How will you enter the arena?

31 Jan

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.

Psalm 119:1-3

We can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should walk the way Jesus walked.

1 John 2:3-6

These passages teach us two things: Living in the way of God is a good way. It is a way of joy and love.

But let’s be honest—walking this way isn’t always easy.

Faith in Action: The Example of Cyprian

St. Cyprian of Carthage, a third-century church leader, once wrote about 1 John 2:6:

“Beloved brethren, we are philosophers not in words but in deeds; we exhibit our wisdom not by our dress, but by truth; we know virtues by their practice rather than through boasting of them; we do not speak great things but we live them.”

To Cyprian, faith was not just a set of beliefs—it was a way of living, embodied and visible. The early church rejected any separation between belief and action. They saw no divide between mind and body, soul and practice. Faith was meant to be lived out, even when it was costly.

The Arena of Carthage

In AD 203, the Roman city of Carthage—one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the empire—held a public spectacle in its grand amphitheatre. These games were a core part of Roman culture, an expected form of entertainment. Crowds gathered in their seats to watch gladiators fight and criminals be executed for sport.

But on May 7 of that year, something unexpected happened.

Among those condemned to die that day was a small group of Christians, including two women: Perpetua and Felicitas. Perpetua was a well-born woman from a high-status family. Felicitas was a slave. By every social standard, they were meant to be divided. Yet, as they walked into the arena, they stood together as sisters in Christ.

Rather than entering in fear, the historical record says they walked in “purposefully and joyfully.”

They refused to wear the costumes of pagan gods, boldly declaring, “We came here of our own will, so our freedom might not be constrained.”

When the animals attacked, Perpetua was thrown to the ground. As she regained consciousness, she saw Felicitas beside her and reached out, helping her to her feet. In that moment—two women, one free and one a slave—stood side by side, bearing witness to the kingdom of God in a culture that divided them.

The crowd, accustomed to seeing victims fend for themselves, was stunned by this act of unity. When the moment came for them to be executed, the Christians embraced and exchanged a final kiss of peace—a gesture they had practiced week after week in their house churches.

This was more than just a tragic death. It was a radical, countercultural display of love, courage, and faithfulness to Jesus.

And it had an impact.

The historical record tells us that many in the crowd that day—seeing how these Christians lived and died—began to question their own way of life. Some became believers, transformed by the testimony they had witnessed.

This was how the early church evangelized—not through power, persuasion, or mass communication, but through living out the way of Jesus, even in the face of death.

How Did They Live This Way?

Alan Kreider, in The Patient Ferment of the Early Church, explores how these early Christians were able to live so counterculturally. He identifies three key factors:

They Had Role Models
They were not just taught doctrines—they were shown a way of life. Their mentor, Saturus, had guided them not only in what to believe but how to live. Christianity was an apprenticeship. They had learned from others who had gone before them.
They Formed New Habits
Their faith was not just about intellectual belief. It was shaped through habits that rewired their way of seeing the world. The kiss of peace they exchanged at their deaths? They had practiced that in their church gatherings, learning to see each other as equals—rich and poor, free and slave, united in Christ.
They Prepared for the Arena
They did not enter the amphitheatre unprepared. While in prison, they fasted, prayed, and took communion together. They talked about how they would act in the arena. Their faith was not just a vague hope—it was a practiced way of life, ready for the moment when it would be tested.

Your Arena in 2025

Now, you might be thinking: That’s an incredible story—but we don’t have Roman amphitheatres in Auckland.

And thankfully, you’re right.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t face arenas of our own.

Students: Your school or university is an arena. The culture around you expects you to behave a certain way. How will you enter that space?
Professionals: Your workplace is an arena. Will you operate by the same values as the world, or will your colleagues see something different in you?
Parents and community members: Your neighbourhood, your gym, your local café—these are arenas too. People are watching. What will they see in your life?

In each of these spaces, the question remains: How will you enter the arena?

Preparing to Walk the Way of Jesus

As you think about the arenas you will step into this year, consider these three practices from the early church:

Find a Role Model
Who is someone further along in the journey of faith that you can learn from? Maybe it’s time to ask, “Can we meet regularly to talk about following Jesus?”
Build Habits of Formation
Faith is not built in a moment—it is formed through daily practices.
— Commit to regular church attendance to shape your heart and mind.
— Start each day with Scripture and prayer before reaching for your phone.
— Engage in acts of service to cultivate a life of love.
Prepare for Your Arena
— Read the Sermon on the Mount and ask: How does this shape my daily life?
— Create a prayer list for your colleagues, classmates, or neighbours.
— Memorize a scripture for the year—perhaps 1 John 2:6: “Those who say they live in God should walk the way Jesus walked.”

Which Joy Will You Choose?

Psalm 119 tells us that joy is found in walking in God’s way.

The crowds in the Carthage amphitheatre that day came seeking one kind of joy—the temporary pleasure of entertainment.

Perpetua and Felicitas walked into the arena with a deeper joy—the joy of knowing God, of walking in love, of embodying a different kingdom.