Are You A Fearless Believer?

By Angela Wittman

James Renwick - Martyred Covenanter

I can think of nothing more stirring than hearing accounts of those martyred for their faith. While there are those who scoff at the zeal of Christians willing to lay down their lives for Jesus Christ, history proves that those who have done so were full of the grace and joy of the Holy Spirit even until the very end.

These men and women who counted their lives not as dear as the Gospel impacted the world for Christ in a way that will never be forgotten.

J. C. McFeeters, author of “Sketches of the Covenanters” writes this about those who spill their blood for the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

“God has His own way of calling out His witnesses, and assigning service to them. The Church, as a whole, has invalidated and incapacitated herself for this responsibility, by weakness, declension, and compromise. God does not commit His testimony to the Church, while in such condition; nor to the faithful in the Church, whose voice and actions are weakened or neutralized by majorities. This important and hazardous task throughout the ages has not been committed to a Church, that is recreant at any point; nor to individuals, that are true at every point; but to a distinctive body of earnest, faithful, and fearless believers.”

As Christians we are to count the cost to follow Christ, and by the grace of God we will be willing to pay whatever it cost, including our lives. This willingness on our part is how the Gospel is spread, souls are saved, lives and cultures are changed and how we will find our truest worth as children of the Most High God.

My plea with Christians in America is to cast aside all restraint and be a bold witness for Jesus Christ. Use every opportunity given to tell others of the gift of eternal salvation found only in Christ Jesus. If you receive cursing for your blessing, rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. If you receive persecution and suffering for your Christian witness, bless the LORD and remember these words written by the Apostle Peter found in Holy Scripture:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (1 Peter 4:12-16 NKJV)

Amen.

(Originally published October, 2007 - Revised and updated September, 2014)