Church History: Martyrs (part 1)

Starting with Stephen (Acts 7-8:1), the history of the church tells of the men and women who were martyred for their testimony of Jesus Christ. Over the next few weeks, we will look at some of their stories. Scripture tells us that James was executed by King Herod Agrippa around A.D. 44 (Mark 6:14-29). Ten years later, the Apostle Philip was scourged, imprisoned, and crucified. Legend says that Matthew was killed in A.D. 60 by violent means. Jesus’ brother, James was martyred around A.D. 66. Peter’s brother, Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross; Peter was also crucified – but upside-down as he did not consider himself worthy to die in the same position as his Lord. Tradition says Mark was dragged to pieces in Alexandria and Paul was beheaded in A.D. 66.

Even today, in many parts of the eastern world, people are still being killed for their faith. We don’t have the same level of persecution in the U.S., but I have no doubt that it’s coming. If someone were to ever point a gun at my head and demand that I betray my Savior or die, I say I would choose death. But am I betraying Him in my daily life? Will I betray Him with profane words while wearing my “Jesus is Lord” T-shirt? Will I curse someone who cut me off despite the fish symbol on my bumper? Will I walk into church on Sunday morning after walking into an R-rated movie on Saturday night? I say that I will take a bullet for Jesus, but will I take the humble road in a dispute with my neighbor?

What good is my bold declaration of devotion to Jesus if I don’t prove my kinship in the smaller matters of daily life? I don’t think I will ever be confronted with death for the cause of Christ, but every day I must choose to die to myself in the grocery store, my workplace, my home, and on the road.

Harold Chadwick, who updated Foxe’s Book of Martyrs in 1997 wrote these words after pouring over story after story of dauntless and devoted Christians who gladly died for the Name and cause of Christ: “Could we with our soft and self-serving Christianity, follow their examples of such courage and love for Christ that we would suffer being tortured, mutilated, and burned alive rather than recant our faith in Him?”[1] What say ye, Beloved?

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[1] Harold J. Chadwick, Forward to The New Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Updated through the 21^st Century, (Alachua: Bridge-Logos, 2001), xiv.

The Power of Perspective

I love to examine Scripture in fine detail like original word meanings and cultural context. But I also need to keep the whole in mind. Take Ephesians 6:5-8; Paul told slaves to “obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” My curious mind immediately wants to do a word and cultural study of slavery. But is slavery Paul’s point? If we pull back we see that the bigger picture is obedience to and for the Lord. Pull back a little more and this section is sandwiched between family instruction and the armor of God. Once again the bigger picture is all persons doing all things “in the Lord” and being “strong in the Lord” (v. 1, 10). Pull back even farther and we see the whole theme of Ephesians is living as who we are “in the Lord.” We could take this macro-vision even further by noting that the entire New Testament is what God has done and is doing “in the Lord.” What is the focus of the entire Bible? The Lord God.
Right now, you may be dealing with something very difficult and all your attention is centered on this one thing in your life. It’s all you can see. You are hyper-focused on this single issue, person, or struggle. May I encourage you to pull back just a little and look for the bigger picture? This issue, person or need is one paragraph on one page of your entire life story. But it isn’t your whole story. God has a much bigger purpose in mind than just the solution to one problem in your life. Over and over the Bible tells stories of people who had a challenge—infertility, oppression, imprisonment, slavery, rejection, even lack of basic life necessities—and God moved in such a way that the resolution to their challenge became a much larger and more God-glorifying part of their story.
Jesus said, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7). Beloved, there is a bigger picture forming. There is a higher purpose. There is so much more to your story than you can see in the moment. Give God your troubles, struggles, and difficulties and watch Him unfold something you never imagined. Your life is so much more than this moment. Trust the Author of your life story. He has a beautiful, wonderful ending ahead for you.

