Years ago, Melanie, Casey, and I went to the Roman Colosseum. The most dangerous thing for us was crossing the road in front of the Colosseum. Roman traffic is for the quick and the dead. If you are not quick, you are dead. We know, though, that the Christians who died there loved Jesus with their whole hearts. Looking down at the stadium floor, I tried to imagine how Christians gave their lives rather than deny their relationship with Christ. I wondered if I could have withstood the persecution which led to their martyrdom.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that persecution against Christians was brewing at the very time he was writing. There were and are, to be sure, levels of persecution. It often began with insults, but later became public policy. These early believers stood side by side with the persecuted. They suffered with those who went to prison and “joyfully accepted the confiscation” of their property. How could they do that? They knew they had eternal possessions which could never be stolen. Now he calls them to persevere and expresses confidence that they will not “shrink back” from their commitment to Christ.
We descend from a long line of Christians who have suffered for their faith. Peter told the early believers that Jesus suffered, not to prevent our suffering but to show us how to suffer. This was the hallmark of the early believers. At the Council of Nicaea in the fourth century, out of 318 Christian leaders, less than twelve had not experienced the loss of a limb, or an eye, or had not limp from torture. They endured these losses for the sake of their faith. Paul Rader described our Christian ancestors, “Those early Christians lived on the threshold of heaven, within a heartbeat of home, no possessions to hold them back."
I know we want to do all in our power to ensure the continuing freedom of proclaiming the gospel in our country. Still, we know that the church is growing fastest today as it did in history, where Christians are not only enduring but embracing suffering. Imagine the honor of enduring loss for the sake of Christ. What if the most valuable things we own can never be taken away? When we come again to a vibrant faith that embraces suffering for Christ, we should not be surprised if our churches explode again in numerical and spiritual growth.
