The Cost of Living as a Christian Part One

Evangelism

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

John 15:18-20

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

 

Why would Jesus warn us that people in the world might hate us as followers of Christ? If we love as Jesus loves and attempt to live a moral life while we serve others why would we be hated. The answer lies in the difference between the world and those who believe God’s Truth.

 

God’s Word and Jesus’ message is one of conviction of sin. None of us likes being told we are wrong or lacking something in our life. Jesus’ message basically confronts people with the fact that something is wrong in their life without a saving knowledge of Christ and a commitment to living for Him. While some respond with confession and repentance, others react with anger and threats.

 

Romans 3:23 states, ” for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” So there is judgment in the Gospel we live, but there is rescue available from this judgment provided by God through His Son. Some people respond to this truth with conviction and submission, but some don’t like hearing that they are under God’s judgment. They don’t like being held accountable for their sins and so emotions and actions of hate are expressed towards Christians at times.

 

Jesus not only lost disciples because of his message (John 6:53-67) He was verbally abused, whipped, tortured and crucified for the gospel He proclaimed and for the sacrifice He offered for our sins. He paid the ultimate price for us.

 

During the formation of the early church Christians paid a cost for living a life dedicated to Christ.

 

In Acts 17:1-9 we have an account of such a situation. This passage states, “When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, ” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.”

 

This account demonstrates the confusion people will cause and confrontational actions they will take because of hatred and disdain for the truth of the gospel. The Jews in this situation were jealous that people were following the message of salvation through Jesus rather than the Old Testament law. They sought to persecute and possibly do Paul and Silas harm because they were preaching about Jesus. But when they couldn’t obtain Paul and Silas, they turned on Jason because he had housed Paul and Silas. Jason was just being hospitable but had to pay the cost of posting bond because he had associated himself with Christians.

 

Another example of such actions against Christians for simply sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus can be found in Acts 4:1-3, “The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.”

 

In Acts 5:17-18 another instance is recorded as well, “Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.”

 

And yet another example is given in Acts 16:16-24. “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

 

This instance demonstrates that the truth of the gospel can have an economic and/or social impact on the lives of those who live without Jesus. These worldly men were benefiting from the demonic fortune-telling practices of this young girl. When she was purged of the evil demon and no longer able to make money for the men, rage, torture and imprisonment was the result for Paul and Silas. I can almost hear Silas say to Paul, “Here we go again!”

 

While these are examples from the New Testament record. Consider the following statistics: More than 43 million Christians have been killed for their faith since the crucifixion of Jesus. It’s been estimated that more Christians have been martyred in the 20th Century than in all the prior 1,900 years combined. There have been more than 26 million documented cases of martyrdom in this century alone. More than 200 million Christians in over 60 nations face persecution each day, 60% of these are children. 150,000 to 165,000 are martyred each year. Christians today are the most persecuted group in the world. Persecution is on the rise because of Communism, the expansion of Islamic and Hindu extremism, and because of the anti-Christ spirit that is prevalent throughout the world. Literally hundreds of thousands of people today are being killed, brutalized, sold as slaves, imprisoned, tortured, threatened, discriminated against and arrested solely because they are Christians. (Voice of the Martyrs)

 

According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith. The International Bulletin of Missionary Research (Vol. 33, No. 1: 32) estimates that approximately 176,000 Christians will have been martyred from mid-2008 to mid-2009. This, according to the authors, compares to 160,000 martyrs in mid-2000 and 34,400 at the beginning of the 20th century. If current trends continue, Barrett, Johnson and Crossing estimate that by 2025, an average of 210,000 Christians will be martyred annually.

 

Despite these statistics, Scripture tells us we are blessed when we are insulted and persecuted for the sake of Christ. Matthew 5:11-16, states, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you…”You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” So we are to let the light of Jesus within us shine bright, as we live and witness for Him.

 

As Christians in the modern day world we will have to pay a cost for living as a Christian, sharing our faith, as we seek to serve in Christian ways to make people aware of the free gift of salvation provided by God through His Son Jesus Christ. We may lose friends, have issues with close relatives, be verbally abused and possibly even threatened with physical violence. But we are called to speak the truth in love and share the gospel. Our instructions are clear.

 

Romans 12:9-21

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

 

Matthew 5:43-45

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

 

Matthew 28:19

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

 

“Princes, kings, and other rulers of the world have used all their strength and cunning against the Church, yet it continues to endure and hold its own.”

John Foxe (Fox)