Radical Martyrs

May these reports inspire us to more fully abandon our flesh and serve our glorious King in a radical way. I will try to add more reports periodically. You are welcome add some of your own! I believe God allowing a believer to shed his/her blood for the gospel's sake has got to the one of the greatest bestowals of His favor this side of eternity! The Bible speaks of a "martyr's crown" to be given to these privileged men and women. How beautiful and richly ornamented these ones will be, gleaming in the eternal blaze of Jehovah's holiness! Here are some of their testimonies:

There was a converted Hindu Christian martyr whose skin was slashed and filled with salt and chili powder. He said to his tormentors, "Formerly Satan wounded me with his fiery darts. The blood of Jesus healed those wounds. The suffering caused by your wounds are not much." Enraged by these words, they started to skin him alive. "I thank you for this," he said. "Tear off the old garment! I shall soon put on Christ's garment of righteousness." He was finally burned praying for his persecutors.

- From "A Book of Protestant Saints" by Ernest Gordon

Then there was Alan Cameron, one of the "covenanters" of the great Scottish persecutions, who was shown the head and hands of another covananter, his own son Richard. They asked him the cruel question, "Do you know them?" He kissed them, saying, "I know them...I know them. They are my son's, my own dear son's. It is the Lord. Good is the will of the Lord, who cannot wrong me or mine, but has made goodness and mercy to follow us all our days."

- From "Fair Sunshine" by Jock Purvis

Paul,
Whenever I read accounts like you posted, I always wonder how moderns would react in a similar situation...considering that we complain so quickly and easily over minor discomforts. When our technology malfunctions, when someone is late, when the child comes in the house with dirty shoes, and on, and on and on....

Me thinks Americans are spoiled rotten and whatever is rotten stinks! :-P

ginnyrose

Hi Ginny,

I'll tell you how I think we'd react: "This isn't of God! I'm supposed to prosper and be blessed!"

Have you heard the story of the young Huguenot women who were imprisoned for 30 years in tower because they refused to deny Christ? The Roman Catholic church locked them up until their liberators were able to set them free (thirty years later). During the thirty years, all they had to say was "I adjure" and they would be set free. But they refused to say this one word, and as a result spent the next 30 years of their life in a tower. When their liberators entered the tower, they saw the word "resistance" written over and over again, in the bricks.

Now, I don't know about you, but I'd wager that most modern "Christians" would find a multitude of reasons to say "I adjure" in this situation. And not only that, but that they would find ways to deem themselves holy and right and spiritually justified to say "I adjure." Take for instance:

"I adjure!" (I have to take care of my family. I can't spend the next [i]thirty years[/i] of my life locked away in some tower!)

"I adjure!" (God knows that I don't really [i]mean it[/i]. Besides, it's just a word.)

"I adjure!" (This can't be of God; God wouldn't want to separate me from my church family and pastor. Besides, how can He use me in a tower? Who will teach children's church or Sunday school?)

And I think there's a host of other excuses. Didn't Alexander Solzhinytsin say that man will come up with a thousand and one glib reasons as to NOT sacrifice himself? I think Christians today are of a different batch from the Christians of the reformation. We're too fat and lazy and prosperous. We've got our books, we've got our Parallel Greek bibles, we've got our Matthew Henry commentaries and Puritan classics and Ravenhill collections and a host of Christian websites and blogs and CDs and DVDs - but we're dead in the water. Impotent. Ravenhill called our Christianity a "paper tiger". It's all in the books and on the computer screens. Theology of yesteryear and the stories of the men through whom it God [i]worked[/i] it.

Well, why doesn't it work for us the same way? You would think with all our posting and analyzing and knowledge of Greek and different Bible versions and plethora of classic sermons and EM Bounds books we would be turning our cities upside down. But alas...

"I adjure!" (I can't go out and preach repentance in my city! People know me! Plus, I'm not "called" for this.)

"I adjure!" (I can't clothe the naked and feed the hungry; I don't have the money or the resources or the time for something like that.)

"I adjure!" (I can't stay up all night tonight and pray. I need to work tomorrow!)

"I adjure!" (There's nothing "bad" about watching this stupid, christless TV program. I'll read the scriptures when it's over.)

Okay, I'll step down from the soapbox. You know the rest.

Bless you sister,

Brother Paul

This is not what I read. It is the testimony of persons I know personally.

