little piece of my heart in it. :D
Alex,
ReplyDeleteyou did a wonderful job on your essay. I loved the beginning how you said, "When I was younger, everytime I heard the word martyr I thought of people who died for their Christianity, but now I know that it can be anyone who dies for whatever their belief might be." because i thought the same thing. I never thought that people of other religions did those kinds of things (of course i never focused on other religions other than my own.) I just always thought it was a Christian thing. It also pains me to hear about those non-Christian martyrs because they not only die for a fails god, but the fact that they have more faith in their god that they will save them, than we do in our God. I'm not saying that you, me, or any other random Christian in the world wouldn't die for the Father, but me and many other Christians also won't even let God take their whole heart. We just give Him pieces.
Emma,
your essay was amazing! I really love how you gave this man recognition. As you said, "although he did not die for his faith he did go through great persecution for God so he is still considered a martyr."
Your essay made me hurt all over just to hear all of the suffer this man had to go through, but this is such an inspiring faith he had in God to deal with the pain. I can't think of anything else to say but "Go Hans!" Hahaha.
Again great essay!!
For this weeks essay i have chose to write about the martyr of James the great. A martyr is a person that is persecuted because of their faith. James the great was son to Zebedee and Salome. His death was the second martyrdom, and it took place ten years after the death of stephen, which was the first martyrdom. It was no sooner that Herod Agrippa been appointed gouvernor of judea, with a veiw to ingratiate himself with them, he raised a sharp persecution against the christians and determined to make an effectual blow, by striking at their leaders.The account that is given by a primitive writer, Clemens Alexandrinus, ought not to be over looked. As James was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser, was brought, to repent of his conduct, by the apostles extraordinary courage and dauntedness, and fell down to his feet to request a pardon, saying that he was a christian himself and that james shouldnt have to "recieve the crown of martrydom alone." Thus, They were both beheaded at the same time. A lesson i think we all can learn from this is, no matter what the circumstance, we should never deny our faith.
ReplyDeleteI have already looked at this website “ http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/voice-of-the-martyrs.htm “
ReplyDeleteAnd there was a couple things that is my favorite
“Peter was condemned to death and crucified at Rome. Jerome holds that Peter was crucified upside down, at his own request, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.”
I think Peter , he die for Christ, but he honored still showed up. he died in the same way as Jesus. He was honoring God’s name even though he gave the lord a honestly faithfulness .And all for his stories made me want to ask myself that “he died for us, can we die for him ?” I mean like he lose his life for us and the most important thing that we give him back is our faithfulness.
And Peter’s stry is really touch my heart .
Voice of the Martyrs - People May Die for a Belief, but Not for a Lie
Only one word “believe” ,this word could explain many kinds and a brunch of ways .In my opinion I think believe is the same way of faith like when you believe something ,then it will change to be trust and faith .
jess_megs15, Your report was very good and everytime I hear the story of Rachel Scott it kinda gets me fired up. She must have been really passionate about God. She is a great example of a young girl with a lot of faith.
ReplyDeleteAs you said when you were younger you never got the full perspective on martyrdom, well neither did I. But now I understand more. Its kind of painful read everyones homework this week but even more so encouraging. Good Job jess_megs
great story to share!!
Paul is one of my favorite persons in the bible. I decided to do my essay on him.
ReplyDeleteFrom the biblical point of view little is known of the rest of Paul's life. The Bible does not reveal the outcome of his trial before Caesar. The fact that Paul was permitted to have a rented house, and that people could come and go, indicates that his confinement was of a limited nature. Luke abruptly ends the narrative with Paul in prison at Rome. Paul was later released from this imprisonment and made other travels, before being again imprisoned, an imprisonment, which was terminated by his death. Tradition holds that Paul's condemnation and execution occurred during the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Nero (67 AD). The supposed sight of this event may still be seen at Tre Fontane on the Ostain Road.
