The Power of True Faith: Perpetua and Felicity

    Few stories grip our imagination and swell our Christian honor than accounts of those who died for their Faith.  Our spines tremble when we recall Dietrich Bonhoeffer's famous dictum in The Cost of Discipleship:  "When Christ calls a man, He bids him  'Come and die'". 

Most of us preachers, at least in the United States, talk of such radical dictums as ironically we stand comfortably in a secure, safe pulpit--air-conditioned, of course.  Yet, actually walking the path of sorrows?   About as close as we come nowadays is bearing up under the pressure of an unkind remark someone said about us or our faith.   

Tradition has it that on March 7, 203 A.D., two women of faith traveled the path that leads to life where few there be that find it.  Perpetua and Felicity--wrongly deified by Rome but wrongly dismissed by Reformers--bled out in front of a cheering mob when, after a mad cow could not kill them, a soldier of the state took his sword and finished them off.  Not before, however, he hacked at them repeatedly, being unable to land the proper blow.  He was an 'inexperienced' warrior there in the ring for training. 

It is said, Perpetua herself instructed the green guard in the finer points of death by taking the blade and laying it in the proper position on her neck.

The crime of these women?  Four words in English:  "I am a Christian."  Being sentenced to fight with wild beasts, knowing quite well her own death, the actual words she writes on death day eve:  "Thus far have I written this, till the day before the games; but the deed of the games themselves let him write who will."

Should you, dear friend, this day...this week...this month or even this year, find yourself in sheer agony for others' insult toward you or your faith, recall that Christians before you have also borne insult but whose insult be written in blood.

With that, I am...

Peter

Comments

[Luke]

OUCH! Thanks Peter for that wake up slap. Just a question to ponder here: Has he who hasn't given all given any? Have a great Lord's Day.

[selahV]

And here we get all worked up over someone taking our favorite pew seat. How small we are. Yet, none can comparer to our Lord who truly gave it all. Why do you think we are so moved by the martyrs of old when our Savior bids us die to self each day that He might increase? Is the martyr any greater in death than the consecrated Christian in life? selahV

[Byroniac]

I am reminded of a Vietnam War Veterans memorial in my hometown. It bears (among other things) the words, "All gave some. Some gave all." How much more true this is in the Christian faith, for all believers. I'm not quite sure what to make of the story of Perpetua and Felicity, but it's a good reminder of the costs of true faith.

2 Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

[davidinflorida]

Peter,

Once you leave the protected confines of USA, persecution for sharing or exercising the faith is still in full force.

Many are being jailed beaten or killed for their love of Jesus.

I believe that most hyper-blessed USA christians can`t` even comprehend this. Most wouldn`t survive.

See www.persecution.com The Voice Of The Maryrs....

[Keith Schooley]

Wonderful reminder, Peter.

[peter lumpkins]

David,

I have no doubt in what you're saying. And, I am confident, our Lord leads to that part of the battle, only his choiciest soldiers.

Keith,

Thanks. Gosh, how I get so proud-filled, to think my sacrifice is as gold...

SelahV,

I think the essence of martyrdom lies not in to be so willing to die for Jesus that living does not matter; rather, to be so willing to live for Jesus that dying does not matter.

Grace. With that, I am...

Peter