Foxe's Book of Martyrs

Foxe's Book of Martyrs has long held the reputation of being a classic in the history of the Church. The book was written to encourage Christians who were facing persecution by pointing to faithful brothers and sisters who had gone before and given their lives for the Gospel. Foxe's reports the martyrdom of the apostles and Christians of all rank from the early church. Subsequent editions, such as the one I used, have since added more recent accounts of Christian martyrs.

This past Sunday I used material from Foxe's to illustrate the bold witness that comes when the church allows Paul's words-- to live is Christ and to die is gain-- to seep into its bones.  Here are some excerpts that were used in preparation for Sunday: 

The updated edition
of Foxe's that I used.

The apostle Paul was beheaded in Rome:

"At first, Nero was blamed for setting fire to Rome [in May 64 AD], so to direct the blame away from himself he blamed the Christians. As a result, fierce persecution broke out against them. During it, Paul was arrested and put back into prison in Rome. While in prison this second time he wrote his second letter to Timothy. It was his last. 

"Not long after, he was judged guilty of crimes against the Emperor and condemned to death. He was taken to the execution block and beheaded. It was A.D. 66, just four years before Jerusalem fell" (p. 8).

The account of Ignatius of Antioch:

"...in the year A.D. 110, Ignatius, was was the overseer of the Church in Antioch, the capital of Syria, where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26), was sent to Rome because he professed and taught Christ. It's said that when he passed through Asia, even though guarded by soldiers, he preached the Word of God in every city they traveled through and encouraged and strengthened the churches. While in Smyrna, he wrote the Church of Rome and appealed to them not to try to deliver him from the martyrdom, because they would deprive him of that which he most longed for. He wrote:

'Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing of visible or invisible things so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bone and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus.' 

"Even when he was sentenced to be fed to lions and could hear their roaring, he was filled with such desire to see Christ (see Acts 5:41) that he said, 'I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread'" (p. 14).   

Polycarp's martyrdom: 

"Polycarp, who was a student of the Apostle John and the overseer of the church in Smyrna, heard that soldiers were looking for him and tried to escape but was discovered by a child. After feeding the guards who captured him, he asked for an hour to pray, which they gave him. He prayed with such fervency, that his guards said they were sorry that they were the ones who captured him. Nevertheless, he was taken before the governor and condemned to be burned in the market place.

"After his sentence was given, the governor said to him, 'Reproach Christ and I will release you.' 

"Polycarp answered, 'Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never once wronged me. How then shall I blaspheme my King who has saved me?'" (p. 16).

And Julian, who would otherwise have been forgotten in history but for his testimony to Christ in his death: 

"St. Chrysostom, the patriarch of Constantinople in A.D. 398, wrote that Julian, a Cilician, was arrested for being a Christian, put into a leather bag with several snakes and scorpions, and then thrown into the sea" (p. 22).

Near-Sighted Pilots

I want to begin this post by saying that I don’t want to write it. I have been working on other, more enjoyable writing projects. However, when the official publication of the Christian Reformed Church decides to publish an article like “Where Have They Gone?” (February 21,2014), a muddled push for rethinking the denomination’s response to homosexuality, I felt the need to offer a response.

I use the word ‘muddled’ in describing this article because it never identifies its real target with any sort of clarity. It speaks about the church’s position on homosexuality in paragraph four, but then in paragraph five the author takes aim at the response of pastors and the congregational response in paragraph eight. Which is it? Based on the concluding remarks about welcoming back same-sex couples I will assume that the denominational position is being challenged, and not just congregational responses.

Further, the author doesn’t provide any significant exegetical support for his conclusion (the treatment of John 10:10, regardless of the conclusion, is simply poor reasoning and dismal hermeneutics) and provides a smattering of underdeveloped arguments. Readers, regardless of the positions they take, should join together in hoping that The Banner elevates its publication standards.

In response to “Where Have They Gone”, I’d like to isolate the premises of one of its arguments: the argument based on feelings of exclusion. I’ll evaluate each premise and offer some concluding remarks.

Premise 1:  The church’s current position on homosexuality has resulted in many gay men and women leaving the church and rejecting God because they have felt excluded [from paragraph six].

