Christian teaching

I have now told you several stories of Christians who lived after the time of the New Testament and who were faithful in their Christian lives and who also faithfully endured persecution.

Lest we forget, given where we live, let me remind you that persecution of Christians continues to this day. The World Evangelical Alliance estimates that currently 200 million Christians across the world suffer some form of persecution. (persecution.org) Indeed there is more persecution today than there has ever been in Christian history. Certainly you have read or heard about the many Christians that are dying for their faith, especially in areas where Muslim fundamentalists have control.

So as we read a story about Blandina today may we be challenged to greater faithfulness. But also remember to pray for those who are suffering right now and the families of those who have been left behind to grieve and are trying to survive.

Background to our story

Blandina lived many centuries ago, in the Roman empire. The persecution that engulfed her and many others took place in 177 AD under Marcus Aurelius’ reign, although as usual it was the local authorities who enacted it. It took place in ancient France, which was called Gaul, in two cities – Lyon and Vienne. Churches had been established in these cities for a time and it appears that they were doing well and growing.

The account of the persecution of these two churches was written by witnesses and sent to the churches in Asia minor. I will be using this account.(Eusebius’ Church History, chapter 5.)

The persecution

It all began when the residents of these towns began to exclude Christians from public places, including the markets. In fact, they were forbidden “to be seen in any place whatever.” (5.5) Then they endured mob actions against them – being shouted down, hit and robbed. People threw stones at them and some were put in prison. (5.7)

Those in prison were publicly examined by the city authorities. They confessed their faith in Jesus and were put back into prison until the governor could come to deal with them.

When he came he was quite harsh. You have to understand that this was not just a new, strange faith. There were accusations that the Christians were doing terrible things in their meetings. Some of this came about because a few of their unbelieving servants, fearful for their own lives, testified against the Christians. They said that they practiced cannibalism, incest and as the report says, “deeds which are not only unlawful for us (as Christians) to speak of or to think, but which we cannot believe were ever done by (people).” (5.14)

The report goes on, “When these accusations were reported, all the people raged like wild beasts against us, so that even if any had before been moderate on account of friendship, they were now exceedingly furious and gnashed their teeth against us.” (5:15) Most believers stayed true, but some also renounced Christ. But more and more faithful Christians were rounded up to fill up their number.

Then the torture began. This is a portion of the amphitheater in Lyon where the Christians were persecuted, providing entertainment to the crowds. The post in the middle is a tribute to Blandina. We will get to this.

The authorities were not just trying to get people to fear becoming Christians. They were trying to discredit the faith by getting the believers to say that the false accusations were true.

Many faithful Christians died cruel and terrible deaths, but we will focus on –

Blandina’s faithfulness

– even as the original report also gives her special attention.

She was a young woman and a slave. The writers said, “through Blandina Christ showed that things which appear (lowly) and obscure and despicable to (people) are with God of great glory . . .” (5.17). For “though small and weak and despised” (5.42) as the witnesses said, God used here greatly in all this.

She was both brave and tough. While others were afraid they would not be able to hold up under torture, including her own female master, the witnesses said that “Blandina was filled with such power as to be delivered and raised above those who were torturing her by turns from morning till evening in every manner, so that they acknowledged that they were conquered, and could do nothing more to her.” She wore them out. “And they were astonished at her endurance, as her entire body was mangled and broken; and they testified that one of these forms of torture was sufficient to destroy life, not to speak of so many and so great sufferings.” (5.18)

But she “renewed her strength in her confession; and her comfort and recreation and relief from the pain of her sufferings was in exclaiming, ‘I am a Christian, and there is nothing vile done by us.’” (5.19)

The kinds of torture used on her and the others included confinement in the darkest parts of the prison, being beaten, being cut and stabbed with various instruments of torture. They were whipped, stretched on the rack and had to run a gauntlet. They were forced to sit on a red hot iron seat that roasted their bodies and they had to fight with wild animals who were trying to eat them.

On another day, along with some others, Blandina was led to the amphitheater to be exposed to these wild beasts.

She “was suspended on a stake, and exposed to be devoured by the wild beasts who should attack her. And because she appeared as if hanging on a cross, and because of her earnest prayers, she inspired the (others) with great zeal. For they looked on her in her conflict, and beheld with their outward eyes, in the form of their sister, him who was crucified for them” and they were greatly encouraged. (5.41) Since “none of the wild beasts at that time touched her, she was taken down from the stake, and cast again into prison.” (5.42)

On the last day, she was brought out again. She went through another round of torture and all the while they were trying to get her to swear by an idol, that is to renounce her faith. But she endured all the suffering. (5.53)

She was now the last Christian alive of all those arrested. “After the scourging, after the wild beasts, after the roasting seat, she was finally enclosed in a net, and thrown before a bull. And having been tossed about by the animal” she died. (5.56)

Those present confessed, “never among them had a woman endured so many and such terrible tortures.”

And as if all of this were not enough, they gave the bodies of those who died in prison to be eaten by dogs. And they gathered up the other leftover body parts and refused to bury them, but kept guard over them for six days. Then they burned what was left to ashes and put them in a nearby river, thinking that this would make it impossible to be raised from the dead, as they had confessed as a part of their faith.

Now let’s look at –

Several characteristics of faithfulness

 – that stand out in Blandina’s life and death.

1. She endured slander and was faithful anyway. She was killed in large part because of rumors and false accusations. Those who killed her thought they were doing what was right. It is just as Jesus said, “Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” John 16:2

Even though this surrounded her suffering and death, she endured faithful to Christ, knowing the truth. As she said, “I am a Christian, and there is nothing vile done by us.”

Would you remain faithful to Christ if it meant losing your reputation; your honor? It’s one thing to die a noble death and to have everyone understand this, but to die under the cloud of public slander and terrible false accusations. In a situation like this would you still choose to be faithful?

2. She depended on the Spirit for strength. As the account goes, “the grace of God . . . delivered the weak and set them as firm pillars, able through patience to endure the wrath of the evil one.” (5.6) And this grace came by the power of the Spirit. Even as Jesus said, as he faced the cross, “the flesh is weak” but “the Spirit is willing.” Mark 14:38. She received what can only be described as superhuman strength from the Spirit to endure all she endured.

Do you rely on the Spirit to strengthen you in your times of testing? Times of testing that I believe we would all agree are much less intense than what she experienced? Can we not confess with confidence that If the Spirit could strengthen her to endure in her situation, that God can  help us to endure in ours as well?

3. She lived out her belief that this world is not all there is. This is why she could give up her life. And this is why she could suffer such cruel and horrible things. Real, true life is the one yet to come when Jesus returns.

As Paul said, “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18. She knew that what was to come would more than make up for the pain and suffering she was going through.

Are you focused on this life and what it gives, pursuing its comforts and delights? Or are you focused on the life to come so that you are willing to give up anything to gain it – to go through any difficulty, any loss, any suffering knowing that it is worth it?

Let me end by paraphrasing Jesus from Luke 9:24 – If you cling to your life in this world chasing after all that it can offer, you will lose your life. But if you give up your life in this world and the things of this world, you will save your life and you will live on into eternity.

• And if you think that you can go on living it up and going along with the world and then suddenly be faithful if persecution comes you are sadly wrong. It is those who are now each day denying themselves and sacrificing of this life that will be ready to deny themselves and sacrifice in that day.
• And if you think that you can go on living it up and going along with the world and then suddenly be faithful when Jesus returns you are sadly wrong. It is those who are now each day denying themselves and sacrificing of this life that will be ready on that day.

Don’t let the great comfort and ease that is all around us blind you to these truths. Be ready by continually giving up your life in this world.