peace . love . joy

Now, here is a topic to ruffle feathers. Most of us know something about it and that it is a reality that is happening even now as I write, as you read this. But most us don't quite want to talk about it for whatever reason. But really,

What is Martyrdom? Or perhaps, what is a Martyr?



Asking around produces a few usual answers:
Somebody who dies for his\her faith
Stephen (Acts 6-7)
Some of the 12 disciples who died for Christ
Voice of the Martyrs
Restricted Nations
Serious stuff

The word "Martyr" comes from the Greek word μάρτυς (mar'-toos), which actually means something more along the lines of "witness", and occurs in its various forms (of the word) multiple times in the Bible.

There is no promise of death nor suffering within the definition of mar'-toos itself. Our perceptions of such is deduced mainly from the deaths, murders may be a more fitting description, of the early Christians, and from a single verse: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." (Matthew 5:11)

Instead, I think when Christ called us to be His Martyrs, His Witnesses, though He did promise insults, persecution and false testimonies against us because of our faith and trust in Him, it was to shift our focus from possible horrid demises & sticky endings to the verb, the action, the process of being a Martyr. The living far outweighed the dying.

He wants us to testify, to affirm, to profess, to give evidence. That is what we have control over, that is what we aim to be, that is what we must do simply because we cannot help it! What comes after is that which is not within our control and is not what we are to be trapped up in: what comes after is the world's response to the Savior's Love.

That is the meaning of Martyrdom.

Hearts that are furiously beating...
Bones that are painfully burning...
Actions that are blatantly testifying...
And lips that are tirelessly proclaiming...

... the Good News...

Regardless.

Is your life the life of a Martyr?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
~ Acts 1:8