Remembering Oxford Martyr's Day

Remembering Oxford Martyr’s Day

Written by Dan McDonald

 

            There was a time in which most every Anglican parish would remember Oxford Martyr’s Day. October 16, or an appointed service near the day of October 16, were used to remember the three Anglican clergymen burned at the stake for their refusal to recant from their Protestant convictions and teachings. On October 16, 1555 Bishops Nicolas Ridley and Hugh Latimer were each burned at the stake in Oxford, England. On March 21, 1556 Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who had recanted and then recanted his recanting was burned at the stake also in Oxford.

 

 

            There are several reasons why the day is not universally remembered among Anglicans today. Anglicanism is a broad movement and in some quarters the old Protestant beliefs are an embarrassment, but in many quarters it is simply the desire not to highlight differences with other sects with whom there is now a better understanding than existed in the times of the Reformation and in the bloody post-Reformation history that created many martyrs in almost every Christian expression. Perhaps a day should be set aside to celebrate the peace brought about an act of tolerance in 1689 that has helped the English speaking world to be among the leaders of being able to debate claims of truth without burning one another at the stake, beheading those of other religious sects, and any number of execution methods employed within Christendom against suspected heretics. So while I write today in remembrance of Oxford Martyr’s Day I do not write as if pining for the good old days when we knew how to treat heretics.

            In all honesty Anglicans were involved in ill treatment of religious opponents as well as having some of our own martyrs. It was a time when the European states believed that part of their task of government included the execution of dangerous unrepentant teachers of false faiths that threatened the souls of citizens in their nation. So most of us today believe nations are better governed by officials who protect the peace of their citizens, and allow a national debate over truth claims within a realm. But we also desire to recognize the courage and faithfulness of those willing to die for their convictions. Their bloody deaths cry out to us that we would be faithful to our convictions of faith in our service to Christ.

            As one desirous of greater Christian unity among the varied denominations of Christendom, I believe that Anglicans can remember their martyrs as we also remember how most other expressions of the Christian faith in those days also lost precious men and women to the age’s heresy hunters. We would remember martyrs not to eternalize the divisions among us, or to pretend that we were innocent as our opponents were evil; but we would remember martyrs to remember those who were faithful to their convictions as we would seek to be faithful to Christ in our day. Perhaps as we would remember Oxford Martyr’s Day we would also remember martyrs from other expressions of the Christian faith. One ecumenical Christian service done in connection to Oxford Martyr’s Day posted a remembrance of various martyrs from the Reformation and post-Reformation era available at this link:  http://www.martyrs.faithweb.com/LondonMartyrsList.pdf

The Greek word “martyr” originally meant to bear witness. The word did not necessarily mean someone that died for their faith. But it has always carried with it the vision of someone faithful in their faith. In this context perhaps we should recover the helpful distinction of two kinds of martyrdom. There is a historic tradition of describing red and white martyrdoms. The red martyr is one who seals their witness in their blood. Therefore the color red is associated with their martyrdom. There continue in some parts of the world to be added red martyrs who choose death over recanting their faith.

But it seems to me that in our remembrance of those who sealed their faith in the blood of a red martyrdom, that our chief goal would be to encourage us to the faithfulness of a white martyrdom. A white martyrdom is that which characterizes the witness of someone faithful even to the point of a peaceful death. The white color is the color of the garment with which such witnesses will wear, a garment unblemished washed and spotless in the cleansing power of a Savior’s redemptive blood. To follow Christ in any age is to live a life that is often not understood. It ought to be our goal to live peacefully with all men, to do good to all men, but our faith is rendered as an offering to God in faithfulness to Him who redeemed us with his blood, and in service of the Spirit who sanctifies us that we might render our lives in holiness to the Father who has loved us. This is something to which I would encourage all believers, not just Anglicans remembering Oxford Martyr’s Day, but every Christian seeking to live faithfully, honorably, peacefully, in the love and truth of Jesus Christ. Let us present our own bodies as living sacrifices unto God. Let us seek to be found faithful through all our temptations, and grateful for a Savior who redeems and sanctifies us.