Will the Left’s Violence Lead to Martyrdom?

Historically, it seems inevitable. I know of no case where Church burnings, etc. did not lead to the killing of clerics and believers. Just look at the roll of martyrs from the Spanish Civil War and the Mexican Revolution.

From Crisis

By R. C. Vanlandingham

America is psychologically scarred from the incredible violence committed by Marxist revolutionaries in 2020. Part of the trauma comes from the violence itself, but much of it stems from the knowledge that it was largely unopposed by both government and media. Watching our cities burn and our fellow citizens beaten and even killed while the media excused the violence and various government entities stood down was very traumatizing. So, like a victim of domestic abuse, we now collectively flinch every time something angers the Left. We try to appease them, and we beg them not to hit us anymore. This was their goal all along.

Like any other abuser, the Left threatens violence to keep their victims in line, scared and submissive, ready to appease even the most ludicrous of demands. Even Joe Biden got in on the act during the 2020 election with not-so-subtle threats of violence should the election go against him. “Does anyone believe there will be less violence in America if Donald Trump is re-elected?” the then-presidential-candidate asked like a mafia don threatening, “Nice country you got here, it’d be a shame if it were to burn down.”

But the threats of violence didn’t stop in 2020. Just last month, a leader in the Marxist revolutionary organization Black Lives Matter threatened “riots,” “fire,” and “bloodshed” in New York City if the newly-elected mayor used plainclothes police officers to reduce violent crime and make the city safer for its citizens. The irony is that the mayor is an African American Democrat.

Even more recently, the Left reacted violently when Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted. While his acquittal did not trigger the massive burning of cities, like we saw in 2020, mobs of angry “protestors” clashed with police and threatened to burn down the justice center.


The Rittenhouse case and the reactions to the acquittal demonstrate exactly what the Left expects of us.

Kyle Rittenhouse was chased by a crazed mob of Marxist revolutionaries trying to kill him. He was knocked down, kicked, hit in the head with a skateboard, and had a pistol pointed at him. Kyle reacted the way most probably would when armed and faced with a bloodthirsty mob—he opened fire, killing two of his would-be murderers and wounding a third.

It was one of the clearest cases of self-defense I have ever seen. And though the media has tried to paint Kyle’s self-defense as racially charged murder, all three of the violent criminals Kyle shot were white, and all three were attacking him. Yet the district attorney had the audacity to prosecute him for murder. Fortunately, justice prevailed and Kyle was acquitted, causing the Left to lose their collective mind. They called the acquittal a miscarriage of justice, a license for vigilantism, a victory for hate and white supremacy, a return to the days of Jim Crow, and other inflammatory language.

You see, as the abuser, the Left expects that when they commit acts of violence against the rest of us, we, as the victims, will just take it. Fighting back, talking back, resisting their abuse in any way is the true crime—not the burning, looting, and murder committed by the hoodlums destroying the country. Defending ourselves just makes them angrier and more violent, like the abusers that they are.

Unfortunately, things look to get worse before they get better. As of this writing, the Dobbs v. Jackson case is still being considered by the Supreme Court. But its ruling might trigger more Leftist violence. Dobbs is litigating the constitutionality of a Mississippi law banning abortion after fifteen weeks. Pro-life advocates are praying that the decision will overturn the absurd holding in Roe v. Wade. As readers are no doubt aware, in Roe the Supreme Court held that women have a constitutional right to abortion.

Obviously, the Left does not want Roe to be overturned. Abortion on demand is one of the greatest virtues of their Satanic cult. Thus, it should come as no surprise that violence has once again been threatened—this time from Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who reportedly warned the Supreme Court that there would be a revolution if Roe was overturned.

“I hope the Supreme Court is listening to the people of the United States,” the senator said according to the New York Post. “I think if you want to see a revolution go ahead and outlaw Roe v. Wade and see what the response is of the public, particularly young people.” In other words, allow the Left to kill babies in the womb or they might kill you in the streets.

The message from Senator Shaheen is clear: the court and the constitutional process be damned—the Left will use violence to get what they want. Yet, Senator Shaheen voted to impeach Donald Trump, claiming he incited an insurrection on January 6, and she called the riots at the Capitol “un-American.” I agree with the senator’s classification of the January 6 riots, but I wonder why violence from the Left is not also considered un-American.

Of all the political issues in this country, none galvanizes the faithful nor enrages their adversaries quite as much as ending abortion. Thus, if revolution does break out over the Supreme Court’s ruling, it will most likely be Christians who are the primary targets of Leftist violence. After all, it is Christians, we are told, who want to oppress women—like in The Handmaid’s Tale.

The thing the Left hates most about Christians is that we won’t just shut up and keep our religion private. If we’d just do that, they would have no problem with us. Just like the Romans had no problem with Christians worshiping Jesus as long as they didn’t challenge the legitimacy of the pagan gods. Worship Jesus all you want, so long as you burn a pinch of incense to Caesar, too.

In a Marxist revolution, Christians will surely bear the brunt of the Left’s rage. And rightfully so. As I wrote in an earlier article for Crisis, “The Devil Wants a Civil War,” Satan is always trying to divide the world so that he might destroy it. The Church is the devil’s great adversary here on earth; thus, she is always the object of his hate and violence. But how should we as Christians react to the violence against us?

The early Church spread rapidly primarily for two reasons other than the work of the Holy Spirit. First, the Christians were kind and caring to others, especially the outcasts of society. They truly loved the least of these. Second, they stood firm in their beliefs even in the face of death. As he was being stoned to death, St. Stephen did not fight back; he fell to his knees and begged Jesus not to hold his murderers’ sins against them. He was more concerned with the eternal souls of his executioners than his own earthly life.

Obviously, it’s easier to write about remaining peaceful in the face of violence than to actually accomplish it. Would I really turn the other cheek if my wife and children were taken to the Colosseum to be killed by wild animals? Could I forgive those that did it and beg Jesus to forgive them, too? Would I just go along with the Roman soldiers who were going to set me on fire to illuminate the streets of Rome? I’ll admit it would be hard not to lash out violently. But my violence would not bring God glory. It would simply be a desperate attempt to prolong my temporal life a bit longer because I lack the faith necessary to detach from this world.

Martyrs go to their deaths without a fight because they have hope and faith in life eternal with Christ. In Heaven, the reward for the martyr will be great indeed. And on earth it will have lasting consequences.

There are those that will strongly disagree with this. They want to fight a war. And I can’t deny God has called His servants to war many times. But the greatest battle was won on the Cross, when Christ willingly died for us. We are called to follow Him through death into eternal life.

But I’m not suggesting we just lay down and roll over as the Left demands. That’s not martyrdom but submission. No, we must stand strong against evil and make them reveal their violence against peaceful men and women of faith for all the world to see. Others need to see the faith and hope we have in Christ. That kind of peaceful resistance to tyranny not only saves souls but causes temporal change as well, as demonstrated in modern times by Gandhi and Dr. King.

I pray that America will wake up to the evils of the Marxists before it gets to the point where martyrdom is necessary. But God may be giving us this opportunity to suffer and even die for His glory. I’ll admit I fear what is coming over the next several years. But mostly I fear my own weakness. I pray that if the time ever comes, I will have the faith and strength to stand firm in the face of those who want to destroy me.