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Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
-Acts 7:54-59
What you just read was a story about a young man named Stephen. Stephen was an evangelist of the gospel; in fact he was one of the first. The people he was evangelizing to didn’t like the words that he was saying, so Stephen was cast out of the city and stoned. Steven is what’s known as a Martyr. A Martyr is someone who was prosecuted because of the Christian faith and killed.
Throughout history, many people from all times and countries have tried to stomp out the flame that is the Christian faith. But no matter how many times they try, the Christian faith hasn’t been entirely put out. Why is this?
History is full of stories of countless Christians who gave their lives up for Christ. Ever since Steven, Christians have been mocked, teased, and even killed for their faith. Even today Christians are persecuted all the time. Did Jesus talk about this? Yes, he did.
“If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
-John 15:18-19
The Bible says very specifically that we should expect the world to hate us because we're Christians. And honestly, the Bible speaks truth here. Not only do you have countless examples of this throughout history, but even today Christians are prosecuted to the fullest extent. Even I feel this struggle. The world tells me to believe one thing and act this certain way, and when I don’t the world punishes me for it. Some of you will have similar stories and experiences, and it won’t be the last in your lifetime.
The Bible says to be ready for persecution and even martyrdom, but what effect does martyrdom have on civilization? It’s not what you might expect.
One of the first books I read for Omnibus this year was Foxe’s book of Martyrs. In the book, Foxe outlines a bunch of martyrs and their stories. While reading this, I noticed a particular pattern. Where people tried to put out the Christian belief, them trying to put it out made the Christian belief more prominent! I remember reading one story (I tried to find the book for this essay to quote it, but I haven’t been able to find it) where a guy was sentenced to be martyred and the executioner got ready to kill this Christian, and instead the executioner instantly declared on the spot that he was a Christian too. He joined the Christian in martyrdom that day. This is one of countless examples where Christians were martyred, and as a result, converted people to Christianity.
I guess my moral to all this is don’t be scared of martyrdom. God shows us that even something as terrible as death can be used to strengthen and convert people to Christianity. So go and preach the Gospel and don’t be afraid of doing it. God will comfort you all the way. May God bless us all in our efforts to bring people to Jesus.
-Acts 7:54-59
What you just read was a story about a young man named Stephen. Stephen was an evangelist of the gospel; in fact he was one of the first. The people he was evangelizing to didn’t like the words that he was saying, so Stephen was cast out of the city and stoned. Steven is what’s known as a Martyr. A Martyr is someone who was prosecuted because of the Christian faith and killed.
Throughout history, many people from all times and countries have tried to stomp out the flame that is the Christian faith. But no matter how many times they try, the Christian faith hasn’t been entirely put out. Why is this?
History is full of stories of countless Christians who gave their lives up for Christ. Ever since Steven, Christians have been mocked, teased, and even killed for their faith. Even today Christians are persecuted all the time. Did Jesus talk about this? Yes, he did.
“If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
-John 15:18-19
The Bible says very specifically that we should expect the world to hate us because we're Christians. And honestly, the Bible speaks truth here. Not only do you have countless examples of this throughout history, but even today Christians are prosecuted to the fullest extent. Even I feel this struggle. The world tells me to believe one thing and act this certain way, and when I don’t the world punishes me for it. Some of you will have similar stories and experiences, and it won’t be the last in your lifetime.
The Bible says to be ready for persecution and even martyrdom, but what effect does martyrdom have on civilization? It’s not what you might expect.
One of the first books I read for Omnibus this year was Foxe’s book of Martyrs. In the book, Foxe outlines a bunch of martyrs and their stories. While reading this, I noticed a particular pattern. Where people tried to put out the Christian belief, them trying to put it out made the Christian belief more prominent! I remember reading one story (I tried to find the book for this essay to quote it, but I haven’t been able to find it) where a guy was sentenced to be martyred and the executioner got ready to kill this Christian, and instead the executioner instantly declared on the spot that he was a Christian too. He joined the Christian in martyrdom that day. This is one of countless examples where Christians were martyred, and as a result, converted people to Christianity.
I guess my moral to all this is don’t be scared of martyrdom. God shows us that even something as terrible as death can be used to strengthen and convert people to Christianity. So go and preach the Gospel and don’t be afraid of doing it. God will comfort you all the way. May God bless us all in our efforts to bring people to Jesus.
| Credit | The Bible, Everyone who has been Martyred in the past |
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No one seeks it out, neither should we be seeking it out. It happens as a result of others forcing people into that position.
The martyrs referenced are all situations where someone died for their faith. The reason why it had an impact on people and perhaps brought them to believe in Christianity, was because someone was willing to lose their life over it. It wasn't their words that changed hearts, it was their actions.
But, I digress. While non-Minecraft content is allowed, PMC is a Minecraft community. This would probably work better if it was posted on an off-site blog website and you shared a link to it in a wall post if you still felt the need to share it with PMC.
I feel the need to share it with PMC, but I can just make a wall post about it if you like.
Like I said, this is allowed as a blog. But out of courtesy for those who are coming to PMC for Minecraft content and this showing up in the listings, it really might be better not as a PMC blog.
Blogger.com is a fairly reputable blog website.
Or if you really wanted to, or had an interest, you can try making your own blog website. Even if you just use Wix to make it. I'm a web developer so I try to encourage others to dabble in the field. They might find they enjoy it.
The only reason I put this as a blog instead of as a wall post like I normally do is that after I post it it gets increasingly harder and harder to find the post (idk if you've noticed, but I make what some would call "an abnormally large" amount of wall posts every day), and because I don't make much content I thought it might be easier for people to find it if it was listed as a blog.
I will consider moving it to a different platform, though.
The benefit of having it all on its own site, means you can just link it in your About Me, or you could set it as the listed website option under your profile settings. That way the link is always available, and the blog doesn't get buried under any other content you post.
also nice rant-
(the actual text, not the subject)-