When my country was following the communist ideology, persecution was the food and water of Christians. (I was a child by that time and was not converted but was well aware of what was going on all around me) One brother told me that he and his Christian friends were forced to take off all their cloths and roll on pointed broken glasses until all their body were torn apart! The communist man torturing them would say would you deny Christ now? But the brothers will answer no “Yesus Geta New!!!” means “JESUS IS LORD!” Then he will make them do more of the rolling- he torments them psychologically too. He said that “his feet were healed when one of the “Pentecostal” prayed for him in Jesus name (there were a great healing and gospel revival on the land at that time that even the communists couldn’t stop-the underground church prevailed) and the tormentor continued “even I deny Christ after he healed my feet-what did he do for you? Nothing! you’re lying here like dead dogs but you still proclaim him Lord!” The brothers prevailed in their confession of The Lord- I don’t know how the others ended but the brother who told me this lived to this day surviving miraculously-many others were martyred in those prisons for their faith.

This is the personal account I heard from one military man- They were ordered to surround the house where Christians were praying and shoot them with a machinegun. The military man told me he and his comrades surrounded the house with out the Christians being aware- they were praying. And he gave the sign for the other comrades to shoot at them all starting equally. But he said that there were at least ten men with him to shoot and while they tried to shoot all the triggers of the machineguns locked!!! They tried and tried but their machineguns locked!!! Then he shouted “Their God is fighting for them lets run!” and he said that they run in panic- they came in one way but run in ten ways!!!

Lord bring back those days!!!AMEN!!!

Your sis. Mek.

Ive been thinking about what people are saying about pesecution on here.

I think that one of the reasons that people today dont witness is that they have no real conviction from the Holy Spirit due to the fact that they dont really have Him.

The Holy SPirit convicts people to witness for Christ (including persecution). Yet people today dont seem to have that stirring.

The only reason i can see this happening is that they dont really have the Lord in their lives. Yes, they say they know God and know Jesus but do they really.

Many today say "Lord Lord" yet have no real conviction to do things for him, its more like "Lord, Lord do this and that for me".

I just pray that the Lord will pour out His Spirit on His people to stand under conviction for HIm

Dave G

You don't have to do much in this county to receive a small amount of persecution--just stand on truth. Of course, you will probably not be martyred, YET. But you will be hated. Went to a "Christian" rock concert this week with 3 other brothers in the Lord. Two were escorted out by security be/c their shirts had scripture on them: 2 Thess 2 (dealing with apostasy) and Mt 7 (dealing with those who say 'Lord, Lord'). I made it through with "Christians depart from sin!" based on 2 Tim 2:19.

As we preach the truth, the very Words of God, we will get persecution--promises abound. Problem is that the majority of persecution that I have faced (which is very small compared to brothers and sisters in other nations and at other times) is from professing "Christians."

John 8:47 "Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves you aren't God's children."

American church is soaked in relativism, apathy, apostasy and false worship. God's church obeys His commands. America needs to quit treating God as a whore and more like Husband, King and Lord.

your words are very true, nlong!

thanks paul for sharing the beautiful testimonies of the faithful. very encouraging! i love hearing such testimonies! how beautiful are the ones who are dead to self and ALIVE to Christ!

Psalm 116:15

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
Is the death of His saints.

This is a great thread. I'm going to email to some people. Your right, most of the persecution comes from comfortable Christians. I don't know the bible like they so it's hard to get my point across but I do know God. And I'm realizing persecution weeds out the men from the boys. I always wonder why were not living like the book of Acts. I thought that's what a normal Christian Biblical Christian is supposed to be like. But it seems I get shot down by our fellow brother's and sisters. I'm very excited about this website to find other people with like minded thoughts. Praise the LIVING GOD!!!

Thomas Haukes, after refusing to have his son baptized into the Roman Catholic Church, was ordered to a fiery death by the Bishop of London. During his agony, he stretched forth his burning hands and clapped them together three times, signifying to his friends that God was giving him grace in the fire. June 10, 1555.

- From "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" by John Foxe

Hi everyone.

Brothers and sisters,

This is a subject that has really encouraged me since I learned more about it through some of the messages on SI. It is good that we can be inspired and provoked by the love and sacrifice of our family that suffers for the Gospel.

I suppose that we should remember that too - their suffering. I have recently read Pastor Wurmbrand's book, [i]If Prison Walls Could Speak[/i] and I would not recommend this book to a general audience, or to young Christians. I think it could be easily misunderstood. Nothing glamorous for sure. The next to last Chapter is titled [i]Going Mad[/i].

Brother Paul I saw this question that you asked

Well, why doesn't it work for us the same way?

and I thought of when the Lord said

...How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

and then too, I thought of the Apostle Paul's confession here

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:[b][color=000000]yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.[/color][/b]"

Would it not be so with any of us, whether we live or die, whether we stand, or endure, or triumph in faith, must we not all confess that it was [b]not I, but the grace of God which was with me.[/b] And if we fall, shall we not also fall upon His grace as well.

He said

[b] I have overcome the world.[/b]

and we are confident that only He could. [i]Or still can[/i].