Grown-up Faith

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” 1 Timothy 1:15
I grew up in a Christian home, my mom took us to Sunday School, church, Sunbeams, Vacation Bible School, and so on. I don’t recall a time when I didn’t know about the God who created the whole world and I always knew that Jesus loved me. I knew every story in the Bible about Jesus from the manger to the cross and the empty tomb. I asked Him into my heart when I was nine years old and was baptized. For many years I did Christianity my own way until my way proved unstable and caused me to drift. In His grace and mercy, God drew me back to Himself and His Word. But rather than learning Bible stories, this time I began to learn Bible truth, and I started to see things in Scripture I had never seen before. I realized that what I had was “faith” built on sweet Bible stories, but it was not saving faith for eternal life.
Biblical scholar Dr. Irwin Lutzer says that true faith is three-fold. “First it involves knowledge, the fact of Jesus’ death for sinners. Second, it means we assent to the truths of salvation; finally, it involves trust, the transferring of all of our confidence to Christ alone.”[1] We recognize our own need for a Savior, confess that Jesus’ death secured our salvation, and believe that through God’s grace, we are forever redeemed and set free. Many of us who grew up going to church get to the first stage and most also reach the second. But few will go beyond knowledge to acceptance and trust.
Faith – saving faith – is more than knowing Bible stories. It is knowing the God behind the stories and surrendering your whole being to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. It is radical and extraordinary and if it doesn’t transform your life, it’s probably not saving faith. I’m so grateful that the Lord opened my eyes to the truth nearly forty years ago. He helped me to trust in Him fully and I’ve never looked back. He’s proven faithful and true every single day.
Here’s something to think about: Is your faith in those sweet childhood stories about Jesus or is it in Jesus Himself? Beloved, is it time for your faith to grow up?
[1] Erwin Lutzer, The Doctrines That Divide: A Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians, (Grand Rapids, Kregel, 1998), 99.

Advent 2023: Son of a Woman, Son of God

Wrap your head around this: the baby in the manger was the son of a virgin and the Son of God. The Scriptures say “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son . . . “ Matthew 1:23/Isaiah 7:14. I know – you’ve heard this scripture a hundred times at least. But have you stopped to consider what it really means? We tend to fly over it but we need to give it some time and attention because it is important.
It was crucial that the Savior of the world be spotless, without flaw or error, stain or blemish – perfectly pure. That could never happen with two human parents. Joseph was a righteous man, but he had a sin nature like every other human being. Mary was a virgin and she was“highly favored” by God, but she had the same sin nature. Joseph would be Jesus’ earthly father, but not his “biological father.” Mary, however, would be His biological mother – therefore she had to be a virgin – sexually pure. The Scripture said that Mary was “overshadowed” by the Holy Spirit as the “male party” to conception. The DNA stored in Jesus Christ’s physical body was that of the Lord God! The Father was in the Son.
More importantly, He provided spiritual purity so that the child would be the only human born without a sin nature. Now I am a Bible teacher. I like to make difficult things understandable. But I cannot explain how this occurred. It was a divine action that we must accept with wonder.
Why does this matter? Because you and I are unholy people in need of a holy Savior. The Levitical law declared that “the life of a creature is in the blood,” and “it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (Lev 17:11). Only holy blood – divine blood – could atone for the sin of all men*. There’s just one problem: God cannot die. That is why Jesus had to be both divine and human. It was the only way to provide the perfect blood sacrifice required to redeem mankind from their sin nature*. It is the only hope you and I have.
Beloved, I encourage you to slow down through the familiar Christmas account. Take in every scene and ponder every word. This is not just a warm, fuzzy story to tell around the tree. This story is life. Eternal life. It is wonder and awe. It is Jesus – the God-man who came to save you. Indeed, it is good news.

*The blood of Jesus is sufficient to atone for all sin for all mankind, but not all men will receive what Christ has done.

Advent 2023: Emmanuel – God With Us

“They will call Him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

It is a promise I have held to through this difficult year.  God’s presence has given me strength day by day and bolstered my faith. But to truly understand the name and its significance, we have to go back to Exodus, to the most incredible statement by God: “Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them” (Exodus 25:9).  Pagan gods did not dwell with human beings; they were far too important to be bothered with mortals and their petty lives.  But the God who created, sustained, and ruled over all things wanted to dwell with His people – first in a tabernacle and then in the temple. 

Until their idolatry and sin became unbearable and God said, “Enough” and withdrew His presence.  Ezekiel records the terrible sight of the cloud of His presence drawing up and away. Shortly afterward the people were taken into exile and the temple was destroyed.  And though it was rebuilt when the exiles returned to Jerusalem, the Lord’s presence did not return.

Until the angel visited a carpenter, betrothed to a young woman, and proclaimed the return of Immanuel.  Joseph would instinctively know what this name meant – God with us.  God came once again to dwell among men – this time as a human baby born to peasant parents and laid in a feeding trough for animals.  The name “Emmanuel” recalls the glorious presence of God in the midst of His people.  But not just in the temple.  No, this time Emmanuel would walk among them, eat with them, touch them with human hands – and die for them.  God had been absent and silent for hundreds of years, but now He had returned to His people.

Emmanuel is still present with His people today.  He is present in the Holy Spirit that dwells in every believer.  He is present in our worship.  He is present when we pray.  He is present when we rustle the pages of the Bible.  He is present when we reach out to touch a suffering soul with His love.  He is present in holy, divine moments and in the everyday events of our lives.  Because He is Emmanuel, He is always present. Because He is God with us, we are never alone.