There were times in his life, when there were great physical and psychological persecutions faced. For instance, 2 Corinthians, like no other book of the New Testament, relates what life must have been like for an apostle of Christ in Bible times. In the first chapter Paul expresses gratitude for the fact that he has been comforted in his afflictions. He had recently undergone one of the most painful experiences of his life, having narrowly escaped from deadly violence in Ephesus. In chapter 4 he points out that he had not used craftiness or deceit in preaching Christ--that was the underhanded methods of false teachers. Paul had preached Christ, not himself. He had suffered much for the cause of Christ, but had not lost heart.
As can be seen from this short treatment, suffering by means of persecution and imprisonment was a way of life for the Paul and for so many that were faithful Christians during the first century. It can be said without reservation that it meant something to be a Christian in the first century.
http://www.AllAboutFollowingJesus.org/christian-persecution.htm
http://www.lawspublishing.com/paul.htm
Today, I will write my essay about the Swiss martyr Ulrich Zwingli. I chose to write about him because he is very popular in Europe. During my research I learned that he even studied in my hometown back in Switzerland, which is Basel.
ReplyDeleteUlrich Zwingli was the founder of the reformation in Switzerland. He was born on 1 January 1484 in Wildhaus, Switzerland, as the third of nine children. When he was ten years old he was sent to Basel where he learned Latin. Zwingli was educated at the University of Vienna, Berne and the University of Basel. In 1506 he was ordained a priest and began preaching reformist ideas in Zürich in 1518. He wrote 67 Articles, which were adopted by most priests. As he became more popular he declared that Jesus alone is head of the church and that there is no biblical foundation for the intercession of the dead or for purgatory. His teachings on the sacrament of communion brought him into conflict with both Luther and the Catholic Church.
Zwingli and Luther knew each other since they lived during the same time period, however their different viewpoints on Christian teachings caused a tension between them. Tensions between Zurich and Switzerland's Catholic cantons led to war. Zwingli was severely wounded in battle and refused a Catholic confessor. Therefore he was killed by sword.
It intrigues me that there were many people in history who died for their faith, which shows their strong belief and trust in God. They are willing to die for the truth. That is an honorable action and we should show great respect for those people.
I chose to do my report on Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
ReplyDeleteBonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor who was a theologian and martyr. He was a part of the German Resistance movement against Nazism.
Bonhoeffer graduated with high honors form the University of Berlin in 1927 and earned his doctorate in theology at the age of 21. Because he was too young to be ordained he traveled in the 1930 to New York City. There he made a life long friend, who was a black fellow seminarian who introduced him to Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlen. He taught a Sunday school class and formed a life-long love for African American spirituals. He look a collection back to Germany.
After his return from American in 1931, Bonhoeffer became a lecturer of systematic theology at the University of Berlin. Bonhoeffer's career was forever altered when the Nazi's ascended to power. He opposed Hitler's regime and went on the radio warning Germany against Hitler. He was cut off in the middle of his sentence.
Undercover of Abwehr he served as a courier for the German resistance movement.
On April 6, 1943 Bonhoeffer was arrested with a friend and imprisoned at Tegel a military prison awaiting trial. He was secretly moved to Buchenwald concentration camp and finally to Flossenburg concentration camp.
Bonhoeffer was executed in a very brutal manner. The camp doctor who witnessed the execution wrote," I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.
Info from Wikipedia
Today I am telling you something about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a theologist and was born on the February 4,1906 in Breslau and died on the April 6 in 1996 Flossenbuerg. He was an agent from the Church and he also was a member of the German people organisation against the National Socialism.
ReplyDeleteWhen he was 24 years old he got the job as private lecturer for protestant theology in Berlin. In April 1933 he spoke in public against the socialism going on at this time.
And 1938 he became a member of the Wilhelm Franz Cenaris organisation. After he got a ban on speaking and writing he got arrested in 1943.
Bonhoeffer emphasized the presence of Jesus Christ in the world community of Christians, the significance of the Sermon on the Mount, and following Jesus and the consistency between faith and action, which he exemplified in person.
