Heavenly Man

I recently read the book 'Heavenly Man' about a Chinese Christian Yun who knows what it means to suffer for Christ. Makes you realise how lucky we are to have so little persecution in this country.

Yun has written several scripture songs and quotes them in the book. One of them really stood out so I thought I would include it here. It really gives an impression of what Christians in China are facing. Its not a song we would sing in western churches.

From the time the church was birthed on the day of Pentecost
The followers of Christ have willingly sacrificed themselves
Tens of thousands have died that the gospel might prosper
As such they have obtained the crown of life

Chorus:
To be a martyr for the Lord, to be a martyr for the Lord,
I am willing to die gloriously for the Lord.

Those apostles who loved the Lord to the end
Willingly followed the Lord down the path of suffering
John was exiled to the lonely isle of Patmos
Stephen was stoned to death by an angry crowd

Matthew was stabbed to death in Persia by a mob
Mark died as horses pulled his two legs apart
Doctor Luke was cruelly hanged
Peter, Philip and Simon were crucified on a cross

Bartholomew was skinned alive by the heathen
Thomas died in India as five horses pulled his body apart
The apostle James was beheaded by King Herod
Little James was cut in half by a sharp saw

James, the brother of the Lord, was stoned to death
Judas was tied to a pillar and shot by arrows
Matthias had his head cut off in Jerusalem
Paul was a martyr under Emperor Nero

I am willing to take up the cross and go forward
To follow the apostles down the road of sacrifice
That tens of thousands of precious souls can be saved
I am willing to leave all and be a martyr for the Lord