In the early days of the church — when Christians could become lion food for refusing to worship Caesar — one aged bishop taught everyone with ears to hear and eyes to see that if the truth is worth living for, it’s worth dying for as well.  His name was Polycarp.  He was a direct disciple of the Apostle John himself.  And in one of the most well–documented events of the ancient world, his courage in the face of death emboldened persecuted Christians throughout the empire to remain faithful to Christ, regardless of the cost.

The bloodthirsty crowds in the arena were getting bored with the deaths of common Christians.  “Followers, that’s all they are!  We want their leader!  We want Polycarp!  Death to Polycarp!  Death to Polycarp!” So, the Roman governor gave the arrest order, and eventually the soldiers escorted Bishop Polycarp into the arena. 

The crowd roared with approval.

The governor called for quiet with a wave of his hand.  He looked down at the old man.  “Are you Polycarp, the teacher of the Christians?”

“I am,” Polycarp answered.

“Have respect for the honor of your old age, Polycarp,” the governor said.  “Swear by Caesar and save yourself.  Point to the Christian prisoners over there and say ‘Away with the godless.’”

Ironically, because they had no visible gods and also refused to worship Caesar, Christians were called “godless” in those days.

But Polycarp pointed instead to the mob of angry pagans in the stands and said, “Away with the godless.” The crowd erupted with bitter resentment. 

Still desiring that a man of advanced years would recant rather than face torture and death, the governor again tried to persuade, “Make the oath to Caesar and I will release you.  Deny your Christ!”

Polycarp stood tall and called out in a clear voice, “Eighty and six years I have served Christ, and he has done me no wrong.  How then can I blaspheme my King, who saved me?”

“Swear by Caesar!” the governor shouted.  “You try in vain to get me to swear by Casear,” answered Polycarp calmly.  “Hear me plainly, I am a Christian.”

The governor reminded Polycarp of the lions.  Unmoved and unafraid, Polycarp challenged the governor, “Call for them.”

“If you are not afraid of wild beasts, I will have you burned alive!” threatened the governor.  Polycarp replied, “You threaten me with fire that burns for a little while and goes out.  But you are ignorant of the fire of eternal punishment which is prepared for the ungodly.  Why do you wait? Come and do what you want with me.”

The mob had had enough.  Provoked to insatiable rage, they demanded his blood.  The governor agreed, and Polycarp was tied to a post and surrounded with straw, oil-soaked kindling, and wood.  He prayed aloud, giving God glory for the gift of his Son, thanking God for the privilege of suffering for the One who suffered for him, and praising God for his truth and faithfulness. 

A soldier lowered a long torch and the flames rushed toward the center of the bonfire.

This well–recorded fact of history is part of the story in which the church finds itself today — a story of unyielding faith and courage.  If Christ is Lord, then Caesar is not.  If Christ is Lord, then that thing that is oppressing you is not. 

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.  For, ‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”
— Hebrews 10.35–39