On April 6, the Berlin Regional Court lifts the death sentence of 8 April 1945 and rehabilitated Bonhoeffer. They hanged him and he had to face a lot of shame, because he had to take off his clothes before the execution.
He wanted to tell others that it is really important to stand up for your belief in something. He knew that he was doing the right thing and he was not sad about that he is going to die. His last words were „This is not the End it ist he beginning!!!“
Wouldn’t you love to go to a country and help with the needs of the people there? If you had the expertise would you go across the world to give medical treatment to complete strangers? Would you run around all day in the hot sun to hand out food and water to people, and not get any yourself? Well that’s exactly what ten members of a Christian aid team in Northern Afghanistan were doing on August the fifth. This team was made up of six Americans a Briton a German and two Afghans. This team was led by Dr. Tom Little an optometrist who had been working in Afghanistan for more than 30 years. Him and his team stopped for lunch one day in Sharrun Valley in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Northern Afghanistan and were suddenly ambushed by the Taliban. All ten of them were brutally murdered.
ReplyDeleteWhat you can learn from this is that anything can happen at any moment. One minute you can be sitting around joking with your friends while you enjoy your lunch. Then the very next minute you can be surrounded by Taliban soldiers wanting to kill you just because of your faith. We need to be ready at all times to defend our faith. No matter where we are at even here in our little town of Somerset (as my pastors wife says “the hub of the universe”) we can be attacked at any moment whatsoever. Always be prepared for the unexpected.
I'm doing my essay on Stephen, A martyr is a person who holds to a belief so strongly that he/she is willing to die for it. Such was the faith that Stephen had in Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteStephen was able to work miracles among the people. He began to preach and some of the Jews would argue with him about his beliefs. These evil men persuaded some men to say that Stephen was speaking against Moses and even against God. This wasn't true, but many people got upset about it because they believed it was true. They took hold of Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish rulers. He began to speak to them. He told about the whole history of the Jewish people beginning with Abraham. Then he accused the men, and their fathers before them, of hurting and killing the prophets, and even of killing the Righteous One, Jesus.
The rulers became very angry with him, but Stephen looking up to heaven, saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He told the men what he was seeing.
They put their hands over their ears because they didn't want to listen to him. They yelled at the top of their voices. They rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him to death. So that is my essay on a martyr.
private elijah,
ReplyDeletei really liked the way you started your essay like it caught my attention and made me wanna read the rest of it. the whole story in general really interested me like its so sad it broke my heart but i mean if you are dying for what you believe in then there is no one stopping you. good job :)
abbie,
it really got to me how you started your essay like how you shared your heart before anything else. like it made me smile. i know im suppost to be commenting on your essay but really i wanna comment on you lol it really inspires me the way you take on life and how you deal with situations like you always find the best in everything. i love you abbie good job girly :)
billy the squid,
i liked your essay it was good where you explained everything like it made it easy for me to understand. so great job :)
A martyr is someone who dies for their beliefs, so not only Christians are martyrs, which is often thought, but even those terrorist on the planes on 9-11 were martyrs because they actually believed that they were doing gods (Allah) will.
ReplyDeleteI am writing about James, Jesus’ brother. It is thought that James didn’t follow Jesus until after the resurrection of Christ. However after he followed Jesus he became a major church leader. I think that James not believing is a little ironic because strangers believed Jesus, but Jesus’ little brother didn’t believe him yet. I think that its odd that James never left Jerusalem, but was the “overseer” of the ministry. The first attempt of killing James didn’t work and that was to toss him off the highest peak of the temple ( I think it was a little ironic that James was thrown off the highest point of the temple and Jesus was tempted by Satan to jump off the highest point) , which didn’t work, and then he was stoned. He was martyred because he was caught in public saying that Jesus was on the right hand side of God’s throne and that he will descend from the clouds one day to call up all of his Father’s children.
