Political Correctness, the rise of Islam, the inroads of Rome, and the secularization of society  are all militating to silence the preaching of the pure and exclusive Gospel of Jesus Christ - who alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).  This is true for Christians in Europe, the USA, Canada and Great Britain. Some have already had their collars felt for holding fast the faithful word (see www.christian.org.uk). Of course, this is nothing new. The Lord's people have always been persecuted. Our Saviour said it would be so.

 "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me" (John 16:2-3).  

But how then are we to stand?

We fear that much which passes for Christianity today would be blown asunder by the guns of hell. A man-centered "gospel" which denies the sovereignty of God in salvation, an easy-believism which doesn't teach the true cost of discipleship and a gross lack of doctrinal understanding leave many to be a prey in the satanic battle which is before us. Indeed, none of us would stand were it not for the Lord and "the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10).

It is with this in mind that I repeat below some sound advice as found in the book the Mirror of the Martyrs under its title "Preparation to Martyrdom". It must be clearly stated however that when we speak of martyrdom we do not mean the same as the Muslim. In making himself a suicide bomb the Muslim claims himself a martyr. This is not true. He is a murderer. The Christian must never kill for the faith but is to emulate his Saviour, "who , when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23). The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12)". The Christian believer must never kill, nevertheless, he should be prepared to pay the ultimate price if he is called too, the Lord being his helper.

Here then are four points worthy of our consideration:

He that means to be a martyr of Christ, in giving his life for the truth, must,

1. Cast his accounts what his profession of the gospel may cost him ere he die, Luke 14.

2. Let him labour for a sound judgment in matters of faith; for a firm belief of the truth, will follow an undaunted confession of the same. Romans 10; 2 Corinthians 4:13.

3. He must be well exercised in the continual practice of self mortification. The mortified man is the likeliest to make a martyr.

4. He that will be a martyr, let him endeavor daily to deny himself in small things, yea in many lawful things: for he that cannot deny himself in small things, how shall he be able to deny himself the greater?

Finally, let the Scripture be our encouragement:

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" 2 Timothy 2:11-12

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" Matthew 5:11-12