Christian Faith Requires No Protection

Posted by In the"Bible Reflections and Devotionals" category 0 Comments

Today’s reading: Mark 16:1-8

The leader of my Sunday school class yesterday mentioned something that I’d not realized before: historians have deduced that all but one of Jesus’ original disciples died violently on behalf of their faith. (John, apparently, was the only one who died of natural causes.)

Hearing that startled me.

My thoughts turned immediately to all of the times I’ve prayed (and heard)  thanks to God for the glorious protection our nation gives us to worship Christ in peace.

It is frightening to realize that, to be a true disciple, I must  be willing to live without that protection.  I must always be ready to follow the example of  Christianity’s founders, who had nothing resembling The First Amendment and certainly no military on their side.

If pressed in, say, a Sunday school class, I would probably say I am so ready.  (Fortunately no one asked that question of me yesterday.) But then I’m not entirely sure. After all, I find it hard to talk about God even to some family members and close friends — most of whom don’t own even a single gun. What would I do if torture was still the likely consequence of discipleship?

It’s horrifying to realize that I might recant my faith in order to save myself.

This same fear had to have gone through the minds of the original disciples as they heard the news of Jesus’ resurrection and knew they then had to carry out  their glorious commission. Today’s reading includes their death sentence:  “And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.” (Verse 8)

That commission has not changed for me (or any Christian). It has only become much less dangerous thanks to modern developments. (Though, of course, people across the world do still die on behalf of Christ).

Thanks be to God for the legal and military protection that make Christian life comfortable for me (and all of us) in the United States. May I always remember that they are not what makes Christian life possible.