To immolate is defined as to offer in sacrifice. In this chapter, self-immolation means an intentional act of self-destruction.

    Several themes have recurred throughout this book that may seem to imply self-immolation. This includes the emphasis on risk as an inherent part of faith and adversity as a means of growth.

    Under normal circumstances, there is no need for the believer to seek adversity. It is pointless and foolish to make life any more difficult than it already is. We certainly expect that life will be harsh at times. But that does not need to be by our own doing.

    However, the above statement is not a binding principle. Remember the description in Chapter 9 of Paul and Silas willingly receiving a flogging at Philippi. Though we are given no reason why they submitted to the treatment, we can assume that they knew that they would be hurt. Nonetheless, they chose to receive the flogging because it better served the cause of the Gospel.

    It is clear when reading either historical accounts of the suffering Church—Foxe's Book of Martyrs, for example—or recent accounts of the suffering Church in China and other repressed countries, that these believers could have avoided persecution had they been willing to compromise. In effect, they chose to suffer.

    It is interesting to note the fuller meaning in Jesus' words to His Disciples:

    "And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). (Emphasis added.)

    The English word witnesses comes from the Greek word martyros from which we get our English word martyr. The word meant to be a witness unto death. The word did not indicate to the Greek-speaking listener that he or she would die for their faith, but it meant that their testimony was not to change at any time, even if it cost them their life.

    In Acts 9, Saul (Paul) was confronted by Jesus and subsequently acknowledged Him as Messiah. While the blinded Saul was praying in Damascus, Jesus appeared to Ananias and told him to go and lay his hands on Saul in order to restore his sight. Then Jesus made an interesting comment to Ananias in Acts 9:16:

    "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

    Saul received an interesting introduction to the Christian life. Jesus did not mince words. He told Saul how much he would suffer. When we read descriptions of Paul's suffering in Acts and the Epistles, we can only imagine the details he was given!

    Peter told the suffering Church:

    Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed...If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name (1 Peter 4:12-13, 16).

    We must realize that suffering is a part of living by faith. This does not mean that all Christians will suffer equally, or that suffering will be in the form of physical persecution. But it means that any may suffer if they are unwilling to compromise their faith.

    At the same time, unless God leads otherwise, there is no need to make life any more difficult than necessary by seeking adversity.

    Nothing in this book should be understood to mean that you must attempt to suffer in order to live by faith.