I would not disagree over this paragraph. I’m sure anecdotal evidence could be gathered in support of it. Rather than disagree, I’d like to express grief that this is so. I think all Christians should be grieved anytime anyone—gay, straight, transgender, black, white, old and married, young and single—walks away from the church and from God. Sometimes, probably far too often, the conduct of the church towards those who experience same-sex attraction—beyond its doctrinal position—has exacerbated feelings of isolation and confusion. This too is to be grieved and repented of. A sincere apology, however, does not mean one has to concede their principled position.

Premise 2:  A position that causes anyone to feel excluded is wrong and should be changed [implied from paragraph eleven].

If I knew the author of the article, I’d want to clarify whether they thought this supplied premise was a fair one. I’ve supplied it based on paragraphs five, six, and eleven, where the author expresses his or her frustration specifically over the feelings of rejection that have been felt and concludes that it is time to “welcome back its gay sons and daughters, along with their spouses and children”. The article would have been stronger if the author had been clearer about what exactly is problematic about the church’s position on homosexuality—is it that it provokes feelings of rejection in those who experience same sex attraction? The article seems to suggest two reasons for the rethinking the denominational stance on homosexuality: emotional distress caused and cultural shifts.

If the argument is that the position should be changed because the church’s position causes emotional distress, then I think we can work from premise 2. Premise two has some obvious problems. No one can possibly hold to it consistently (premise 2 makes me feel excluded and therefore it is wrong and should be changed! It’s self-defeating). Nor should anyone want to hold it! Suppose an airline company has a policy that only people with 20/20 vision are able to pilot their planes; unfortunately, this makes a near-sighted, jittery applicant feel left out. Does that mean that the airline’s policy is wrong and should be changed? Of course not! And if it ever did mean the airline should change its policy let me know—I’ll return to Scotland by boat!

But, someone might object, applying to fly a plane is hardly the same as wanting to feel included in a voluntary association like a church. What if we narrow the premise?

Mod. premise 2:  Any association that holds a position that causes feelings of exclusion should change their position.

But again, there are problems with this premise. Suppose that John wants to join his local association of Democrats. Rather oddly though, John is for smaller government, less taxes, and fewer restrictions on firearms—positions that immediately clash with the values of the Democratic Party. John expresses his disagreement to the local leaders. Should they recognize they’ve upset someone and change their policies? Will they? No, because presumably they have good reasons for holding the positions that they do. They should explain their reasons to John, but they’re under no moral obligation to change their policies.

Premise 2 is untenable.

Conclusion: The church’s current position on homosexuality, as it makes some people feel excluded, is wrong and should be changed.

Premise 2 appears self-defeating, and would make the world an impossibly unpredictable place to live in (with policies shifting as moods swung… I can’t imagine what that would do to any number of hormonal high school student clubs!). Therefore, the conclusion is not obtained.

To be clear: the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) does not exclude men and women who experience same-sex attraction (at least they shouldn’t!). They and I are extended the same invitation to find grace in the cross of Christ, to participate in the life of the church, and share in ministries of the church in the world. The CRC does say, in keeping with Scripture, that homosexual practice is off-limits, just as it says women who are not my wife are off-limits to me. Gay and straight alike are called to forgo or deny certain desires when we are joined to Christ through faith. Difficult though it may be, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. It is exactly in this dying to our own desires and being raised to new life and obedience in Christ that we come to experience life and life abundant. 

For those who are looking for a helpful resource dealing with a Christian perspective on same-sex attraction, I’d recommend Sam Allberry’s little book, “Is God Anti-Gay?” Allberry is a pastor who experiences same-sex attraction. In his writing he is both compassionate and thoughtful. If you’d like to read a review or two first, you can do so here and here.

Evangelism Bibliography

Tomorrow morning at Shawnee Park Christian Reformed Church we will begin a three week adult education series on evangelism. Each week's session will be in a panel format. There will be four panelists--I will be one of them--and we will begin to answer questions that have been submitted previously by members of the congregation. The focus point of these three weeks will be on relational evangelism. 