Advent 2023: What Do You Know About Baby Jesus?

The day my granddaughter was born we made the four-hour drive to see her. Our son sent us pictures and all her vital statistics as we traveled – how much she weighed, how long she was, and the fact that she was completely bald. That’s the important stuff new grandparents need to know.

But what do we know about Jesus? The Bible doesn’t give us any of those vital statistics. We don’t even know the date of his birth. This is stuff we (women especially) want to know. Let’s see if the Scripture gives us any hints.

Even though we celebrate December 25^th as the date of Jesus’ birth, the Bible is silent on the actual date. The early church did not observe the birth of Jesus choosing instead to emphasize His death and resurrection. In fact, the church eschewed the Roman tradition of celebrating birthdays as an act of paganism. By the late second century, the church began considering the birth of Jesus as worthy of notice, but it wasn’t until the mid-fourth century that Roman calendars marked December 25^th with natus Christus in Betleem Judeae: “Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea.” Yet the Bible does tell us the date from heaven’s perspective: “When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman . . .” (Gal 4:4). Jesus was born “in the fullness of time” – the very day that God predetermined according to His plan for the ages. And here’s a head’s up for you: it’s the same day that the Lord will return.

The Bible also tells us how much Jesus weighed. Not with pounds and ounces. The writer of Hebrews said, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being . . .” (Heb 1:3). God’s glory would be expressed in Hebrew by the word kabod.  They would immediately get an image of a set of scales used to determine the value of an item based on its weight. The glory – or kabod – of God described the weight of His majesty and splendor. Yet somehow He was light enough for His mother to hold Him in her arms.

While there is much about Jesus we’re not told, what we do know is cause for worship. He was the babe in the manger and the very representation of God. He is heaven come to earth, the Son of God, and our Savior forever. Beloved, that is enough, for you to bow your knee.

The Most Important Question

It is my heart’s desire to teach Joy about God, but she teaches me all the time. She is usually very compliant and agreeable to whatever we ask her to do, but occasionally she will get a defiant attitude and refuse to cooperate. We had a few of those occasions when she was home last week. After some stubborn resistance, she asked me, “What does God say?” To which I answered, “God wants you to obey and . . . pick up your toys, or eat your breakfast, or get your shoes on . . . And she does. Because God said.

Imagine how different the world would be if Eve had turned to Adam and asked, “What does God say?” Because God had already told the man “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil . . .” (Gen 2:17). Instead they took the fruit and plunged the entire human race into sin and condemnation.

Imagine how different your life would be if you met every temptation with the same question. When the urge to surf the internet for porn hits, “What does God say?” “I will set before my eyes no vile thing” (Ps 101:3). When a friend offers you drugs or alcohol, “What does God say?”  “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline” (2 Tim 1:7). When a family member hurts you deeply and you want to tell them off, “What does God say?” “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Lk 6:27-28).

Let’s look at this again from another perspective. When your heart is wounded and weary, “What does God say?” “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps 34:18). When you feel unloved and unlovable, “What does God say?” “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jer 31:3). When I’ve missed the right way and feel like a lost cause, “What does God say?” “Your Father is not willing that any should be lost” (Mat 18:14).

You and I will ask a lot of questions in our lives, but none more important than Joy’s question. Because God always says what is right and true and His Word leads us to eternal life in Christ. Let my granddaughter be your teacher today. Beloved, “What does God say?”

Wherever You Go

I write all over my Bible. Some people think that is sacrilegious, but there are notes on almost every page and prayers jotted on many tear-stained pages. If you flip through my Bible, you will see underlines and highlights and stars and exclamation marks and names, and every time you come across the word Joy, you’ll find a pink heart. But I love the verses that are marked with dates because they tell the story of my life with God.

I came across one of those verses in the book of Joshua. When Moses died and the Lord God appointed Joshua to succeed him as Israel’s leader, it clearly terrified Joshua. The first nine verses of Joshua 1 are God’s repeated words of encouragement to Joshua.

“I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (v. 5).

“Be strong and courageous . . .” (v. 6).

“Be strong and very courageous.” (v. 7).

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged . . .”

And here’s where all the dates are: “. . . for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (v. 9). I took this verse very personally.

“Medart, 2011.” Medart was a depressing place in a depressing time for our family. We were in dire straits living in a run-down shack way out in the boonies. But I grew much in my faith because God was there.

