These points are great ones to ponder. At home we were talking recently about William Tyndale - being hunted down & dying in 1536 for the horrific crime of translating God's word into English - and for speaking gospel truth to the powerful. I have visited Vilvoorde Belgium, where he was martyred. William Tyndalepark has a small monument where he was executed- and slides, swings & a futsal court (like arena league soccer). The site of the prison is now a produce shop.
I know things cannot remain the same forever, but it is such a shame that the folks living around Vilvoorde lack much recognition for the work done by Tyndale & others - I pray that eyes would be opened, and empty hearts filled.
The first 2 Lutheran martyrs were imprisoned there also - in 1523 - but were burned alive in the Brussels city square.
Thank you, Travis, for reminding me of William Tyndale's story. I read his biography back in college along with a few others: John Huss and John Bunyan are the ones I recall. I've often said that the only reason we're able to look down on predecessors like these is by virtue of the fact that we stand on their shoulders. Taught a high school class and made this very issue a focus of study. Recognizing and valuing and heralding the pioneering work of saints like Tyndale who God used to blaze trails for us today.
You know this already, I'm sure, but Attalus was the name of a Christian martyr in the third century, under the reign of Marcus Aurelius. During my first M.A. Degree in Ancient History, I read Eusebius' Church History and encountered many accounts of early martyrs, Attalus being the one that struck me most. Shed a lot of tears during those readings.
Well, I am getting "mountain vibes" myself...
These points are great ones to ponder. At home we were talking recently about William Tyndale - being hunted down & dying in 1536 for the horrific crime of translating God's word into English - and for speaking gospel truth to the powerful. I have visited Vilvoorde Belgium, where he was martyred. William Tyndalepark has a small monument where he was executed- and slides, swings & a futsal court (like arena league soccer). The site of the prison is now a produce shop.
I know things cannot remain the same forever, but it is such a shame that the folks living around Vilvoorde lack much recognition for the work done by Tyndale & others - I pray that eyes would be opened, and empty hearts filled.
The first 2 Lutheran martyrs were imprisoned there also - in 1523 - but were burned alive in the Brussels city square.
Thank you, Travis, for reminding me of William Tyndale's story. I read his biography back in college along with a few others: John Huss and John Bunyan are the ones I recall. I've often said that the only reason we're able to look down on predecessors like these is by virtue of the fact that we stand on their shoulders. Taught a high school class and made this very issue a focus of study. Recognizing and valuing and heralding the pioneering work of saints like Tyndale who God used to blaze trails for us today.
You know this already, I'm sure, but Attalus was the name of a Christian martyr in the third century, under the reign of Marcus Aurelius. During my first M.A. Degree in Ancient History, I read Eusebius' Church History and encountered many accounts of early martyrs, Attalus being the one that struck me most. Shed a lot of tears during those readings.