A Bloody History

I am in debt to Bro. Epley as well as my parent for setting my mind in this direction. Without some of the things that I read and discussed today, this blog post would not exist.

It has been a recent development in churches that pastors, youth leaders, and song leaders do not wish to discuss the blood of Jesus. Further, they have started requesting that visiting preachers or singers not make any reference to the blood or the crucifixion. It seems as if this trend is beginning to be seen in some so-called Pentecostal/Apostolic churches.

However, the history of Christianity is steeped in blood (and I am not discussing the "Christians" who participated in the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc.). The first mention of blood being shed is God slaying an animal in Genesis 3:21. This was the first in a long line of sacrifices that would be made to atone for the sins of man.

In Genesis 4, we have the second recorded blood sacrifice, and the first martyr for doing what was right in the sight of God. This was the incident where Cain viciously attacked and killed Able out of spite and jealousy.

Later, we read of the faithful prophets of God who were slain for not telling the people, kings, and priests what they wished to hear. This is recorded in the rest of the old Testament. It was well known that Jezebel had any who openly followed the ways of God slain. Naboth was righteous, but was killed because of Ahab's covetousness and Jezebel's conniving.

John the Baptist was beheaded for daring to tell the king Herod Antipas and Herodias that they were in an illicit relationship. This statement caused him to be imprisoned and then killed by Herod at the request of his daughter, who received this order from Herodias, her mother.

Jesus was crucified for the sins of all people, of all places and times. His blood purchases healing and salvation from sin. His resurrection confirmed the words of the prophets. Further, He ascended into Heaven, with a promise to return for His people. He then poured His Spirit out upon all men, and has yet to cease giving this precious gift to those who ask in faith.

However, it was not long after this, and we see that both Stephen and James were killed for preaching the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that He was God made manifest in the flesh. These were the first two Christian martyrs.

Following after, the Apostles and their disciples, and those who followed after them, were imprisoned and killed for their obedience to the call of Christ. After the rise of the Catholic Church, those who opposed it and held to the truths of the Bible were killed in many tortuous ways. There have been martyrs in every land, in every age, for the truths that we now have today.

All who wish to deny the blood of Jesus for the sake of convenience, deny also the history of the blood shed by the Apostles, prophets, and innumerable sacrifices that brought us to this point. There is a reason that Revelation records that when Jesus returns at the end of time, He will be wearing a vesture dipped in blood.