Private Elijah, you are such an awesome essayist. I know this is more like getting into English stuff, but I just have to comment. The way you transition into a new paragraph and help the reader visualize an event in history like you did with this essay is just great. Thank you for emphasizing the fact that people are still martyred around the world. I too am grateful to live in America. I pray that we’ll always have the freedom we have now.
ReplyDeletePaco, your essay was good. It kind of had this vibe of fear weaved in their too. I think you could branch off with that essay and say a lot more on the subject. I can tell you definitely have a servant’s heart. If something unexpected happened to you like what happened to these men, I think you’d be able to stand for your faith and you would continue to serve the Lord in the process :)
Martyr. Webster’s dictionary says that a Martyr is “a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle.” This past month the Lord has really been working on my heart and speaking to me about giving everything up for Him. He is teaching me how to fall out of lovee of the things of this world, and to jump madly in lovee with the things of Him. Back when I went to IHOP in Kansas City, I went to their book store which they had on site by the Prayer Room. I found a book called “Jesus Freak” and I knew something would change in my heart.
ReplyDeleteA martyr, am I one? Are we one? Every day we hear new stories about people in different countries giving their lives for the sake of Christ, I used to think of it as “We’ll they are over there, and I am here.” What is so different from here? We still are the same people, with the same sinful natures and righteous desires. I started pondering the fact, would I be a martyr? Would I let someone tear me to shreds if I didn’t renounce the name of God? I hope that I wouldn’t, and you know, that’s something that I am pre-determining in my heart. I have to choose now, so I can stand up boldly and know what’s in my heart, and then speak it.
I really look up to Rachel Scott; there is a lot about her that speaks to me. She was a junior where she attended Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. She was seventeen and had a leadership role in her youth group at church. She was a writer and an actress; she had the leading role in the school play that year. But her lovee for the Lord was (and I bet it still is lol) beautiful, you can look through her writing and see that she knew the things of the Lord’s heart. I had a chance last year to read a book that was a collection of her writings; these were all from her journals. Most of her journal entries were prayers and poetry to Abba. At the time that I had read it, I was just embarking on my journey with the Lord. Her writing taught me how to pray, and that prayer isn’t religious, but it’s just you and your best friend having a conversation. When Rachel Scott was martyred, she was outside of her school eating lunch with one of her friends. Can you imagine eating lunch, and all of a sudden someone is up in your face with a gun, threatening your life that you have here on earth. Woww. Rachel was the same age as me, probably eating the same school lunch that would be eating on Monday.
I am a junior at Somerset Christian School. I am seventeen and I also help lead worship at youth group. I am a writer, and I lovee acting in my skool’s drama class- where I have a great role in the Christmas play. But I am in a different environment then Rachel Scott was in, she went to a public school. I go to one where we can talk about the Lord. Rachel worked at a Subway, but I work at a Culver’s. I can go around talking about God during work, but some people WILL look at me weird. The thing that I have learned from Rachel Scott is her boldness, and her willingness to be used by the Lord. I pray that the Lord will give all of us that boldness that Rachel Scott has had, and that he will give us a hunger to be used by Him. All we have to do is to be willing, and He will do the rest.
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ReplyDeleteMy References:
ReplyDeleteThat book that Jessie let me read last year, i forgot the name of it. And "Jesus Freaks" by DC Talk.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martyr
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Scott
I hope that I ***WOULD, and you know, that’s something that I am pre-determining in my heart
ReplyDeleteBiggin,
ReplyDeleteYour essay was very good. This story excites me. This man had a chance to move many hearts for the Lord, and you can defiantly see it in the man who you last mentioned. The doctor at Flossenburg concentration camp wrote, “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.” You can totally see in this that this man’s heart did move! And Bonheoffer didn’t even mean to minister to anyone. He was just loving on the Lord. Good essay Michael!!
Nang,
Believing is a part of having faith. Because you cannot have faith without belief. I loved your essay. I really did. Good Job!