Peace be with you all in Messiah Jesus

Then the humble lamb of Christ, humbly kneeling down upon his knee said, "My Name is John Nicholson, although of many I be called Lambert."
"What!" said the King. "Have you two names? I would not trust you, having two names although you were my brother." "Oh, most noble prince!" replied Lambert. "Your bishops forced me of necessity to change my name."

And after much talk in this matter, the King commanded him to declare what he thought as touching the sacrament of the altar.

[b]The King:[/b] "Answer as touching the sacrament of the altar, whether dost say thou: is it the Body of Christ, or wilt thou deny it?"

[b]Lambert:[/b] "I answer with St. Augustine, that it is the body of Christ - after a certain manner."

[b]The King:[/b] "Answer me neither out of St. Augustine, nor by the authority of any other, but tell me plainly whether thou sayest it is the body of Christ or no."

[b]Lambert:[/b] "Then I deny it to be the body of Christ."

[b]The King:[/b] "Mark well! For now thou shalt be condemned even by Christ's own words: '[i]This is my body[/i].'"

[b]Lambert:[/b] "I yield and submit myself wholly unto the will of your majesty."

[b]The King:[/b] "Commit thyself unto the hands of God, and not unto mine."

[b]Lambert:[/b] "I commend my soul unto the hands of God, but my body I wholly yield and submit unto your clemency."

[b]The King:[/b] "If you do commit yourself unto my judgment, then you must die, for I will not be a patron unto heretics."

Of all who have been burned at Smithfield, none were so cruelly and piteously handled as this blessed martyr. For after his legs were burned to the stumps and the wretched tormentors and enemies of God had withdrawn the fire from him, they pitched him up on their pikes. Then he, lifting up such hands as he had, his fingers' ends flaming with fire, cried unto the people with these words: "None but Christ! None but Christ!" and so, being let down by the halberts, fell into the fire, and there gave up his life. 1538.

- From "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" by John Foxe

After they had all been tried, found guilty, and sentenced to die, twenty-six Christians were marched to the place where crudely made crosses stood. Almost three months earlier, they had been arested in Kyoto, Japan, and charged with following Christ. One of the convicts was named Ibragi Kun. Seeing how young Kun was, an official took him aside and urged him to recant his faith to save his life. Looking the official in the eye, Kun said confidently, "Sir, it would far better if you yourself became a Christian. Then you could go to heaven with me." The officer was startled by the young man's faith. Finally, Ibragi asked, "Sir, which cross is mine?" The bewildered officer pointed to the smallest of the twenty-six crosses. Young Kun ran to the cross, knelt before it, and embraced it.

When the soldiers began to nail his hands and feet to the cross, he did not cry out in pain. He courageously accepted the path God had laid out on him. The crucifixion of the twenty-six Christians on November 23, 1596, was the beginning of a period of intense persecution of Christians in Japan. Over the next seventy years, as many as one million Japanese Chistians would be killed for their faith. Many would embrace their own crosses to follow the example of Ibragi Kun, a very mature twelve-year-old boy.

- From "Extreme Devotion" by The Voice of the Martyrs

At the age of nineteen, John Leaf was an apprentice to Humphrey Gawdy of the parish of Christ-Church in London. Two bills were sent to Leaf: one containing a recantation (of his Protestant beliefs), and the other his confession. It was to be known of which he would put his hand. The bill of recantation he refused. The other he approved of, but instead of a pen, he took a pin and pricked his hand, sprinkling his blood upon the bill, willing to show the bishop that he had sealed the confession with his blood already.

When he came to the stake, he took a foggot in his hand and kissed it, and so likewise the stake. Holding up his hands and casting his countenance up to heaven, he cried, "O England! England! Repent thee of thine sins! Repent thee of thine sins!" Turning his head unto the young man who was to be burnt with him, said: "Be of good comfort, brother; for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night." And thus they ended their mortal lives, without any alteration of their countenance, being void of all fear. 1535.

- From "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" by John Foxe

When the time came that he should be brought out of Newgate to the place of execution, Master Woodroofe came and asked him if he would revoke his evil opinion of the sacrament of the altar. Master Rogers answered and said, "That which I have preached I will seal with my blood."

"Then," Master Woodroofe said, "thou art a heretic."

"That shall be known," said Rogers, "on the day of judgment."

"Well," said Master Woodroofe, "I will never pray for thee."

"But I will pray for [i]you[/i]," said Rogers.

His wife and children, being eleven in number, with one sucking on her breast, met him on the way to the stake. This sorrowful state of his own flesh and blood could not move him; but he earnestly and cheerfully took his death. When the fire had taken hold of both his legs and shoulders, he, as one feeling no pain, [i]washed his hands in the flame, as though it had been cold water.[/i] Smithfield, 1555.