the blood of martyrs
July 5th, 2008Over the past couple of days it has been a deep encouragement to view a DVD on the life and ministry of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and theologian who was martyred by the Nazis in 1945.
Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
This verse teaches us the importance of studying the lives of faithful witnesses of Christ who have walked the path before us. We are inspired by those who were faithful to the end. As the writer of Hebrews says of Abel, “…through his faith, though he died, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4).
Faithful witnesses like Bonhoeffer still speak to us. In the case of martyrs like Bonhoeffer and Jim Elliot, they have undoubtedly had a far greater influence upon the church because of their manner of death than they ever would have had if they had lived. This is what the church father Tertullian meant when he said, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.”
Bonhoeffer and Elliot – a missionary who was martyred in 1954 in Ecuador – have had incalculable influence since their deaths. Only heaven knows the numbers of those who have been inspired to become pastors and missionaries by their writings and the inspiration of their lives and their deaths. Only heaven knows the numbers of Christians who have been inspired to live more radically for Jesus by these men.
I count myself among that number. I thank God for these two brothers. I look forward to meeting both of them in glory.
