top of page
Search

Faithful Unto Death: Why Christian Martyrs Still Matter on What We deem Memorial Day



ree

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10 (KJV)

Every year on Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who gave their lives in defense of this nation. Their courage is worthy of honor. But for the Bible-believing Christian, there is another group whose sacrifice is just as sacred, though often forgotten: the martyrs of the faith.


From the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7, to the burning stakes of Oxford, to the torture chambers of the Inquisition, God’s people have endured brutal persecution simply for believing and preaching the truth of the gospel—that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.



They Didn’t Die for Religion—They Died for the Truth



The men and women recorded in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs did not die as rebels or fanatics. They died as faithful servants of Christ who refused to bow to man-made systems, including the corrupt Roman Catholic institution that sought to silence the Word of God. These were everyday believers—preachers, mothers, blacksmiths, farmers—who believed the Bible over bishops and Christ over councils.


They rejected doctrines like transubstantiation, indulgences, and papal authority. They held fast to the simplicity that is in Christ. And for that—they burned.



Their Legacy Is Your Liberty



Think about this: every time you open your Bible in English, or declare that you are saved by faith and not works, you are standing on ground soaked in blood. That liberty was bought—not just by theologians in towers, but by believers in chains, flames, and dungeons.


We don’t honor their memory to glorify death—we honor it because they glorified Christ in their death. They refused to trade eternal truth for temporal safety.



Martyrdom Is Not a Thing of the Past



Today, persecution may not always come in the form of fire or sword, but the spirit of Antichrist is alive and well. Whether it’s social pressure, false doctrine, or the rise of ecumenical compromise, the Christian is still called to “contend for the faith” (Jude 3) and stand against the systems that pervert the gospel.


Don’t be fooled: the same spirit that killed the Reformers is still at work—only now it’s more subtle, more religious, more “inclusive.”



Will You Be Faithful?



You may not be called to die for Christ, but you are called to live for Him. And in a world growing hostile to truth, even that can feel like martyrdom. But remember: the same Spirit that strengthened Stephen, Latimer, Ridley, and thousands more lives in you if you are in Christ.


Let their testimony ignite your courage. Let their sacrifice drive your devotion. Let their blood remind you that this faith is worth dying for—and more importantly, worth living for.


🕊️ Never forget the faithful. Be faithful still.


Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.“ - Acts 16:31

 
 
 

Comments


bottom of page