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To Share in the Body: A Theology of Martyrdom for Today's Church
In modern day America, it is hard for Christians to imagine ever dying for their faith. And yet in To Share in the Body, author Craig Hovey challenges Christians to view martyrdom not as relegated to the past or to remote parts of the world but rather as having profound implications for Christian witness today. By examining the Gospel of Mark's recurring theme of martyrdom, Hovey argues that martyrdom is a critical aspect of the gospel and therefore crucial to how the church today remembers martyrs and understands Christian discipleship. Written by an upandcoming theologian, To Share in the Body provides engaging theological reflection that will benefit not only scholars and students of theology but also anyone interested in understanding a biblical view of martyrdom. The book also includes a foreword by Samuel Wells.
- GenresTheology
158 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2008
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About the author
Craig Hovey
30 books2 followersCraig Hovey is Associate Professor of Religion at Ashland University in Ashland, OH and is executive director of the Ashland Center for Nonviolence. He is the author of numerous books including Bearing True Witness: Truthfulness in Christian Practice (2011), Nietzsche and Theology (2008), To Share in the Body: A Theology of Martyrdom for Today's Church (2008), Speak Thus: Christian Language in Church and World (2008), and co-editor of An Eerdmans Reader in Contemporary Political Theology (2011).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 25, 2014
Based on exposition of the Gospel of Mark, the book argues for that the church is the "Martyr-Church." The church ought to, definitionally, be prepared to suffer martyrdom to remain faithful to Christ.
Hovey takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Mark to show how the gospel call, discipleship, identity, and purpose call the believer to a life of obedience--even unto death, as Christ was put to death.
In one of the more interesting bits of the book, Hovey argues that Peter's identification of Christ as the Messiah in Mark 8, is an example of a kind of false profession, because moments later when Jesus explains how he is to die, Peter objects, and Jesus calls him Satan.
There is a similar passage in Mark 14, where Peter insists that he will not fall away, despite Jesus' statement to the contrary. Of course, Peter does fall away, as do all the disciples. Again, the motif is the failure to remain faithful--to be obedient disciples.
Peter's abandonment is paralleled by the "young man" who abandons Jesus when he is seized--leaving behind his "linen cloth" and runs away naked. Hovey argues that the passage is not so much a hint that Mark was that young man, but of yet another disciple abandoning Christ at the moment of crisis. The "linen cloth" reappears on another young man at the tomb of Christ after his resurrection. The "linen cloth" is then a mark of martyrdom--of what could have been, had he obeyed and remained with Christ.
Another fascinating argument from Hovey is that we mustn't identify those that "fight" even for what they believe to be the faith, or Christendom, or a "Christian cause" as martyrs. Instead, martyrs never fight. In so doing, they trust they are right because they are willing to do for the truth. Those that fight "for truth" do not truly believe, as by taking up arms for their cause insist that the cause must be advanced by force--that the cause needs their force of arms.
The book is solid and makes a lot of interesting arguments. The book is interesting, at least to me, for its exposition of Mark, not so much its perspective on martyrdom, as I largely agreed with the position prior to reading the book.
Hovey takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Mark to show how the gospel call, discipleship, identity, and purpose call the believer to a life of obedience--even unto death, as Christ was put to death.
In one of the more interesting bits of the book, Hovey argues that Peter's identification of Christ as the Messiah in Mark 8, is an example of a kind of false profession, because moments later when Jesus explains how he is to die, Peter objects, and Jesus calls him Satan.
There is a similar passage in Mark 14, where Peter insists that he will not fall away, despite Jesus' statement to the contrary. Of course, Peter does fall away, as do all the disciples. Again, the motif is the failure to remain faithful--to be obedient disciples.
Peter's abandonment is paralleled by the "young man" who abandons Jesus when he is seized--leaving behind his "linen cloth" and runs away naked. Hovey argues that the passage is not so much a hint that Mark was that young man, but of yet another disciple abandoning Christ at the moment of crisis. The "linen cloth" reappears on another young man at the tomb of Christ after his resurrection. The "linen cloth" is then a mark of martyrdom--of what could have been, had he obeyed and remained with Christ.
Another fascinating argument from Hovey is that we mustn't identify those that "fight" even for what they believe to be the faith, or Christendom, or a "Christian cause" as martyrs. Instead, martyrs never fight. In so doing, they trust they are right because they are willing to do for the truth. Those that fight "for truth" do not truly believe, as by taking up arms for their cause insist that the cause must be advanced by force--that the cause needs their force of arms.
The book is solid and makes a lot of interesting arguments. The book is interesting, at least to me, for its exposition of Mark, not so much its perspective on martyrdom, as I largely agreed with the position prior to reading the book.
December 21, 2013
Hovey begins this book by claiming its stark difference in kind from other books on the subject, and he is not kidding. Most books relating to martyrdom (at least that I have read) are either collections of stories, or an appeal to the glory of it. This book contains none of the above. Running in relational circles with those who have a strongly formed theology of suffering (as I do) can put you on an extremely polarized side of the issue of martyrdom - glorifying it as an ultimate expression of dedication. That is much of what Hovey attempts to counteract in his little (yet dense) book.
This book is an attempt at a thorough and well-rounded theology behind martyrdom - what, why, to what ends, with what motive (or, rather, which motives are proper and which are not), etc. I believe the author does a fantastic job on this point.
While it is difficult to summarize a book this academic and dense, the primary takeaway I found was an appeal to the church to identify itself as a martyr-church, not viewing martyrdom (death for one's beliefs) as an end, and neither viewing it as a proof of the character of faith, but rather viewing it as the logical outworking of a witness-church functioning as it is meant to. We must train our disciples to have a depth of faith that would rejoice in dying for their Messiah, or would rejoice being quiet witnesses on the earth. Perhaps better said: the author takes martyrdom itself off of a pedestal, and gives the honor to the type of faith that ultimately produces a martyr witness - rather than the act of martyrdom itself. Viewed in this way, we can see how those living in the west can, in fact, step into this type of faith without having to physically suffer. Our faith - if proper - will be of the same kind and caliber as those giving their lives in more hostile nations. We can enter in to fellowship with these, if not experientially, through our being mutual adjoined to the same Head - Christ.
Again, it is so difficult to summarize this book, but I would highly recommend it (at least to anyone who enjoys more academic and intellectual books, and is willing to wade through it). There is much to be gleaned here.
This book is an attempt at a thorough and well-rounded theology behind martyrdom - what, why, to what ends, with what motive (or, rather, which motives are proper and which are not), etc. I believe the author does a fantastic job on this point.
While it is difficult to summarize a book this academic and dense, the primary takeaway I found was an appeal to the church to identify itself as a martyr-church, not viewing martyrdom (death for one's beliefs) as an end, and neither viewing it as a proof of the character of faith, but rather viewing it as the logical outworking of a witness-church functioning as it is meant to. We must train our disciples to have a depth of faith that would rejoice in dying for their Messiah, or would rejoice being quiet witnesses on the earth. Perhaps better said: the author takes martyrdom itself off of a pedestal, and gives the honor to the type of faith that ultimately produces a martyr witness - rather than the act of martyrdom itself. Viewed in this way, we can see how those living in the west can, in fact, step into this type of faith without having to physically suffer. Our faith - if proper - will be of the same kind and caliber as those giving their lives in more hostile nations. We can enter in to fellowship with these, if not experientially, through our being mutual adjoined to the same Head - Christ.
Again, it is so difficult to summarize this book, but I would highly recommend it (at least to anyone who enjoys more academic and intellectual books, and is willing to wade through it). There is much to be gleaned here.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews