I was reading today of a Greek monk named, Maximus the Confessor (580-662).
There were doctrinal disputes in the Church on the nature of Christ's being. And they divided on this teaching.
The Emporer/Church at the time made a decree that all must simply get along, there will be no debating on either side, both are alright, so leave it alone. Maximus wouldn't, and couldn't do this. So they had him beaten and banished to Bizya in Thrace.
But Maximus kept on preaching and sharing how Christ is both human and divine, and has both wills within Him.
How dare he defy the church/state.
They confronted him and asked him, "Do you think you are the only one saved?"
His answer: "May God grant that I do not condemn anyone, nor say that I alone am saved. But I prefer to die rather than violate my conscience by defecting from what I believe about God."
They then ripped his tongue out and had his hand chopped off, so that he couldn't speak and write. He died a few months later.
I will look forward to seeing such a man in heaven. Such valor.
I feel if I was put in such a situation, I would simply say, "Sure, we can all get along, why not. You believe different, that's good, but I do think you're wrong, but I could be wrong too. No need to get uptight. Let's all get along. God loves unity and peace."
I hope and pray to the Lord I wouldn't say this, but would instead stand as this great example to us all did, or at least have 1/10 the courage as he had.
And I realize, and know, that it's only by His grace that any of could stand. May God grant us such grace in our every day witness for His truth. Amen.
9 comments:
Brother,
As always, great thoughts. The verse that's always grabbed me is Revelation 12:11
They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Would God give us such a heart, brother, to die for Him should the occasion arise. Only by grace...
Dr. S. Lewis Johnson once (maybe more, but I heard it once) that if we are honest with ourselves, we would nave to say that we are not able to die as a martyr. He then said this is so because we have not yet be asked to do so and so God has not yet given us the grace to do so.
What we should do is pray that should that time come, we would get the grace to do so, and to live as one preparing to receive that grace. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks Gregorious.
And thanks taliesin for dropping by. Appreciate your thoughts. They are good ones.
Don,
That is powerful indeed. I am afraid I would need a whole lot of courage that I don't have, but as Taliesin said praying for the grace to remain faithful could do wonders.
Amen Wayne. May the Lord grant us courage to stand for His truth, in all situations and circumstances. Amen.
Indeed...
...wanted to let you know I linked you, Don...
As a child, I used to believe that martyrs were miraculously spared from the pain of the means of their death. (Silly child that I was.) I no longer believe that, and it makes me tremble to consider the great gift of faith that God poured into these heroic saints.
Thanks JD. Unexpected blessing.
"the great gift of faith that God poured into these heroic saints."
Nice statement Craver.
Thanks for dropping in.
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