Martyrs of the Church

Reformation

October 28, 2012

Martyrs of the Church

Mark 13:9

In name of Jesus. Amen.

You've heard of Martin Luther. But you've never heard of Robert Barnes.

Robert Barnes was an Englishman. He died 500 years ago. He met Dr. Luther in Wittenberg, heard his preaching, and became convinced that the true Gospel was a promise, not a demand.

He returned home and became the first Lutheran in England. From his pulpits in Cambridge and London, he preached justification by faith alone to his fellow countrymen. He preached the free forgiveness of sins on account of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. In the end Dr. Barnes was caught up in the political schemes of King Henry VIII and those around him. Dr. Barnes was burnt at the stake.

Jesus knew of Dr. Barnes when He promised the Church that many would become martyrs on His account.

Mark 13:9

You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of Me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses [martyrs] to them.

The English word witnesses is a translation of the Greek work martyrs. We usually think of martyrs as those who have given up their lives because they refused to betray the pure confession of Christ like sainted Dr. Barnes. But a martyr is also simply someone who speaks about what they have seen.

Dr. Barnes didn't see Christ hanging from the cross or His empty tomb like the martyred Apostles or the very first martyr of the Church, Stephen. But he did see and hear faithful pastors like Luther proclaiming the promise of forgiveness because of God's work on the cross for us. He saw and received the true body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of his sin in the Sacrament of the Altar, just as you will see today.

In our country today, being a martyr or witness should not primarily be a matter of shouting to strangers or acquaintances, either by picketing a political rally or forwarding emails or posting religious/political items on Facebook. Shouting is easy to do and often does more harm than good or just nothing at all, other than making you feel as though you have done something.

Instead, speak softly and clearly to those whom Christ has placed into your life. For example, be a martyr of the Church by supporting your pastor when he tells your son that he is sinning when he defends his choice to live with his girlfriend. Fathers, Don't pretend that everything's okay. Have the courage to tell that impenitent son, who defends his sin and implicitly says that it's a good thing, that he is in grave danger. Perhaps your words will need to be reinforced with action. Perhaps your witness to the truth will include dis-inviting your son to your holiday table and festivities.

Being a martyr is painful and a lonely road. But let us carry our crosses and take a stand for the truth like Dr. Luther and Dr. Barnes. Let us seek what is in the best interests of your beloved child.

This is what Christ calls to do. He said:

Matthew 10:32-39

“Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

As things are now, we'll never lose our lives on account of Jesus. Thanks be to Christ! But we are martyrs, that is, we are witnesses to the acts of Christ in our lives that He promised to do. We see Him forgiving us as His promise creates and strengthens spiritual life through water, through words, through bread and wine.

Let us come to the Lord's Supper rejoicing as we give thanks and praise to Christ for the Reformers and Martyrs of the Church like Dr. Luther and Dr. Barnes. The Lord used them and many other faithful martyrs as they stood before the world and confessed their Savior and ours, Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, who takes away the sin of the world.

In the name of the Father and of the † Son

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.