We have been reading and researching some on the early Christians. These giants of the faith who lived in the first few hundred years after Christ.
And it both humbles and shames us.
If they would come and sit in our churches now, what would they say about us? Would they acknowledge that we are following the Way as it is taught in the Scriptures? Would they look on us as soft and cowardly – when we shudder to speak the unpopular truth, let alone die for it? Would it make them sad to see the things we pursue to advance ourselves or to grow our bank accounts? Would they cringe to watch the entertainment we watch? Would they bow their heads in shame to hear us whine about the small things God asks us to do out of love for Him?
“A person who does not do what God has commanded shows he really does not believe God.” ~ Clement of Alexandria 150-215 A.D.
There was a young woman of 22 years old who died in 203 A.D. Her name was Perpetua. She was in baptism class and was arrested with several others for not worshiping the empire’s gods. Her father came to the prison several times to try and get her to give up her faith for the sake of her family and baby, even going so far as beating her. But she stood firm in her faith. Her nursing baby was allowed to stay with her until they moved her to a worse part of the prison, then she sent him to her family while she remained in that part of the prison.
In prison, she had dreams and visions of heaven and also about her death in the arena, which the group had been sentenced to. She wrote these down in a diary, along with the prisoners activities as they awaited their death. These writings were later used as encouragement for others.
Her slave, Felicitas, was also sentenced with her. Felicitas was eight months pregnant and would not be allowed to die with the group if she was still pregnant then. Three days before the day of their impending death, the group begged God to deliver the child so Felicitas could die with them.
The labor was intensely painful and one of the servants at the birth asked Felicitas how she would die in the arena if this birth was so hard. Her answer was this: “I suffer what I’m suffering now, but then there will be another in me, who will suffer for me, because I am about to suffer for Him.” These early Christians believed with a simple faith that when Jesus said He would be with them always . . . then He would do just that.
As they were led into the arena, they did so with joy in their hearts – knowing they were only moments away from seeing the Savior’s face. After being trampled and mauled by the wild beasts, they were then slain with the sword. As a novice gladiator struck Perpetua between the ribs without dealing the death blow, she guided his shaking hand to her throat.
She had given all.
Nothing I have ever given up has even come close . . .
And when I read those stories of the gentle, yet powerful, giants of the first few centuries in Christianity, I can’t help comparing it to my own heart. Would I be able to give up my life in the face of uncertainties with my children? I know what it’s like to have a nursing child or one just born. Could I give it away to go face my violent death with joy?
We will not be surprised if persecution comes for the church in America. And many is the time I wonder what it would be like. And not many days pass without me begging God to keep us faithful. But when the fears begin to come to me, there is a verse that brings me encouragement like no other.
The first part of Luke 16:10 promises this: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much”.
He did not say that if we are faithful in the small things, there is a slight chance we will be faithful in the huge hurdles. He didn’t use the words probably or possibility or a 75% chance. He meant exactly what He said in those words in Luke and we need to believe them with a childlike faith.
But what does this look like in shoe leather? One early Christian was known to say, “We don’t speak great things. We live them.”
The living is where true faith will show.
This is where the Spirit’s conviction comes in strong and deep. I struggle too much at giving up the little things like my own will and desires, my own selfishness, and my own pride. My dreams for my family may not be what God has planned, so can I willingly lay them down? Lay them down simply because I love Him above all other people, wishes, and pursuits in my life?
True faith is also about obeying the commandments He has laid down in Scripture.
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me . . . ” John 14:21a
Let’s ask ourselves some hard questions.
How much do I love Him now in the little “hard” things of life?
If I refuse to forgive my enemy, do I really suppose I will be able to die for my Jesus? (Matt. 5:43-45)
If I cannot give up my own desires and stay faithful to my spouse I vowed to love for life, then do I really think I will give up my very life for Christ’s name when asked to? (Matt. 5:31-32)
If I am so ashamed of my Jesus, His gospel, and His teachings . . . how much more will He be ashamed of me? (Luke 9:26)
If I won’t truly love all my brethren, then how would I die for them?
If I cannot lay down all desires in my heart to follow where Christ wants me to go, then will I be able to lay down my life?
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
Now let’s go even smaller. And this may only resonate with those of Anabaptist or similar faith. But I have chosen to obey the head veiling command in I Corinthians 11. My church has also asked me to dress modestly and refrain from jewelry and makeup for reasons listed in I Peter 3:3. To guard our eyes and hearts, we have agreed as a church to place restrictions on movies, internet, etc. And when I joined my church, I gave my word I would support it because I believe these things are based upon Scripture.
So when my heart rises up in selfishness and vanity because I don’t want to look different or I want to simply do what I want to do no matter what the Bible or God through His church has asked of me . . . I wonder what Perpetua would say?
Would she look at me with tears in her eyes and hang her head in shame to even call me a sister?
In relation to her, my sacrifices have been miniscule.
Some people will say it’s inconvenient to stay faithful to a spouse who has walked away. Some people would say it goes against our human rights to forgive the very people who have accused us falsely or hurt us tremendously. The world would try to get us to believe that Jesus and His teachings don’t apply to today and will only make our lives inconvenient and harder.
What do you think Felicitas would say to that? She who delivered a child and gave it away within hours before her death.
Was it convenient for Perpetua to grieve for the lost heart of a father who not only beat her, but continually begged her to give up her faith?
Was it convenient to take that first step into the Roman arena – looking death in the face?
Could we wrap our fingers around the shaking arm of a gladiator and quietly guide his sword to our throat?
The Lord has to be in the Christian’s heart, not simply on his lips.
~ Hermas – wrote between 100-140 A.D.
I am learning that when I lay down these little things because I love my Jesus . . . then the Spirit has room to grow and work in my life. It’s as though with each denial of self there is more of the Spirit in my heart.
But I first must give up every single thing in my life and heart. Holding nothing back.
A man by himself working and toiling at freedom from sinful desires achieves nothing. But if he plainly shows himself to be very eager and earnest about this, he attains it by the addition of the power of God . . . God works together with willing souls. But if the person abandons his eagerness, the Spirit from God is also restrained. To save the unwilling is the act of one using compulsion; but to save the willing, that of one showing grace.
~ Clement of Alexandria
And perhaps someday, with the grace of Almighty God and my Jesus beside me, I will be able to lay down the big things.
But for now, He is asking me to lay down the small things. And I choose to do it with joy and a heart of love for the One who took my place on Calvary.
Recommended Documentary: Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up?
by Elliot Nesch
*some quotes listed above were taken from this video*
We believe in the inerrancy and sufficiency of the Scriptures. Jesus said, “Thy Word is truth.” And so we not only believe it, we also base our worldview upon it.
Regina S says
I already commented on Living in the Shoe but I want to add that I desire to give up the small things. And I have given up things like jeans and t-shirts in favor of modest dresses, wearing the headcovering instead of wearing the latest hairstyles that black women are wearing and having perfectly painted fingernails. Maybe for some women these are big things.
Perhaps I need to read more articles from Martyrs Mirror which I believe every Christian home regardless of their denomination needs to have. And it needs to be read!
Sadly I think Perpetua and Felicitas would be weep over the state of the church today.
The Editors says
Bless you for giving up those things!! God sees and He knows. Sometimes it’s harder to give up little things than big things. 🙂 And yes, I agree that the early Christians would weep over the church . . . you are so right!