Are you a martyr? How does it make you feel?

Question

I'd like to know. Do you get mentally and physically beat up for God? Doesn't it make you feel more loved? special? important?

One who chooses to suffer death rather than renounce religious principles.

One who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief, cause, or principle.

One who endures great suffering: a martyr to arthritis.

One who makes a great show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy

Angry Gramma - The English language is dynamic and not static. It changes and evolves over time. That's a natural process with any language so instead of being an angry martyr for the English language, you might as well just accept it.

Answer 1

unfortunately i have been called a martyr many times although this isn't a conscious decision to be doing something for god
but i do take a lot because i wish to make others feel better
i don't consider my own feelings when things are going on around me
it makes me feel better to see others feeling better
i am not a martyr however because i have realised that even when my aim is to make others feel better , this is ultimately a selfish act of making myself feel better through their happiness
sounds odd i know but it was pointed out recently to me that we never give to others no matter how good our intention .. without gaining something for our self .. even if that something is simply a warm feeling caused by helping others

Answer 2

Your last additional detail illustrates the cause of your confusion:
"One who makes a great show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy." This is the definition of hypocrite not martyr.

The English language has been deteriorating for decades, as you have succinctly shown with your misuse of the word martyr. When we are willing to change the meaning of words how can we hope to communicate?

Answer 3

I do not feel like a martyr. A martyr is person who is killed for their faith or dies protecting it. Not who is verbally or physically abused. I have heard a few unkind statements about my belief although pretty much only in this forum. I disregard them except attempting to correct misconceptions. Why would that make me feel special or important? I am not special and have no desire to be so. Nor do I wish to be important. I like who I am and usually I prefer being unknown.I do not consider myself worthy of the honor of being a martyr for God.
Peace Be With You,
Debra

Answer 4

Well if I was I would have a hard time typing cause I would be dead. Martyrs are people Killed for the faith or who die while working to spread the faith. I imagine they feel real great sitting with Jesus. Are they any more important than anyone else? No because Jesus Loves us All. (some he mourns for because they are lost but he still loves them)

Answer 5

The word martyr comes from witness. Being a witness (not a Jehovah's Witness) for God testifying to His goodness and telling people the absolute truth (they don't always want to know because of their own sin that they're happy with), can lead to martyrdom. If someone is putting out there, that it means to murder themselves (suicide) and otheres, they are calling God a liar because He says that is a sin and it is breaking His law. He should know He made the rules!!!! The forgiveness of it only comes through Jesus. I should know He has forgiven me, He loves me and I love Him.

Answer 6

Aren't martyr's normally dead?