What Makes a Christian Martyr Differ from Other Faiths’ Martyrs?

Have you ever wondered how much persecution and pain you would tolerate for your faith if put into the situation? Are you prepared to face death? I’ve often wondered these things about myself. Here's an insightful article from Answers In Genesis:

“He was a martyr for a good cause.” A person is put to death (often quite brutally) because he refuses to recant his beliefs and teachings when he is demanded to do so by angry opponents. So, we have Muslim martyrs, Jewish martyrs, communist martyrs, Christian martyrs, Buddhist martyrs, Hindu martyrs, etc. They are all the same, right? Not really.

The English word “martyr” is an almost direct transliteration from the New Testament Greek word, martus, which originally meant a “witness.” It was especially used in the early church to signify those who were witnesses of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (e.g., Acts 1:22), and consequently many of those apostles died giving testimony of their Lord. In current usage it usually means one who is killed for refusing to renounce their religious faith, practices, and beliefs. The unspoken assumption is that if the person would renounce his beliefs, then he would not be put to death—and thereby avoid martyrdom. History is replete with tales of martyrs: from Old Testament believers, to the Apostles, to the early Church fathers, down to our time, especially in areas like the Sudan, the Middle East, the Philippines, Indonesia, and parts of South America. For the most part, these have been either Jewish or Christian martyrs, and the logical question to ask would be why. Why not Buddhists or Taoists or Hindu martyrs to the same extent? We will consider that question in due course...Read More

Intense persecution in India

Following on from my previous article, here's something else to ponder and pray about:

Read the article here

It's a great shame that our western, politically-correct media does not report this often enough, if ever! An excerpt from the article:

Christian community receives no help from any quarter within India. Our only help is the Lord Himself. Astonishingly , people who are being burnt in severe fiery tests, are firm in their faith and willing to suffer, even to die. This is seen irrespective of denominational differences, which further amazes us.

Urgent prayer needed for Orissa

Hi my brothers and sisters in Christ,

Please get this prayer request out to as many as possible as soon as possible.

Dear Brother Reggie Naidoo,

Greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you for all of your concerned prayers lifted at the Throne of Grace on our behalf during the past. It is with a great burden that I share this Prayer Request with you that you may pray for us and also encourage your family and friends to go on their knees to seek the Lord on behalf of the Christians who are persecuted in Orissa, Karnataka, and in the other parts of India, during the past months, which is still continuing.

As you would be aware through the media coverage, the Christian community in Orissa, India, is facing a desperate situation as their homes are being looted and burnt, churches demolished, people beaten to death and in some gory cases the homes were locked from outside and torched killing all those who were inside. The fanatics and fundamentalists are hand in hand in these places with only a single purpose in mind and that is to wipe out the Christians and all the Gospel related activity as much as they could as they do not want to see the kingdom of God expanding on this earth.

So far hundreds of churches have been demolished to the ground, houses burnt to ashes, many people tortured, beaten and murdered, and in some cases as I have mentioned above, houses were locked from outside and torched by the fanatics.

Thousands of people have become homeless and are taking shelter in the thickets of the nearby jungle that is home to many wild animals including tigers. There is nothing to protect them from sun, rain and the cold at nights. The children have no milk to feed on, the adults have no food to eat, no clothes to change and no clean water to drink. The people keep on moving from one place to another for the fear of being detected by the fanatics. If they come into the village in search of food, they will be caught and beaten, however, people risk their lives and sneak into the nearby villages at night to grab whatever they can and return to the jungle to feed their wife and children. These kind of atrocities have been there on for years in many parts of India, but now it has taken a new dimension and very vicious.

Your prayers are very much needed for God to touch the fanatics and those who are against the spread of the Gospel, and ease out the situation that peace may reign again in these areas and that people could lead a normal life free from all fear and violence.

Thank you in advance for taking this into your heart. We love you very much and greatly appreciate your concerned prayers on our behalf.

Sincerely,
In Christ Jesus,
FRANK GODBERG