Piety Equal to Martyrdom
Martyrdom
Compassion
Servanthood
Source:
As quoted in NELSON’S ANNUAL PREACHER’S SOURCEBOOK, 2004, p. 59
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Contributed By:
Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-06-08
Scripture:
John 15:13
Author:
Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria
Eusebius, the ‘Father of Church History,’ quotes long passages from Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria in the third century. In one of those passages, Dionysius spoke of how Christians responded to a terrible outbreak of the plague following a war:
“Most of our brethren showed love and loyalty in not sparing themselves while helping one another, tending to the sick with no thought of danger and gladly departing this life with them after becoming infected with their disease. Many who nursed others to health died themselves, thus transferring their death to themselves. The best of our own brothers lost their lives in this way—some presbyters, deacons, and laymen—a form of death based on strong faith and piety that seems in every way equal to martyrdom. They would also take up the bodies of the saints, close their eyes, shut their mouths, and carry them on their shoulders. They would embrace them, wash and dress them in burial clothes, and soon receive the same services themselves.”
Dionysius continued:
“The heathen were the exact opposite. They pushed away those with the first signs of the disease and fled from their dearest. They even threw them half dead into the roads, and treated unburied corpses like refuse in hopes of avoiding the plague of death, which, for all their efforts, was difficult to escape.”
How are you doing as God's servant in this world? Have you learned to serve God by serving the needs of others? There are so many ways we are called by God to put others first that don't cost us our lives. These are small sacrifices compared to what some have been willing to make. Lay down your life today by dying to selfish living and seeking to serve others in Jesus' name.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13).
Illustration Exchange
Call Me Only A Christian
Martyrdom
Witness
Courage
Source:
Perpetua's account appears in Davis, William Stearns, Readings in Ancient History vol. II (1913); Duruy, Victor, History of Rome and the Roman People (1883); Gibbon, Edward, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1896-1902). This account:
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Contributed By:
Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-03-06
Scripture:
Isaiah 51:7
; 1 Peter 2:24
Author:
Editors, Eyewitness To History
“Vibia Perpetua was a young woman of noble birth. She was twenty-two, a wife, a mother of a young son and a Christian. In the city of Carthage in North Africa on March 7 of the year 203 she was put to death for her religious convictions. Her story comes to us from three eyewitness accounts written shortly after her death.
“Perpetua was one of five Christians condemned to death in the arena. One of her companions, Felicitas, was a slave and eight months pregnant. Two days before her execution she gave birth to a daughter. Pepetua's father was a pagan and came often to the prison (many times with Perpetua's son in his arms) to plead with his daughter to renounce her religion and save her life - to no avail.
“On March 7 Perpetua and her four companions were led to the arena where the crowd demanded they be scourged. Then a boar, a bear and a leopard were loosened upon the men while the women were attacked by a wild bull. Wounded, Perpetua was then put to the sword.
"’When I was in the hands of the persecutors, my father in his tender solicitude tried hard to pervert me from the faith.
'My father,' I said, 'you see this pitcher. Can we call it by any other name than what it is?'
'No,' he said.
'Nor can I' I said, 'call myself by any other name than that of Christian.'
“Perpetua and another Christian woman, Felicitas, were tossed and gored by a bull; but despite cruel manglings yet survived. Perpetua, says a sympathizing recorder seemed in a trance. 'When are we to be tossed?' she asked, and could scarcely be induced to believe that she had suffered, in spite of the marks on her body. They were presently stabbed to death by gladiators after having exhorted the others to 'stand fast in the faith and love one another,' she guided to her own throat the uncertain hand of the young gladiator."
Have you so identified yourself with Christ that it is unthinkable that you could be called by any other name but Christian?
"Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults" (Isaiah 51:7). ..."Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12, cf 1 Peter 4:14).
The Cost of a Prayer Banner
Cultural Trends
Witness
Martyrdom
Source:
“Rhode Island Prayer Banner Ruling Will Not Be Appealed, School Panel Decides” by LAURA CRIMALDI 02/16/12, Huffington Post
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Contributed By:
Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-02-20
Scripture:
Matthew 16:24
Author:
Illustration Exchange
The right to keep a prayer banner hanging in a Rhode Island public school: $500,000
The right to sanctify Christ in our hearts: Priceless!
The Cranston Rhode Island School Committee cast a 5-2 vote to not pursue appeal to a court ruling that a prayer banner hanging on school property must come down. The controversy started when a Cranston high school student, 16 year old Jessica Ahlquist, said the banner violated her rights as an atheist. The religiously neutral banner opened with the words “Heavenly Father” and ended with a simple “Amen.” In between was a call to grow academically, personally and spiritually, to strive to do one’s best in school and to be kind to others.
The original court proceedings, which ruled that the banner must come down, ran up a $176,000 tab. It is estimated that the appeals process would cost up to $500,000 and would likely not be successful. Based on the potential cost of appeal—and in spite of considerable community outcry—the School Committee decided to drop the fight and remove the banner.
Atheist activists are applauding the victory and have even raised $40,000 in scholarship funds to reward the atheist student for her efforts.
The monetary cost involved in the public battle for faith can be very high. The Cranston School Committee deemed $500,000 too high a price to pay for the right to fly a prayer banner. The price just wasn't worth the reward.
The cost involved in publicly associating one's self with Christ can also be very high. But the statement made by a banner and the statement made by a life are two very different things. When it comes to our own personal testimony for Christ, we are called upon to be willing to pay the same price that was paid for us.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).