Alexandria Grace,
ReplyDeleteVery Good Essay! Isaiah is a very good example of martyr people. We don't usually think they could be martyrs before Christ, but I guess Christians have always been persecuted for their faith. I'm really existed about seeing things change in our time. It could be great if we could express our faith in all places and won't be judge by it. And it's sad that some people are persecuting christians because they know it's what's real. Again, very good essay!
Rachel, thank you for sharing about Rachel Scott the Columbine High School student who gave her life because she loved Jesus. I think like you, that when we hear the word martyr, we think of a different time in history or a different country.
ReplyDeleteRachel was a student like us who's only "crime" was that she had a real living relationship with Jesus. Rachel died young but left a legacy. Some people live a full life and leave no legacy.
Paco, thank you for telling the story of Dr. Tom Little.We don't realize the need for medical assistance that's needed in third world countries. A person that has been working in Afghanistan for 30 years is not a novice.Dr. Little had to be passionate about what he did.
I find it so twisted to think that men are so threatened by Jesus that they would kill 10 members of a medical team that showed the love of Jesus.
Gagalicious, Very good Essay! But I don't believe the terrorists in the 9-11 attack were martyrs. They were not killed by other people, they chose to kill them selves in this attack! They maybe thought it was God's will (and Allah is the same God that we believe in, it's just the name that changes. I know a few christians that were muslms and now still call God Allah. )
ReplyDeleteJames' strory is very interesting. Thank's for sharing it.
Again, Good Essay!
Emma.Delaine,
ReplyDeleteI love your essay .It’s amazing I really love how you gave us the details of the stories of martyrs and I really enjoyed reading your essay .You showed up the way that he did not die for his faith he did go through great persecution for God so he is still considered a martyr. And I think its kind of encouraging to me. Great job!!!
Alexandria Grace,
I really like you essay a lot .You did an awesome job on your essay. And I also love the way that you talk about martyr.Isaiah is a good choice for martyr from the Bible. This guy was the greatest of the prophets and his ministry . Isaiah was martyred under the reign of Manasseh. Isaiah was dying a very hard, painful death he pretty much died talking to God, the God that he was being martyred for.God is controller of everything and every situation. I loved the way that you talked about him so Good job !!!
Morgan, good job on your essay! I really enjoyed reading it and it taught me a lot of new things. The story of Agatha really intrigued me. And I agree with you: All these strong and brave people helped to preserve the gospel over thousands of years. We should really respect them because they are honorable people. They were willing to die for their faith because they were convinced that the gospel is true. There is at least a little hope that the people who killed those martyrs went to hell and eventually had to endure even greater pain than the martyrs. Because they were released from their pain in heaven.
ReplyDeleteAbbie, your essay made me think so much about my faith. I definitely wouldn’t have the courage to die for it, because I would be too scared. And I have total respect for that pastor and his wife who agreed to die for God. It amazes me that there are still people like that today, who have such great faith in Him!
For as long as I can remember I have heard the bible story of John the Baptist. He ate locusts and honey, and he was imprisoned and beheaded for the cause of Christ.
ReplyDeleteJohn the Baptist preached of the coming of Christ. Two things that stand out to me are that he didn't feel worthy to baptize Jesus or unlatch his shoes. He did baptize Jesus and a dove came down from heaven and God said "This is my son in whom I am well pleased."
John was not well liked by King Herod. The King put John in prison because John spoke against the King when he divorced his wife and married his sister in law (Herodias). On Herodias' daughter's birthday she asked for John's head on a platter for her birthday. And she got it. John was persecuted and eventually put to death. John the Baptist - the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah - was chosen to tell about Christ before he arrived. In the end, he gave his life for being a follower of Christ.
Charity - thank you for what you have written about Rachel Scott. I've heard of the Jesus Freak book before but have never read it. Rachel Scott was a martyr or Jesus Freak - or whatever you might want to call it. She stood for Christ in a moment when most teens would not. It was a great essay Charity. Thank you for reminding us of Columbine and what some of those teens were willing to do in standing up for our God.