In preparation for this series I prepared a bibliography of materials on evangelism. I thought it would be helpful if I made that available to you. I have copied it below but will be happy to share a pdf file with any who desire it.

Evangelism Bibliography

Primary Recommendations on Evangelism,
Missional Living, and Church Planting

Chester, Tim and Steve Timmis. Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.

Chester and Timmis are church leaders in the United Kingdom. In the first five chapters, the argument is made that evangelism most effectively takes place when Christians develop authentic community with other believers that is centered around honest gospel conversations and where the individuals invite others to share in the life of the community. In other words, evangelism is not something that is done individually, but corporately. This book will challenge many of your assumptions about church and the nature of evangelism. Popular   

Koukl, Gregory. Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

Koukl’s book simplifies the goal of evangelism, “Instead of trying to get to the cross in every encounter, just aim to put a stone in someone’s shoe. Try to give the person something to think about. Be content to plant a seed that might later flourish under God’s sovereign care.” In Tactics, Koukl discusses how you to have conversations with your friends that puts a stone in their shoe. This book is both easy and practical. Popular

Metzger, Will. Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel Wholly By Grace Communicated Truthfully and Lovingly. 4^th edition. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1981.

Will Metzger, a campus minister at the University of Delaware since 1965, has written a book that successfully blends a sound, God-centered theology of evangelism with a practical concern for how Christians of all stripes can be witnesses in the settings in which God has placed them. The most recent editions of this book come with appendices that include evangelism training material (e.g. how to prepare your testimony, how to ask good questions, evaluating gospel presentations) and a study guide for working through the book. This book comes highly recommended. Popular

Stetzer, Ed. Planting Missional Churches: Planting a Church that’s Biblically Sound and Reaching People in Culture. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2006.

Ed Stetzer looks at the how and why of congregational evangelism. While Stetzer’s focus is on church planting, there is still much that existing churches can glean as they seek to engage their neighborhoods with the gospel. Stetzer is the president of LifeWay research, the pastor of a church plant, and a contributor to Outreach magazine. Popular

Secondary Recommendations (Those
Recommended By Reliable Sources)

Blackburn, W. Ross. The God Who Makes Himself Known: The Missionary Heart of the Book of Exodus. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012.

From the publisher, “The Lord's commitment to make himself known throughout the nations is the overarching missionary theme of the Bible and the central theological concern of Exodus… From a careful examination of Exodus, Blackburn demonstrates that (1) the Lord humbled Pharaoh so the world would know that only God can save; (2) the Lord gave Israel the law so that its people might display his goodness to the nations, living in a state of order and blessing and (3) the Lord dealt with Israel's idolatry severely, yet mercifully, for his goodness cannot be known if his glory is compromised.” Academic

Dever, Mark. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2007.

Mark Dever has spent a great deal of time thinking and writing about the Church. His short book on evangelism (128 pages) answers seven of the most basic questions about evangelism: why don’t we evangelize? What is the gospel? Who should evangelize? How should we evangelize? What isn’t evangelism? What should we do after evangelism? Why should we evangelize? Popular

Hybels, Bill. Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.

Just Walk Across the Room gives simple instructions and encouragement for building relationships in which relational evangelism can occur naturally. Bill Hybels also gives many great examples from his own life of times that his relational evangelism efforts have gone well and times when things didn’t turn out as he had hoped. This is an easy read that is encouraging for Christians who are just starting to think about this “relational evangelism” idea. Popular

Kostenberger, Andreas J. and Peter T. O’Brien. Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.

From the publisher, “According to Andreas Köstenberger and Peter O'Brien, this significant theme [of mission] has rarely been given its due attention in biblical theology. Motivated by their passion to see God's mission carried out in today's world, they offer a comprehensive study of the theme of mission. In Salvation to the Ends of the Earth they explore the entire sweep of biblical history, including the Old Testament, the second-temple period, each New Testament Gospel, Paul and his writings, and the General Epistles and Revelation.” Academic

Packer, J. I. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1961.

A classic book on the theology of evangelism from a Reformed perspective. Academic

Reid, Alvin. Evangelism Handbook: Biblical, Spiritual, Intentional, Missional. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2009.

