More thoughts on persecution

The early church father, Tertullian, is quoted as saying - "The blood of the martyr's is the seed of the church."

Despite some questionable beliefs, I believe Tertullian hit the proverbial nail on the head with this quote. Persecution of the early Christians was one of the greatest tools God used in spreading the Good News. Check out what happened to some of the first believers:

Peter - Crucified...however, feeling unworthy to be killed in the same manner as His Lord, he was crucified upside down.

Andrew - Crucified on an x-shaped cross. Hung on the cross for two days, all the while preaching the gospel to passers by.

Bartholomew - Was skinned alive and then beheaded by the king of Babylon.

Thomas - The one who doubted most took the Gospel as far as India. He was killed with a spear.

Jude - Battered to death with a club and then beheaded.

Matthew - Murdered in Ethiopia.

James the Lesser - Thrown from the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and then upon surviving the fall was beaten to death with clubs and stoned.

Simon the Zealot - Either crucified in Samaria or sawn in half in Sunair (depending on which accounts you read).

Mark - Died by being viciously dragged through the streets of Alexandria.

Luke - Hanged on an olive tree in Greece.

James the Greater - Beheaded. There are some accounts that say someone (accuser, soldier) realized, by James' actions, that the message of Christ was true and chose to be beheaded alongside James.

This has gone on throughout history all the way up until today. If you go on christianpersecution.info you will find stories of Christians in Iraq being crucified while their arms are set on fire, or Christians in China looking for places to meet because the government is bulldozing their homes, or in various Islamic countries where Christians are tortured, kidnapped, and killed.

God, how easy we have it here in this country. May I live a life that is worthy of persecution.

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Revelation 6:9-11)