ReplyDeleteStella,
ReplyDeleteI liked reading your essay, I am honest and tell, that I never heard about Ulrich Zwingli before, which is kind of sad, because he was not really far from the country I live. But now after I read your article I know a lot about him and his beliefs. I enjoyed it.
Megan - A great essay about John Wesley. He was a great man of God. Where I used to go to church in Lexington, my pastor's wife would sometimes speak about John Wesley and his wife Suzannah. They home schooled their 19 children - and that stood out to me because I was home schooled from K4 - 9th grade. Suzannah taught all 19 of her children to read. She and her husband raised all of those children to serve Christ. John Wesley was such a great man of God - leading many people to the Lord. I like your essay. I'm glad you wrote about him. He was a great man.
ReplyDeleteCamden,
ReplyDeleteyour essay was really good. You told us a lot about his live. And I think his life was really hard for him. I also think it was not easy and really dangerous to disagree with the pope, because he was the men with the power. But in the way he made his arguments he was strong and he showes his believe with all he could. The quote made your essay really good, and you could see the way he was fighting for the right. Thanks for sharing this with us. Keep up your good work!!!!
Dear Private Elijah,
ReplyDeleteI realy like and enjoy to read your essay. You did a realy good job. I realy like it that you
choose a current topic over iraq. It is so awful and unbelievable that somebody is shooting on
a girl wich is waiting for the bus.
the worst is that they have almost exterminated the whole family,
just because they were Christians. I have never known, that in Iraq,
the killing of Christians is a common thing to kill of Christians.
Also I agree with everything you say that we are blessed to live in America or I as a german
in Germany, but I think is still dangerous.
Dear Abbie,
you did a realy good jop.
I think your introduction really cool how you feel when you write the essay.
I find your opening and closing really cool how you feel when you write the essay.
I also agree with everything what you say.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI loved your entire essay but the first paragraph struck me. I use to think the same thing about martyrs only being Christians until when we did this same essay for Mrs. Adkins last year. I had never really thought about how people died for their false gods as martyrs. It’s very interesting to think about them in that light. Anyways, good job.
Emily,
I know we have already talked about your essay face to face but I felt the urge to brag on you a little more. First of all, the question “Would you die for this relationship with God?” that is such a difficult question for any human to answer. We all, as humans, value our own lives very high. When I think about all the terrible things these martyrs went through it makes me second guess myself. Do I have that kind of faith to face what they went through? Second, the story you chose is just amazing. He didn’t feel worthy enough to die the same way as Christ did. That’s insane! It truly was “an honorable thing to do”. Awesome job Emily! You are a fantastic writer. I loved the way you wrote your essay.
Dear Abbie,
ReplyDeleteyour essay is great. I like the question you've written "Would I die like they did?". I never thought about that point. Thats a really good question. So i wondered myself too. The story about your martyr is pretty sad, but I think every story about martyrs has a sad point.
I also want to say, that the last part of your essay made me really thinking about me being a christian. If I just compare the martyrs, you and me than I'll see a huge difference in our life and our relationship with god.
It's great that you wrote what you think of being a christian or a martyr.
Your essay is just great.
Dear Emma,
your essayis very good! The story of Hans Brael is very impressive! Whenever I read what awful torture, strechting, they did with him I started wondering why is he still not talking? And than I knew it. He just loved god more than everything else. He had really great faith in God. I liked the way you wrote your essay and I learned a lot.
Good job.
I'm a little late :P
ReplyDeleteBut I've chosen to write about three young men from the book of Daniel: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. This story of these lads has always been a favorite of mine.
When King Nebuchadnezzar commanded his people to fall to and worship 'the gold image' that he had set up, he promised whomever did not worship would be burned in a fiery furnace. So when the music played, and signaled the people to worship, everyone fell to the ground; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were the only exceptions. Among a sea of people, they STOOD. They faithfully remained standing in the pride of God despite the knowledge of their awaited death.
