In the Islamic religion, martyrdom is sought after. According to that false religion, it is a great honor and brings much glory. It is thus encouraged.

This martyrdom, or (shahada) is closely related to jihad, or holy struggle. The Islamic concept of mediation and intercession (shafa’a) goes far beyond mere spiritual mediation and includes the responsibility for ones own salvation.

In this last point, Islam, obviously, rejects the biblical teaching of the mediatorial office of Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we hold to the glorious truth that Christ Jesus is the only mediator between God and man, the only one who stands between the wrath of the Almighty and those whose blood is demanded by the Law of God because of their inherited sin of being born in Adam, the federal head of unsaved mankind.

There are only two ways for God’s Law to be satisfied; either man must be eternally punished, suffering under the wrath of God forever, or, man must have a mediator, a substitute, one who has satisfied the Law and stands in our place – completely and alone.

As Christians, Jesus is our everything. Our righteousness, our glory, honor, dignity and so very much more.

It is for this reason that it disturbs me to some degree when I hear fellow preachers encouraging young people to not merely be willing to die if called upon to do so, but literally encouraged to  ‘go out and die’ for Christ in missions; on a mountain, in the jungles of some remote location, going where none have gone before to reach a people for the glory of the Gospel and for Christ. Now, do not misunderstand me here. By all means, let us be zealous for missions, to carry out the great commission; by all means, let us carry the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth; by all means, let us be unflinching when persecution comes upon us, yet, by all means, let us never entertain the idea that in martyrdom, is an honor to be added to what Christ has finished and shared with His children by faith.

There is in such an exhortation such as ‘Young man, go out and die for Christ!’, in some cases, not most, something of a muslim mentality I think, however unintentional it may be. While in most cases I have observed, hyperbole is being used, yet, sometimes, it is said with such fervor that one would think it a glorious and honorable thing to seek to die for Christ in mission service. I think we should be careful here, for our glory is in Christ and His suffering, His death, His finished work – better, our glory is Christ Jesus Himself.

Brethren, if any seek honor in martyrdom, do they not seek honor in something other than Christ our Lord as our honor? I realize that few would have such intentions to actually seek to die in mission service, and yet, there is still something of a mentality that seeks what honor and glory a man may accomplish in the name of Christ and His service, and therein is a greater temptation than to desire to physically die.

Let us be mindful, then, to be focused on those blessings, glory and honor found in Christ and shared with the elect of God unto salvation by our union with Jesus. Therein lies our comfort, our salvation. Let us return to the Gospel and contemplate on it endlessly by God’s grace. To neglect to do so is to neglect God, His will for us and our neighbor, for one purpose of the Gospel is to teach us that we have been made sharers in the death, passion and resurrection of Jesus, that we are grafted into His body, are made His members, and that all He has been given, all He possesses, the honor, the glory, the dignity etc., has been made applicable to us by the gift of faith through the Gospel message, and may we seek no honor elsewhere, in anything.