Because You Have Questions

The recent beheading of Coptic Christians is a tragedy. “Coptic” means “Egyptian,” and Christians living in Egypt identify themselves as Coptic Christians. As a denomination they originated in the city of Alexandria, one of the most faithful, respected, and fruitful cities during the Apostolic Period. Coptic Christians acknowledge John Mark, (author of the Gospel of Mark), as their founder and first bishop sometime between A.D. 42 – A.D. 62.

 

In context of Scripture we find that this is not to be the exception, but the expected. John 15:21 “21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”

 

The persecution and the martyrdom of Christians have persisted since before that time, dating back to the early church of Acts and the killing of Stephen. Paul suffered under the first persecution of Nero. In 72 AD Jude the half brother of Christ was crucified and Bartholomew translated the gospel to those in India and was crucified there.  Such horrific atrocities on Christians is nothing new, in fact persecution reached historic levels in 2014. Maybe it is because the church has not spoken to this enough or maybe the American church has simply been silent on it. Christian persecution didn’t slow the growth of the Christian faith during the first few centuries after Christ.

 

It was Tertulian who wrote in the year 197 “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.” To insinuate that persecution will slow or even kill the church would lead one to preclude that no persecution would cause the church to thrive without it. To suggest persecution will hinder the church, but by grace can be overcome is understating what Tertulian is suggesting. Tertulian is implying without persecution the church won’t grow. Tertulian is saying the spread of the gospel requires blood. Is this biblical?

 

Hebrews 9:22 “22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

 

The bloody death of the perfect life of Christ purchased an incorruptible and redeeming life for all who believe and receive Jesus. If Christ had to suffer and die to have life than his word in John imply we too will suffer and even die on account of the one we believe in.

 

The Apostle Paul, in Colossians 1 writes,

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 

 

He is asserting, Tertulian’s statement is true. The church will and must suffer in order to spread the effects of the redeeming work of Christ Jesus. Without persecution, without sacrifice, with out martyrs, the effects of Christ’s work will not be fully grasped and realized. Following in the footsteps of Christ, being a disciple for Christ is displaying the love, joy, peace Christ even while we suffer. In our suffering, we walk in discipleship; we walk in the very footsteps of Christ and advance His Kingdom while deploying His church around the world with each droplet of blood.