Safely Home

"They began singing a song with strange words, more like a story script than lyrics:

From the time the early church appeared on the day of the Pentecost,
the followers of the Lord all willingly sacrificed themselves.
Tens of thousands have sacrificed their lives that the gospel might prosper.
As such they have obtained the crown of life.

Yue whispered, "This song is called 'To Be a Martyr for the Lord.' It's very popular in house churches." Ben listened as the song continued:

Those apostles who loved the Lord to the end
Willingly followed the Lord down the path of suffering
John was exiled to the lonely isle of Patmos.
Stephen was crushed to death with stones by the crowd.
Matthew was cut to death in Persia by the people.
Mark died as his two legs were pulled apart by the horses.
Doctor Luke was cruelly hanged.
Peter, Philip, and Simon were crucified on the cross.
Bartholomew was skinned alive by the heathen.
Thomas died in India as five horses pulled apart his body.
The apostle James was beheaded by King Herod.
Little James was cut up by a sharp saw.
James the brother of the Lord was stoned to death.
Judas was bound to a pillar and died by arrows.
Matthias had his head cut off in Jerusalem.
Paul was a martyr under King Nero.

The song had a catchy beat, but Ben found the words bizarre and frightening. He wondered how people could sing them with such enthusiasm.

I am willing to take up the cross and go forward,
To follow the apostles down the road of sacrifice.
That tens of thousands of precious souls can be saved,
I am willing to leave all and be a martyr for the Lord.

Voices intensified as they sang the chorus:

To be a martyr for the Lord,
To be a martyr for the Lord,
I am willing to die gloriously for the Lord.

When the song was finally over, Yue said, "House caves are wonderful. We can sing and pray as loud and long as we want. No one can hear us." "

 Safely Home (2001) 

Randy Alcorn

And I would say the most fascinating part of this song is that to die gloriously for the Lord is not to engage in some form of zealous religious war (God forbid! That is blasphemy), but to willingly die for walking in Jesus' footsteps.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 

John 1: 9-13

Lord, if I were to die because of persecution, I trust you will give me the strength to hold through till I meet you.