King N summoned them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?.....If you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
The replied saying, "....our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
With extreme fury and hate, Nebuchadnezzar appointed them to the furnace but seven times hotter than before! They were thrown in; but when the King looked, the men were walking around unharmed! He couldn't believe what he saw so he called for them, and when they came out, the fire had visibly caused NO damage. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego willingly gave their lives to the one true God, who they refused to forsake. And because of that, He 'delivered His servants who trusted in Him.'
(Martyr: a person who is put to death or endures great suffering rather than renounce his or her religion)
Although the three men did not DIE in the fire... they gave their lives. They are who comes to mind first when I think of martyrs.
works cited: The Book of Daniel. Chapter 3.
to willi nowak, great job on your essay willi nowak, i really liked it, and i even learned a whole lot of information about saint stephen as well. I also think he had a very awful death, being stoned would have been a horrible death, one of the worst deaths back in those days. and it even lead to the thousands of more deaths of christians, which is also another horrible outcome, besides him dieing himself. to me, just like what you said, stephen wasnt just like any other death, he was a christian hero. But great job on your essay by the way willi nowak. i really liked it.
ReplyDeletemy essay will be done on the very first christian martyr,stephen.he died about 34 a.d in jerusalem,israel.saint stephen was preaching the gospel in jerusalemon the past over after christs crucifiction.he had, in my eyes, an awful death because he was cast out of the city and stoned to death.but the qustion is in my point of veiw is, who could stome him? one of the people who attended this awful event is paul of tarsus.i think all who participated in this event sinned.after him about 2,000 christians martyrdom during the same time.this story could be found in acts 6 and 7.even today there are a couple of churchs such as,the roman catholic,anglian, and lutheran chuch,feast for him,on december 26 in the west and december 27 in the east.so i think he was in my opinion,like many other martyrs more than a person he was a hero.
ReplyDeleteto alex, i really liked your essay about the martyr of isaiah, he was one of the greatest prophets and he really was what i consider a hero of the faith. I learned a lot about isaiah from it too, i didnt know specificaly how he died, but know i know he was sawed in two, which is an extremely horible death. but great job on your essay, i really liked it
ReplyDeleteworks cited:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/voice-of-the-martyrs.htm
Alex,
ReplyDeleteGreat essay on the martyr Isaiah, your essay was good length told the story of Isaiah and how he died for his faith. I didn't know he was sawed in two, and basically talking with God while he was being cut in half. That is a great example of a martyr. Great Job!
Charity! I loved your essay on Rachel Scott!
ReplyDeleteWe actually talked about it this morning; but I've asked myself the same questions and admire you for YOUR boldness!
I read Rachel's journal last year and it was so interesting to read the direct thoughts from a martyr! {I highly suggest it (; } But anyways..
She had so much courage to do what she did.. what any martyr has done. I also loved reading the comparisons you made between the two of you. You've got a lot to be proud for. Well done :)
Emma, Good essay! I had never heard of Hans before you wrote that.
Its amazing to think that he put up with all of that torture for his faith! I hope that any of us could make those same respectable decisions!
Christian,
ReplyDeleteReally good essay, I didn't know James the Great was the second martyr. Your essay was good in telling us the facts of James martyr. Good essay.
Solis,
ReplyDeleteGood job man! Stephen was a great man that did many many things for the church in his day. I cant believe that the jews his own people would stone him like that. Stoneing was a very harsh punishment in my eyes. Imagine people throwing heave rocks at you as hard as they can until you literally died. The pain would be excruciating! I cant imagine the intense pain he went through with that. I can only hope that God took the pain away or at least numbed it some.
Abbie,
Great essay! I loved how you also used a modern martyr instead of one of the ones from the bible that so many others did. I enjoyed you essay very much and I like how your stopping to ask yourself if you could really stand up for your faith in a situation like that. That tells me that you probably will be. The one that say in a blink of an eye “O yeah I can totally do that” are the ones who will most likely give into the demands and doubt their faith.