“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
- Matthew 20:19-20
The disturbing rise in Christian persecution around the globe has many of us suggesting that martyrdom is the natural calling for today’s evangelists. I heartily disagree with that notion. We are not called to lay down our lives for our faith. While it is true that in many places in the world, contemporary Christians do face the imminent threat of death, but we fulfill no Christ-given directive if we deliberately lay our heads on the chopping block. In fact, our Lord and Savior gave us an entirely different command in the upper room at the last Supper. “Then He said to them, ‘But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.’” - Luke 22:36.
Christ’s command here is not intended to be a “call to arms,” as some have suggested. But it is clear that He was referring to self-defense for His disciples. Of course there will be the contrarian who interjects, “What about Christ’s directive in Matt 5:39 or Luke 6:29?” I simply refuse to even entertain a debate regarding the idea of “turning the other cheek.” It is clear that our Lord was referring to simple insult here rather than a physical assault and if it isn’t clear to the contrarian, it should be. “But what about Christ’s command to Peter in Matthew 26:52 to ‘put away’ his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane?” Once again, such an objection is based on a false premise. Christ’s surrender to the temple guard was to fulfill the prophecies. Jesus wasn’t admonishing Peter for simply drawing his sword. Peter was intent upon curtailing what had been foretold. Christ didn’t say, “Get rid of that sword,” or “throw that sword away.” He simply said, “Put it away,” allowing that it my be needed at another time! Christ’s warning that “they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:52 [b]) was merely an admonishment that men whose lives were constantly led by the sword would eventually die by the sword. It was not a condemnation of reasonable self-defense.
No, our Christian calling is not to submissively lay down our lives; our calling is to spread the Gospel; however, if in the carrying out of that great commission we are to lose our lives then so be it; we will have exhibited the greatest love - “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” - 1 John 3:16.
We must, as Paul said, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” - 2 Timothy 4:2. We pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in the dangerous places of this fallen world. May they have the fortitude to continue spreading the Good News that is Jesus Christ! And in those moments of threatened physical persecution may they be able to defend themselves if it is God’s will and may they live and preach another day.
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