According to tradition, Agnes was  born to a wealthy, Roman Christian family in 291. She was martyred at the age of twelve or thirteen during the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on 21 January 304. Agnes’ only crime was being a Christian. She was denounced as a Christian, tried, and beheaded. How can people allow a child to be treated this way?

Reading a story about a martyr, I wonder whether I’d have the courage to confess being a Christian if it meant some harm would come to me. I tell myself that’s not likely to happen since it’s perfectly legal in our country to be a Christian. However . . . the birthday of  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week reminds me of the danger of living as a Christian among people who reject basic Christian principles such as love of neighbor.

Paul spelled out an essential of Christianity to the Galatians (3:8): “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Just see how popular advocating equality is. I read a news report about a  9-year-old girl who wrote “Black Lives Matter” with chalk on her street. A neighbor called the police saying she was committing vandalism. The girl explained, “I think that black and white people they should be treated the same, and I wanted to show my support and how much I really care about black people.”

Is it really safe to be a Christian?

Read Mark 13:9 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne