Monday, February 12, 2018

martyrdom vs suicide


Today we read about how Jesus was tortured and killed in the selection from the One Year Bible - you can listen to the OT HERE and the NT HERE.

Chesterton talked about the difference that we see in the martyrdom of Jesus. We don't usually refer to Jesus's death as a martyrdom, for several reasons. The chief being that He didn't stay dead. But then, when we think about it, none of the Christian martyrs stay dead, either.

Chesterton said that martyrdom is the opposite of suicide bombers. And I think that both of those things are true. Giving up your life for what you believe in is the opposite of giving up on life because you don't believe in it anymore. Choosing your faith, even when it means that you have to die, is diametrically opposed to killing other people because they don't share your faith.

I don't mean to take the issue of suicide lightly. I have close friends who have chosen to take their own lives. None of them were in their right mind at the time - all of them were dealing with medication against depression which then turned against them. And I have nothing but compassion and grief for those who find themselves in that place.

But choosing to strap on a vest of explosives and kill yourself along with as many people as you can take along with you... or choosing to take a rifle into a hotel room and shoot the country music lovers across the street... that is the evil opposite of what martyrdom means. And we see this difference in the garden of Gethsemane. Because Jesus didn't want to die. He gave up His will to God's, and chose to follow the divine drama. But He was life itself. And, hanging on the cross, He forgave those who did that to Him. His love even permeated His own death, shining out through the wounds in His hands and feet and side.

Let's follow Him. Let's seek out the life and love that would lead to such an embrace of both, that it might lead to martyrdom. Let's show the hate of the world what love really looks like.

God, thank You for being Life, and for being Love. Please fill us with both.

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