The Martrydom of Polycarp

The proconsul who presided at [Polycarp's] trial tried to persuade him, urging him to think about his advanced age and worship the emperor. When Polycarp refused, the judge ordered him to cry: ‘Out with the atheists!’ [early Christians were considered to be atheists because of their monotheism and their denial of Roman gods]. To this Polycarp responded by pointing at the crowd around him and saying: ‘Yes. Out with the athiests!’ Again the judge insisted, promising that if he would swear by the emperor and curse Christ he would be free to go. But Polycarp replied: ‘For eighty-six years I have served him, and he has done me no evil. How could I curse my king, who saved me?’

Thus the dialogue went on. When the judge threatened him with burning him alive, Polycarp simply answered that the fire that the judge could light would last only a moment, whereas the eternal fire would never go out. Finally, we are told that after he was tied to the post in the pyre, he looked up and prayed out loud: ‘Lord Sovereign God… I thank you that you have deemed me worthy of this moment, so that jointly with your martyrs, I may have a share in the cup of Christ… for this… I bless and glorify you. Amen.’

Many years earlier, Ignatius of Antioch had advised young bishop Polycarp regarding his duties as bishop and the need to be firm in his faith. Now Polycarp showed himself a worthy hearer of Ignatius’ advice, and a follower of his example.

-Gonzalez, Justo. The Story of Christianity, vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, pg. 44. Emphasis mine.

Oh, if we were to search American Christianity today, would we find such faith? What do we say when “Our Best Life Now” consists of a pyre and flame?