Christianity’s Costs

You know, my dear reader, to be a Christian, I mean, a real Christian, one that follows Christ, is not only the most wonderful honor anyone can have, but also something that will assure you, here, and after this earthly life. You know, those times when people used to say that there is nothing beyond the stars and beyond the grave, those times passed a long time ago; almost none thinks that anymore. Oh, no, now we believe that God is there, but He is love (for some, love only), and He will never send anybody to hell. My dear reader, in order to get to heaven, we need to be saved. After you have been saved, the Bible says you are a Christian; and Christians do go to heaven only them!

So, what are the costs and the benefits of being a Christian?

Before I answer that question, the Bible has a very clear central idea about what it takes to be a Christian. When you are with Christ, you are automatically in conflict with the world. Matthew 10:22 states that Christians will be hated for Christ's name sake, because we are His. And, the next few verses emphasize that one who tries to keep his life for himself shall loose it; also, Christ said that He did not come to bring peace, but the sword. He wants you to be a saint, and being a saint brings you all the hatred from this world.

So, what is the price we, the Christians, have to pay?

We will be in conflict with the world. Bible shows us many examples of men who suffered for Him. We might not be persecuted like the first Christians, but we all have to pay a price. Why? Because we became new creatures in Christ, and we have new identities which make us different from anything in this world. Our standards of life are completely different from the world’s; our new identities will condemn the deeds of the world.

Saying the truth in all occasions can cost a great deal ,being impartial at all costs can cause us to loose our image, our position in this society. We might loose our friends or be treated as the outcasts were treated.

But, you might ask, is this really the ONLY way? Jesus said that anybody can come to Him, but if somebody wants to follow Him, he needs to take up his cross every day and follow Him. His burden is light and we are asked to cast all our fears upon Him every day.

The truth is we could have never paid the price for our life so Christ Himself paid for it. God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. John 3:16

Our job is much easier as we only need to accept it. He was in conflict with the priests, so much that they crucified Him although Jesus was prophesied to come but they expected another kind of leader. He said that His children hear His voice, they know Him, and they follow Him. Would you be ready to be crucified for this message?

Not paying this price, for a Christian, means to deceive others; and to deceive himself. A Christian like that will show others a powerless Gospel and will give others something useless.

Through paying this price, we also allow God to work at our character and form us the way He wants us to be.

Bible assures us that the one who is willing at any time to pay this price will have benefits. Now, these benefits are a little bit odd for somebody that thinks in the way this world does. Paul said that he is persecuted, beaten, mocked, but he learns how to rejoice in all this "rewards". Because this price can be paid just by those that belong to the Kingdom of God, the rewards will follow the same rule: will be understood only by those who belong to that Kingdom.

Jim Elliot, a missionary to South America said: "He is not crazy the one that looses something he cannot keep in order to gain something he can never loose".