“Woodville, 2013.” Woodville was a huge step up from where we were, it was a bright, open, peaceful place where much healing happened – because God was there.

“Tuscaloosa, 2015.” Our dream come true, living in Crimson Tide country. Until the dream turned into a nightmare. Still, through it all God was there too.

“Home, 2018.” After twenty-three years away, God brought us back home, put us in a great house that allowed us space for Joy, and set me in the best job I’ve ever loved. Granted, we’ve seen some very hard times here, especially this year, but I know with all my heart that God is here. I sense His presence every day.

God is with you too, Beloved, wherever you are. In a run-down shack or a brand-new mansion. In the place you’ve always wanted to be or a place you wish you could escape. In the darkest season of your life or the most Joyful. God is there. How can you be sure? He has promised to be with you wherever you go. And He always keeps His word.

Are You Paying Attention?

Two people sit through the same church service where the Scriptures are read and taught. One person is moved deeply and acts in obedience to the Word of God. Their life is radically changed. The other person walks away thinking only about lunch and couldn’t tell you what was said from the pulpit. They are unaffected and unchanged. How can this be? And why have I been both of those people at different times?

Paul wrote, “All over the world the gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” (Colossians 1:6). He said that the believers “heard” the Gospel and “understood” God’s grace in all its truth. Those words intrigued me, and, as often happens, the Holy Spirit said, “What does that mean?” So, I did some digging.

The word “heard” doesn’t just mean that the sounds of the Gospel pronouncement vibrated their eardrums. And it doesn’t mean that they sat through the message and then went on their merry way. That word means “to attend to, to consider carefully what has been said.” It means that the Colossians regarded the message as a matter of importance and gave it their utmost attention. In other words, they were sharply focused on the Word of the Lord. The modern equivalent means they weren’t texting, scrolling Facebook, or checking out Instagram during the preaching.

 “Understood” is also deeper than our English language offers. This means to “become thoroughly acquainted with.” You won’t become thoroughly acquainted with something that you don’t consider worthy of your attention. The Colossians believed that grace was something of value, something worth understanding – “in all its truth.” Understanding the truth of something means investigating it and pondering it and meditating on it. And it means applying our lives to it.  Paul said their diligence bore fruit – “faith in Christ Jesus and love for all the saints . . . and hope” in the eternal promises of God (vs. 4,5).

Beloved, are you listening – really listening – to the message of the Gospel and the teachings of the Scriptures? The same could be asked when personally reading the Bible. (You are reading your Bible, right?) Are you making the effort to understand – really understand – what God’s Word says? It’s not a casual nod of agreement, it is investing your time and attention to dig deeply into the truth. It will not return void. The fruit of your focus – faith and love and hope – is worth it

J is for Joy

“The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with Joy” (Psalm 126:3).

What great things has God done for you?  Have you thought about His “showers of blessings” lately?  When my heart becomes a little bit sour or I am sad and weary, I sit down with paper and pencil and go through my ABCs. No, not the alphabet, but the ABCs of gratitude. It’s a great exercise for the mind and heart, although it does get challenging around Q and X and Z. Here’s a sample:

A – Air conditioning (I do live in the deep South and it is the dog days of summer). And Advent – that Jesus came and will come again.

B – The Bible – God’s Holy Word – my passion and calling. And The Baptist College of Florida where I’m blessed to work.

C – Coffee (do I hear an Amen?).  And Christ my Savior. The church – both the Universal Church and my Christian family at Rehobeth Baptist Church. And fresh clean sheets on the bed.

D – Donald, my sweet husband of 34 years. And deliverance from sin and death.

E – Eternal life. Endurance – especially now that I’m in grad school. And education. And elephants (Roll Tide!)

F – Family and Friends – the greatest treasures this side of heaven! And fried chicken. And the faithfulness of God. And Forgiveness.

G – God’s amazing grace. And my granddaughter, Joy. And the Gospel.

I won’t go through the whole alphabet, but I think you get my point.  One sure way to find Joy when you’re running low is to “count your many blessings,” because Joy and gratitude are two sides of the same coin. I don’t have to get all the way to the last letter to see God’s good hand in and over my life.

Maybe this year has been filled with heartache, grief, disappointment, or struggle. Mine has too.  These certainly make it difficult to be thankful and Joyful.  Still, I have no doubt that somewhere between A and Z there are blessings you can grab onto to restore Joy to your heart. If you woke up this morning, you already have at least one: L is for the gift of life.

The Bible continually calls us to remember and rejoice in God our Savior. Do you need to reflect on the great things that God has done for you? Beloved, maybe it’s time to go back to school and practice your ABCs.  J is for Joy.