What Has It Cost Us?

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. - Hebrews 12:4

The images are real; the videos are gruesome; the stories heart-wrenching. We read of ISIS beheaded Christians because they will not deny their faith. We read of women in Africa being raped and children being kidnapped because they will not refuse Christ's name. We read letters from brethren in "moderate," liberal countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are denied jobs, education, and family support, because they changed their legal papers to read "Christian." We read of Christians from the past who have eaten by lions, flogged to death, stoned to death, crucified to death, burned to death.

We read the suffering of these Christians while we sip coffee and sit in a comfortable arm chair. Our lives are certainly not persecution free, but I fear that we Western evangelicals are too quick to feel a wind of persecution to complain about on Facebook than in living in a the pain and discomfort of a bloody, self-denying struggle against sin. When our more-fiercely persecuted brethren hear of how we are using our relative comfort, are they encouraged by our example to press on in their faith? Or do they bless God for their suffering all the more when they see what little use we make of opportunities?

Indeed, I too often wonder of myself: What does my faith actually cost me? And may I broaden my soul-searching to the wider community? - What has our faith cost us?

Has it cost us pleasure?

Have we been willing to say no to that "play the next show" option on Amazon Prime, so we can spend more time in prayer? Have we been willing to forego those legitimate pleasures (video games, movies, books) for even a day, because we know that in our present spiritual state, it would not help us love Jesus more? Parents, has you been willing to say "no" to that behavior, that filthy word, that immodest outfit, even though it will mean a full out fight or a week of sulking from your teenager? Or is our comfort more important than the obedience to God's commands?

Christians around the world cannot find work because they have made their faith known, and yet we struggle to say no to pleasure and comfort for even a day for the sake of Christ.

Has it cost us time?

Have we been willing to set aside all of Sunday to worship our King, our Savior, our Friend? Have we been willing to put work aside on Wednesday nights to go to prayer meeting? Have we been willing to accept the beep of the alarm early enough to have sufficient time in God's Word?

Christians around the world risk police raids and radical gunmen to worship together, and yet we struggle to make time for the worship of Christ.

Has it cost us recognition?

So we went on that missions' trip and got lots of brownie points in church circles. We posted our pictures with #allforChrist. Our pictures were liked, and the comments were approving. But are we also willing to be faithful in the church ministries where people forget to say "thank you"? Are we willing to teach Sunday School week by week and keep preaching the gospel to kids who already know it but will not believe? Are we willing to serve in the kitchen for our church's senior citizen luncheon even if our name isn't included in the church's annual report? Are we willing to speak to our coworkers pointedly and faithfully about their need for the gospel, even though such an interaction is hardly worth writing a prayer letter or posting on Instagram?

Christians go to prison for preaching the gospel and doing good to the "wrong" people, and yet we struggle to be faithful in the local gospel ministry of our Church.

Has it cost us our dreams?

We found our dream job? But it will keep us from worshiping God on the Lord's Day? It will take us away from our biblical church? It will feed our vanity and selfish ambition? We found the dream house? But it will mean being unable to serve your church family in service or hospitality because it is so far away? We found thaat dream dress? But it will cause your brothers in Christ to stumble, because it is too low, too tight, too revealing? You found your dream spouse? But they are shallow Christians at best or maybe not a Christian at all?

Christians suffer rape and loss of limbs for the name of Christ, and yet we can't bring ourselves to make the unfashionable decision of one size larger of jeans for the sake of Christ?

In Conclusion...

What are our pleasures, schedules, dreams anyway? Are we truly willing to set our sights so low that our dreams and prayers can be answered with a moment's comfort, a "love" on twitter, a fashionable outfit? Why are our goals and aspirations so rarely for greater holiness, greater usefulness, greater communion with the living God? These are the dreams God promises to fulfill, but He has never promised to fulfill all of our desires. We must not borrow Disney's view of dreams or Hollywood's definition of love for Christ's church. Just because something is a "dream" does not mean the activity has Christ's approval. Just because God loves us does not mean He is committed to fulfilling all our wishes. He is our King and our Father. Every dream in the Bible that He fulfills are dreams He gives, and they usually involve a great deal of suffering. In the context of the verse quoted above, the writer to the Hebrews explains that our struggle for sin will involve discipline, it will involve struggle, it will involve pain. The reason we so rarely rebuke our children or warn our friends about sin is because we think love means approval, but God's love for us means that He is committed to giving us what is BEST! But still my heart so quick to complain. Why, my soul? After all, you have not yet resisted to the point of blood.

Christ suffered scourging, mockery, thorns, and crucifixion for our salvation from the very sins to which we still cling. Are we still not willing to suffer discomfort, tightened schedules, unrecognized service, abandoned dreams for His Name's sake? The reward will be well worth, for He Himself will say to unfaithful, unworthy us - "Well done, good and faithful servant."