How Do Christians Face the Reality of Martyrdom?

By Steve Ham - Posted at Answers in Genesis:

The fourteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet ن (nun), equivalent to the letter N, has become a world-renowned symbol for Islamic persecution of Christians. The terrorist group ISIS painted it in bold red letters in front of the homes and businesses of the people they call “Nazarenes.” When it happened in 2014, reports and pictures flooded news and social media showing people fleeing their homes and some being captured and killed. When Christians first saw this symbol being used as a tool for terror, thousands of people marked their social media pages with the Arabic mark making bold statements of solidarity with the persecuted Iraqi and Syrian Christians. And then came the horrifying photos of 21 Egyptian Christians kneeling on the sand ready to be beheaded . . . and other reports continue.

With the rise of ISIS in recent years, the church has been visually reminded of the reality of martyrdom in this world. With current events shedding more light on Christian martyrdom, the church should be careful to cultivate a biblical view of this important and rich subject. In reaching such a view we should find that martyrdom is an expected reality that all Christians should be prepared for, even if we are never asked to stand before an executioner. Christians must be reminded that we seek to make disciples of Christ in a world that hates Him. Martyrdom, therefore, is a solemn and powerful witness of those who are assured of an even more powerful message of Good News.

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