The Theology of Witness: Martyrs, Modernity and Mock-Ups

Abstract

This project is my attempt to produce devotional material that communicates to a young adult, non-denominational Christian audience, who are desiring to understand how to live out their faith authentically and passionately. Devotional material is important for Christians, especially millennials, who are seeking to pursue guided time with God daily. Many young Christians today are pursuing their relationship with God without much guidance or often on their own; therefore, devotional material is vital for this demographic more than ever. In addition to using this material as a means of daily spiritual guidance, I will also use personal narrative to connect with the reader. Doing this will show that I am no different than the ordinary young adult who, too, has had challenges within my faith both from theological and practical standpoints. One thing the Church can do better at is being more relational. I believe that through using personal narrative, the reader will be able to resonate with the narrative that is provided. This is important because I believe that many people feel like outsiders when they go into churches or engage with Christians. By reading this work, the reader can see themselves in the text and hopefully grasp a better understanding of Christian communities and their place within them. This deeper understanding will point to the fact that the Church is made up of imperfect people in need of a perfect God, and through this understanding will help them to give grace to Christian communities, and themselves, more freely. From personal narratives I will transition to martyrdom accounts that will help the reader to understand the throughline from Christians in the early Church and Christians in the Church today. This specific type of writing I am choosing is akin to works by Priscilla Shirer, Sarita Lyons, and Jackie Hill Perry; works that people would use in their discipleship life. In addition to these authors, this work also resonates with historic Christian writing such as Augustine's Confessions. The intended goal of this devotional book is action. Like the verb to noun process where to inform becomes information and to relate becomes relationship all based on signifying the act of doing something or the result of that action. This is the process this book is seeking to have the reader embark upon. To put action behind the information one has received that causes one to live, think, and ultimately witness differently. From my own experiences from childhood to adulthood and through analyzing the life and circumstances of martyrs, the reader is provided a lens that shows that the standard of witness remains despite the change in time and circumstances. Although today we do not have coliseums where animals will rip you apart for not renouncing your faith in Christ, we have opportunities where we can proclaim our allegiance to Christ and we often fail to because of our infatuation with human approval, our own desires, or simply because we do not understand the weight of our witness. This book seeks to bring the expectation and standard of witness back to the forefront of our daily lives and within our churches.