From the cover, “Evangelism Handbook is a thorough guide to the daily ministry of sharing Christ. Writer and professor Alvin Reid is particularly concerned about how the Western Church is currently practicing evangelism—its failure to reach the hardcore unchurched and its trend of losing young people faster than it can win them. With a contagious passion for the lost, Reid organizes and presents his research and experience of effective modern evangelism in four clear actionable categories.” These four categories are biblical, spiritual, intentional, and missional. Academic

Stiles, J. Mack. Speaking of Jesus: How to Tell Your Friends the Best News They Will Ever Hear. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995.

From the cover, “Evangelism isn’t about exhibiting superhuman courage or perfecting specialized techniques or exercising extraordinary eloquence. Rater, this book will open your eyes to how ordinary people in commonplace situations can use everyday language to reveal the simple news about Jesus.” Popular

Articles, Websites, and Blogs on Evangelism

“Evangelism.” TheResurgence.com. http://theresurgence.com/categories/evangelism Popular

Gaydos, Tim. “7 Tips for Talking to Your Neighbors about Jesus.” TheResurgence.com. http://theresurgence.com/2012/01/16/7-tips-for-talking-with-your-neighbors-about-jesus

Jensen, Matt. “7 Ways to be a Missionary in College.” TheResurgence.com. http://theresurgence.com/2010/05/11/7-ways-to-be-a-missionary-in-college

“Outreach Magazine.” http://www.outreachmagazine.com/ Popular

Outreach is a bimonthly magazine about church evangelism. This magazine is particularly helpful as an exchange of ideas between churches, leaders, pastors, and laypeople about how the church, groups, and individuals can reach their communities with the gospel message. Much of the content that is available through the magazine can also be retrieved the magazine’s website.

“Evangelism Archives.” Gospel Centered Discipleship: Resources to Make, Mature, and Multiply Disciples of Jesus. http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/category/evangelism/ Popular

McBee, Seth. “The Introverted Evangelist.” Gospel Centered Discipleship.

http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/the-introverted-evangelist/

McBee, Seth. “The Neighborhood Mission Start Up.” Gospel Centered Discipleship.

http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/the-neighborhood-mission-start-up/

Writebol, Jeremy. “Redeeming Fantasy Football.” Gospel Centered Discipleship. http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/redeeming-fantasy-football/

“100 Ways to Engage Your Neighborhood.” Josh Reeves. http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7105292/Posted%20Resources/100%20Ways%20To%20Engage%20Your%20Neigbhorhood.pdf

Audio on Evangelism

Dever, Mark. “A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism.” Capitol Hill Baptist Church. http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/audio/1999/03/a-biblical-understanding-of-evangelism/

If you don’t have time to read any of the books above, then at least take the time to listen to Dr. Mark Dever provide a clear summary of biblical evangelism, reasons why we do not evangelize, and reasons why we should evangelize. Dever says that evangelism is not something we do to unbelievers, nor is it simply sharing your testimony, but it is the loving and winsome presentation of what God has accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinful human beings. Popular

Dever, Mark. “Mark Dever on Evangelism.” AlbertMohler.com. http://www.albertmohler.com/2008/01/18/mark-dever-on-evangelism/

This is a thirty-minute interview of Mark Dever about his book The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. The interview begins at the 11:24 mark. Popular

Dever, Mark. “Contact Evangelism: A Leadership Interview with Mack Stiles and Friends.” 9Marks. http://www.9marks.org/media/contact-evangelism

A roundtable discussion on contact evangelism. Popular

Platt, David. “Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death Defying Missions (Session VI).” Together for the Gospel. http://t4g.org/media/2012/05/divine-sovereignty-the-fuel-of-death-defying-missions-2/

David Platt’s sermon is the most intense sermonic call to evangelism and global missions that I have ever listened to. Popular

World Religions and Apologetics

Geisler, Norman. Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Baker Reference Library. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1998.

A comprehensive resource that will serve as a high-level resource for addressing objections to, and arguments for, the Christian faith. Academic

Keller, Tim. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Dutton, 2008.

