A Martyr For My Faith

Can I be a martyr for my faith if I live in a country where my chosen belief system is the standard belief system on which my country was built? What would being a martyr for Jesus look like in America? 

We can agree that to be a martyr in America, we don't have to worry that a military force is going to break down our door because our neighbor turned on us. American martyrdom isn't about fear of the outside forces, it's more about fear of losing face. Being a martyr in America looks a lot more like letting go of my right to share my opinion as truth instead of shouting at anyone who has a different opinion. Being a martyr for us, in our current day, is more about laying down our name, our preferences, our American dream. 

Being a martyr might also look like holding boundaries to protect yourself and family. Boundaries don't mean walls. Through the example of Jesus in the Gospel, we see that as important as boundaries are, they should look more like fences than walls. When we build up walls and call them boundaries, it's not allowing spaces of openness for the Spirit of God to move. We can see time and time again how Jesus set apart time for Himself with the Father, to rest, to teach the twelve. We also see how often Jesus allowed for interruption to those routines. Specifically, in Mark 1:37 it shows that Jesus rose early in the morning and went off to a quiet place. When the disciples find Him, they bluster that "everyone" has been looking for Him. Jesus doesn't chide them for interrupting time with the Father. Jesus picks up and

says, let's get going and minister to others. Jesus forwent sleep, food, comfort, glory and power to become our Savior. He allowed himself to be interrupted both by the disciples and, more importantly, by the Father. 

With this examples, we can see how we too can be martyrs for our faith. When I'm on fourth day in a row of running low on sleep, I can surrender my desire for a nap for a conversation with a troubled friend. If I haven't been able to sit down and eat a meal, I can thank God for the opportunities to minister to those needing instruction. When I have to send back the latest fictional best-seller and instead read a dusty old-tome on spiritual disciplines, I'm martyring my desire of entertainment for the soul-cultivating work of growing in grace and truth. 

Our practice of being a martyr is important to our Christian faith. It reminds us about humility and our proper place in the pecking order of our faith. When we look at slights and inconveniences as God teaching us patience, we gain kingdom perspective. When the plan isn't going the way we imagined, we again get that shift in our frame of mind. Being a martyr is something we are promised. Let us take great joy in suffering for our Lord. Delighting that we are counted as equals to experience the same as our Savior.