One of our teen writers shares a Christian poem. I asked him to open with a little history.
The Christians of ancient Rome were, for the most part, allowed to practice their faith openly until the Emperor Nero came to power in the year 54 AD. He blamed the Christians for starting the fire that burned down most of Rome in 64 AD. He then drove the non-Christians of Rome to hate the followers of Jesus. Nero began to persecute the Christians by feeding them to lions and burning them alive. He was soon to be called "The Beast" by all who knew of his crimes towards the Christians. He then turned to crucifying Christians in mass, lining them along the many roads of Rome to show all who passed the evilness of the followers of Jesus. This is a poem of those Christians who confessed their faith openly and didn't hide it; that tried to gather other followers to stand against Nero. The children of God stand strong in their faith and show no fear towards evil. They may have relied on Scripture like Psalm 23:4 to sustain them.
Adolebit Nobiscum (Burn With Us)
By Cohen Wildeson
Can you hear us?
Our screams echo across valleys
as the beast tears us apart.
Our children cry out as they share
our pain
we can do nothing to save them.
But our voices are strong.
We give off light and shine across
the seven hills.
Though our bodies die, our memory
lives on.
Burn with us.
Can you see us?
Oh, one called faithful,
do you see the trees in rows along
the paved roads?
Our bodies cling to them
as the radiant sun beats down on our
faces
Those loyal to the beast do not look
up.
We are invisible to them.
But you, child, can see us clearly.
Burn with us.
Can you feel us?
Our faith stands strong in his light.
We show no fear
We stand our ground
But you, why do you hide?
Are you not like us?
Do you not follow the Carpenter, the
Beloved,
the Counselor, the creator?
Then come now,
burn with us.
Can you love us?
Follow us to the trial
We do not hold in our love
It is shown to all of our people
and the beast alike.
Though some may question us,
our faith stands strong.
Burn with us.
Burn for him.
Cohen, Thank you so much for sharing this poem about early persecuted Christians. Their passion and standing for Christ is a lesson for us. While we might not face persecution, our faith should be as passionate as theirs!
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