Count the Cost

Everyone likely knows by now that Miss California lost her chance to be Miss USA because she chose to stand on principle when asked about her view on the oxymoronic concept of "gay marriage". It cost her. The news had a story a few years ago about a Christian trucker who told his boss he couldn't do overnight trips with a female partner because he was a Christian and was married. When he refused to take a load because they assigned a female driver, they fired him. It cost him. Of course, the next thing that happened was that he sued. He, apparently, had every right to stand on his principle, but the company for which he worked didn't have the right to hold to their own principles.

The Scriptures are full of promises -- yes, promises -- that God's people will suffer for doing what is right ... and that it is a blessing. Why is it, then, that when God's people suffer for doing what is right, we are outraged? We raise a stink. We complain. We fight. We argue. What we don't do is "count it all joy". We don't see it as a blessing.

Could it be that American Christians are too often more devoted to comfort than principle? Are we so sold on the importance of feeling good that we aren't willing to do what is right at any cost? Do we believe that obedience should always be comfortable, should always feel good?

Hebrews speaks of people who had not received the things promised (Heb 11:13). There is a stunning list there:

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated (Heb 11:35-37).

The author describes these people as "of whom the world was not worthy" (Heb 11:38). So I'm wondering. Which are we? Are we the ones who will act in faith, aware that we will possibly suffer and allow that pain and injustice because we know we have a better life? Or are we the ones who will only act on principle, only stand for truth, if it doesn't cost us?

In his second letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul urged them "Do not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thess 3:13). The author of Hebrews wrote, "Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted" (Heb 12:3). Why would Christians "grow weary"? Why would doing good be problematic? It is certainly not because it's so fulfilling, so pleasant, full of so much positive feedback, so rewarding. No, it's because it often goes without reward, without notice, and, worse, often costs us. We are called "Christians" -- followers of Christ. It is His example we are to follow. He didn't grow weary or fainthearted in doing good, and it cost Him everything. There's our example.