Entry of the Gladiators

The world is a circus. We are either spectators of the present comedy-drama or we are gladiators doing battle with the evil forces aligned against us who believe. Personally, I am ever inclined to live the role of a gladiator. I have willfully chosen this lot in life. First, I was a soldier in the US Army's elite parachute infantry, and later a professional football player. My former ways were always inclined to violence.

Background

The above title comes from a classical military march by Julius Fucik, a Czech  composer who lived from 1872 to 1916. If you've ever been to a professional circus, you have heard this catchy opus otherwise known as the "Clown song." You can peep out the lovely music later in this post by following the You Tube link, but for now I want to make a modern day comparison to the gladiators of old.

Gladiators

Gladiators were primarily professional fighters in ancient Rome. We have all heard a little about them in school or even watched an exaggerated Hollywood film version about them. These men (and later, women) fought animals and each other for approximately 300 years, ending in about 405 A.D.

The Romans were a cruel bunch and loved their entertainment much like modern people today. And like our modern era, the Romans took advantage of the poor, prisoners and Christians who were condemned to die. Most of the gladiators were slaves who were forced to fight to the death, few were ever volunteers.

The largest venues were the Roman Colosseum (or Flavian Amphitheatre) the two biggest of all of them. When Christianity began in Rome, it was viewed as a threat to the Roman Empire's vicious emperors who believed they were gods. For sport, Christians who refused to follow these and other pagan gods or even worship the emperor according to Roman law, were either fed to the lions or forced to fight for their lives. This was part of the persecution that the early church endured.

In true fashion regarding Roman cruelty and the lust for violence, Christian gladiators were never permitted to die with honor, and if they won their unfair matches, they were forced to fight again after they were booed by upwards of 50,000 spectators who despised the Christians and what they stood for. Eventually, they were all killed.

Modern gladiators

Over the last century alone, more Christians have been put to death than in all of history combined. At present, some 327 million Christians face persecution throughout the world. Most of the countries are either Islamic, communist or nationalist-inclined.

"Global Strategic Alliance reports the universal persecuted church had more than 26 million documented cases of martyrdom in the 20th century alone, more than in the previous 1,900 years combined."

Friends, that figure represents the population of Shanghi, China, and is close to the population of Delhi, India. Arguably, the present time is also the most dangerous time to be a Christian in all of world history.

Intense persecution is coming

Make no mistake about it, the persecution of Christians will continue to increase. Jesus told all those who followed Him would suffer just like He did. "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12).

John gives us both a warning and hope in the final book of the Bible when he writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit;

"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death" (Revelation 2:10-11, NIV).

Encouraging words and food for thought

As we draw closer to the end of the age, many who have believed on Jesus and have followed Him as a disciple (which the words of Jesus proclaim one must do) will be thrown into prison or killed for preaching and teaching the gospel.

As believers, we must count the cost of being a disciple, think it through wisely, and then make a choice. There can be no half-hearted commitment, friends. We will either choose to be spectators or gladiators for Jesus. The latter does not mean we need to be violent, but rather use the sword of the Lord (God's word) as our instrument or weapon to combat evil.

Let me encourage you to "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6;14-17, NIV).

We are the gladiators of God!

Entry of the Gladiators link (3 minutes).