"In taut prose, Hovey unpacks the logic of Mark’s Gospel and helps the church discern what God is doing in history, both in Mark’s day and in our own. This book is lean, penetrating, and wise. Every page rewards the reader with fresh insight."--William T. Cavanaugh, University of St. Thomas In modern-day America, it is hard for Christians to imagine ever dying for their faith. And yet in To Share in the Body, author Craig Hovey challenges Christians to view martyrdom not as relegated to the past or to remote parts of the world but rather as having profound implications for Christian witness today. By examining the Gospel of Mark’s recurring theme of martyrdom, Hovey argues that martyrdom is a critical aspect of the Gospel, and therefore crucial to how the church today remembers martyrs and understands Christian discipleship. Hovey examines questions such as: Was Jesus a martyr? What makes martyrs witnesses? And what is wrong with a "martyr complex"? Written by an up-and-coming theologian, To Share in the Body is fresh, creative, and accessible. It will be a valuable resource for scholars, students, members of the clergy, and laypeople interested in better understanding contemporary Christian witness. All readers will emerge with a better appreciation that the witness of martyrs is not isolated to a select few but rather crucial to shaping the Christian life we all share.