Newsweek has called Keller, a pastor in Manhattan, the C. S. Lewis of the 21st century. Reason for God is a beautifully written response to some of the most common objections your friends, family, and neighbors might have to Christianity. Keller’s book addresses intellectual challenges to faith in a way that is accessible, winsome, and direct. This book would be helpful to anyone who is unsure of the answers they might give to the doubts and challenges raised by their non-Christian friends. Popular

Nichols, Larry, George Mather, and Alvin J. Schmidt, eds. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions: Revised and Updated Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.

A compendium of the historical and theological backgrounds to many of the world’s most noteworthy religions, cults, and sects. This book is particularly helpful resource in that at a number of points it lists the disagreements between Christianity and the particular religious movement that you are researching. Academic

Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.

This is one of the more familiar popular-level apologetic books. Strobel, a former atheist who worked for The Chicago Tribune, interviews experts in a variety of fields to find answers to questions about the credibility of the biblical story. His other books—The Case for Faith and The Case for a Creator—are also worth reading. Popular

The Great Commission Litany

A couple months ago I compiled this litany for our church's use during a sermon series on the need, grounds, and power for doing evangelism. My aim in creating this litany was to illustrate the biblical fulfillment of the Great Commission in Matthew 28 to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of the three segments was separated by the congregation singing a small chorus, Send Me, Jesus, in English and Karen.

The litany was well received by the congregation and served as a positive response to the sermon. You may use this litany if you would like; however, I ask that you would use it as is and not making any changes to the litany's content.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

The Great Commission Litany
Narrator:	After he had died and was resurrected from the dead, our Lord Jesus spoke these words:
Voice 1:	“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Narrator:	As followers of the Risen Christ, we have been called by our Master to make disciples who bear the seal of the waters of baptism.
Congregation:	When we commit ourselves to carrying out this commission, we commit ourselves to obediently proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we do this we expect to see the power of God that was witnessed by Phillip on a dusty road from Jerusalem to Gaza as he proclaimed the good news of Jesus.
Narrator:	Listen to how God used Philip to transform an Ethiopian court official into a follower of Jesus: “The Spirit said to Philip,
The Spirit:	“Go over and join this chariot.”
Narrator:	So Philip ran to [the Ethiopian eunuch] and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked,
Philip:	“Do you understand what you are reading?”
Narrator:	And he said,
Eunuch:	“How can I, unless someone guides me?”
Narrator:	…Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said,
Eunuch:	“See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Narrator:	And the Eunuch commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and Philip baptized him.
*** Insert Chorus ***
Narrator:	When in Philippi, Paul and his fellow laborers met a woman named Lydia. Upon talking to Lydia about the things of God, Paul and his company bore witness to the power of God to save men and women.
Congregation:	When we present the worthiness of following Jesus to an unbelieving child, an apathetic neighbor, or skeptical co-worker, we stand with Paul and his company. We do so expecting to see the saving power of God:
Narrator:	Listen to how God used Paul and his company to transform a Philippian businesswoman into a follower of Jesus: And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying,
Lydia:	“If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.”
Narrator:	And she prevailed upon us.
*** Insert Chorus ***
Narrator:	When Paul and Silas, freed from their chains, chose to speak words of life to a Philippian jailer instead of flee, they witnessed the word of the Lord transform an entire household.
Congregation:	Along with Paul and Silas, we too desire to see households transformed by God. Therefore, in obedience to Jesus’ commission and with a desire to see God change human hearts, we also will testify to Jesus in East Grand Rapids and Alger Heights, at work and at school, to our families and to our neighbors.
Narrator:	Listen to how God used Paul and Silas to transform a suicidal prison guard into a follower of Jesus:  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice,
Paul:	“Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
Narrator:	And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said,
Jailer:	“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Narrator:	And they said,
Paul:	“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Narrator:	And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
*** Insert Chorus ***
Narrator:	Wherever we proclaim Jesus as the Risen King and Savior of the World, we labor alongside Philip, Paul, and the church throughout the ages in obedience to our Lord’s command. And, we do all this trusting in Jesus’ most certain promise, that he would be with us always, to the end of the age.”
Congregation:	Amen.