Staring Down Death In Evangelizing-Based Upon Acts 7:55-60

“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” These are the words familiar to Christians around the world, as they are some of the final words spoken by Christ while he was dying on the cross. Jesus became a martyr for the cause of eternal salvation, as would many of his followers trying to spread the word. So what exactly is a martyr? A martyr is someone who quite simply cannot keep their mouth shut, and willing to die for a cause that they not only believe in, but live for. In the scripture, Stephen is the very first martyr in the New Testament. He is convicted of false charges and is stoned to death. However, we should look at his life with great intensity, because for all intents and purposes, Stephen was an everyday person (just like you and me). There have been a lot of other martyrs since Stephen, but would we be martyrs if necessary?

The word "martyr" has become a tainted word since the terrorist attacks of 2001. The terrorists claimed to be martyrs for the faith, while killing others. True martyrs die so that others may in fact live. Many martyrs die due to the fact that they are so open with their faith that they make people in power very uncomfortable. Many young men who were prisoners of war in World War II, Korea and Vietnam used their faith as a way to strike out at their captors, so much so that some men were killed in prison. Recently, there was the case of the young woman in Atlanta who was taken hostage by a man who was in the midst of a killing spree. She witnessed to him and was able to escape with her life. She took a stand for Christ and was able to help a man end his life of crime.

Some people believe that they should be seen and not heard throughout their lives. In countries where religions are restricted, most notably China and Cuba, you will find martyrs in action. In these countries, churches are supposed to register with the government in order to remain in good graces, and yet other faiths practice in defiance to these laws. They face death on a daily basis. When you push the governments buttons, you face punishment, anger, and the possibility of becoming a martyr.

In South Africa during the 1970s, a young man named Steve Biko was killed for standing up against the racist government which established apartheid. Biko was so bold that he wrote a book entitled “I Say What I Like.” He was asking for trouble, and yet his death inspired even more people to join the cause of fighting a racist and oppressive government. Biko’s death made him a martyr in the long history of expanding Christian ideals of peace and equality.

Another important example of a martyr in the modern world is the example of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. Romero was an outspoken critic of the government run by the government during the 1980s, because they would systematically kill thousands of people at a time with no real rhyme or reason. If Romero would have been like everyone else, he would have kept his mouth shut about what was happening in his home and possibly stayed alive. For Romero, the pulpit was the position for advocating change within his community and around the world. One Sunday morning, while delivering mass, the door of his church was thrown open and he was assassinated in front of his congregation. What amazing imagery of not only his death, but his blood and body joining Christ’s on the alter! He could have kept Christ to himself, but decided to share Christ’s love even with his enemies.

The final example of a martyr actually lived, but was never quite the same. Pope John Paul II was almost martyred for speaking against the atrocities occurring in his homeland of Poland by the Soviets. The Pope was almost assassinated at the hand of a young Turkish man with the assistance of the Bulgarian government and the KGB, which was headed by future Soviet premier, Yuri Andropov. As we all know, Poland gained freedom from the Soviet style government, and John Paul II continued to minister to those without a voice in countries with similar style governments, until those governments collapsed a little over a decade ago. The Pope was never the same as well, after taking a bullet for Christ.

These examples create a vision for our church and how we are able to grow. We should be able to walk tall in this world with confidence and proclaim the word of God. There will be those people who hurl stones at you for proclaiming your faith, but you have Christ by your side as protection. As a martyr, you must be willing to point fingers at others and tell them what they should be doing, even if it makes them uncomfortable. Nobody said it would be an easy position to be in, but it is absolutely necessary. Prophets and leaders had the guts to move out of their comfort zones and convict others to take action. It is the prophets and martyrs who attack our sinful, slimy side of life.

A martyr is someone who does not necessarily take risks in what they say, but when and where they say it. If you talk about Christ in front of those who already know Christ, you are not making much of an impact. However, if you take that message to the street, or to kids, you will make a greater impact. At the same time, you must be willing to get hit with some stones. In some countries, you can get killed. My cousin is a missionary in China and has been for some time. He has been ministering in secret for a long time and faces the prospect of death everyday. He does not stick his finger into the air and go along with public opinion, or wherever the wind blows…He takes a stand and goes against the wind.

As for the church, we must be willing to stick our necks out for the sake of saving others. Stephen was in the midst of ministering to people who knew Jesus on the surface, but not at a deeper level. Our duty as a church is to go into the world and make disciples who make disciples, who in turn make more disciples. That means building relations with people we have never built relationships with. That also means securing and enhancing the surface relationships we already have. If we don’t minister to others, then we are failing the mission of the church and failing the mission that Christ has given to us. Fortunately for us, we are not under a quota system by which we have to save so many people. All I am asking is that you try to evangelize as you become more comfortable in your faith.

The final characteristic of a martyr is that the martyr must in fact be willing to die. I ask you this evening, how many of you are willing to die for Christ? I assume many of us would find it difficult to leave behind family or friends, let alone our possessions, but that is exactly what Christ died for. We must be willing to move out of silence and speak where it is dangerous for us to speak about Christ. Truth resounds with everyone and the truth of Christ sound resonate within the hearts and minds of the people of Christ…So much so that we are willing to lay our lives out for the one who saved us. My encouragement to you is to walk tall in your faith and seek out those who need to know Christ. Remember that one of the men who stoned Stephen would later become the greatest ambassador for Christianity and a martyr himself, and that is Paul.

Utilized “The Martyrs and St. Stephen” from Edward F. Markquart Sermons from Seattle