Seventh Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 10: Martyrdom vs. The Christian Persecution Complex

Today's Scripture Readings

Amos 7:7-15 (NRSV)

This is what the Lord God showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said,

"See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by;

the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,

and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,

and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."

Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said,

`Jeroboam shall die by the sword,

and Israel must go into exile

away from his land.'"

And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."

Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, `Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'"

Psalm 85:8-13 (BCP., p.709).

Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

Mark 6:14-29 (NRSV)

King Herod heard of the demons cast out and the many who were anointed and cured, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Blog Reflection

Benjamin Dixon wrote an article in Patheos entitled, Please Stop With The Christian Persecution Complex.  You're Embarrassing The Faith.  Dixon makes a compelling point that there really are Christians in places like North Korea, Iraq and Egypt being persecuted for being Christian.  In Iraq individuals believing in the Christian Faith were beheaded by ISIS.  The Coptic Christians are being murdered, calling out on the Name of Jesus just prior to being killed.  Yet, here in the United States where being Christian has no such consequence, we have fundamentalist and Catholic Christians claiming that their religious liberty is threatened over issues like contraception, abortion, and same-gender marriage.

Today in the Gospel reading according to Mark, we read about the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.  St. John the Baptist was a man who spoke truth to power.  He called for righteousness and repentance even from King Herod who married his brother's wife while his brother was still alive.  John the Baptist's preaching and popularity was perceived by Herod as a threat to his authority as king.  St. John the Baptist challenged the power of Herod, and for that John was arrested.   Herod, though he was troubled by John the Baptist could not bring himself to have him put to death.  Until a younger girl, namely the daughter of Herodias was asked to dance, with Herod promising her unto the half of his kingdom.  The daughter's request was the head of John the Baptist.  Now Herod is confronted by the consequence he would pay if he did not grant what he swore to give.  So, St. John the Baptist was beheaded.

Martyrdom is not the same thing as a persecution complex.  Martyrdom is what happens when one speaks truth to power and power responds.  Martyrdom does not have to be death, it can be the loss of one's reputation of the one who speaks truth to power by those who want to silence the messenger.  A martyr does not need to bring the martyrdom onto her/his self.  Such a person will experience martyrdom without being self-righteous or arrogant.  Martyrdom comes all too often on an individual who is not only speaking truth to power, but takes a leadership role in changing those who are effected by the corrupt power the most.  Instead of just calling those in power to change, the individual begins making the change from the bottom up.

The great martyrs of Christianity include individuals such as Dietrich Bonhoffer, Thomas Cranmer, the Martyrs of Japan and Uganda.  Individuals such as St. Boniface, St. Joan of Arc, St. Agnes and St. Agatha.  Lastly, Dr. Martin Luther King and Jonathan Daniels. 

Martyrdom can happen when Christians refuse to be captivated by politicians bought by billionaires.  We can experience rejection because we work to reverse the effects of climate change.  When we stand up against out of control gun violence, racism, heterosexism and the social and political exploitation and polarization of all human beings; we will experience all kinds of rejection that can lead to martyrdom. 

More important than martyrdom, however, is the expansion of God's Reign in this world and beyond.  It is more important to concentrate on following the example of Jesus Christ who was obedient even unto death.  Christ's obedience included seeking out the marginalized to bring healing and reconciliation to them.  Jesus calls us to be part of that ministry on His behalf in the here and now.  We are empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we all have a share in this ministry through our common Baptism.  We have every reason with every possibility of what God may do yet through our faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ.

We all know what Paul told us in the hymn he used in today's reading from Ephesians.  We have been redeemed and called from before the foundation of the world to be part of God's holy people and to rejoice in what God has done for us through Christ.  May each of us recommit ourselves to God's work, speak truth to power and let go of our persecution complex.

Amen.


Prayers

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who
call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand
what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and
power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Proper 10, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 231).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 818).

O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he
was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer
for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them
from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them
from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from
despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their
witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be
cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.  (Prayer for Those Who Suffer for the Sake of Conscience. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).