As we run our baptism preparation sessions in the parish, we have a whole pack of cards with different words on them. They all say something about baptism and the Christian faith. Some are easy words, like the responding to the love of God, and receiving the blessing of God – or baptism being a good excuse for a party!
Other words are less comfortable. They speak of baptism being a challenge, and a commissioning for service. The words death and sacrifice are there too – which reminds us that being a Christian is not all easy.
I sometimes reflect that its not all that surprising that the Christian faith finds it hard going in this self-obsessed, materialistic and ambitious society we live in. After all, the Christian message goes against much of what we see on our TVs, newspapers and magazines.
In the Bible Jesus tells his disciples that we need to count the cost of following him, we need to be totally committed, loving God more than our possessions, our own families, or even our own lives!
Jesus is not denying the importance of close family. But when there is an urgent task to be done, as there now is, then everything else, including one's own life, must be put at risk for the sake of the kingdom.
The same is true of possessions. Many of Jesus' followers, then and now, have owned houses and lands, and have not felt compelled to abandon them. But being prepared to do so is the sign that one has understood the seriousness of the call to follow.
That may sound very unrealistic to us today in Crewe. Surely we don't need to get worked up about our faith – we don't face any urgency, or danger or persecution do we?
But we need to remember that Jesus is talking about the decision to follow him. We all face decisions in life – but the most important decision we face is whether we will follow Jesus or not.
Perhaps you might say, "Oh, that is an easy decision. Of course I will follow Jesus," but Jesus warned that it isn't always easy to follow him. He said that we should sit down and count the cost.
In many parts of the world today being a Christian is truly costly and dangerous. In Islamic countries you can be denounced and killed for becoming a Christian. In South America and Africa Christians are targeted for siding with the poor and powerless against unjust governments.
Here in this country its becoming more difficult and uncomfortable to stand up for God and his standards. Will we choose to follow him if it means giving up friends who are making bad choices? Will we choose to follow him if it means we will never live in a big house or drive a fancy car?
Jesus may demand everything from us, but we need to remember what he gives us back in return.
He gives us his love and support throughout our lives through good times and bad, never leaving us abandoned. He forgives us our sins, setting us free from all that drags us down. He sends us his Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us. The Holy Spirit gives us gifts and helps us become more like Jesus – full of love, joy, peace, kindness, courage and strength.
More than that he invites us to be part of his family here on earth, where we can be loved and supported as we work to build the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.
And he invites us to live on with him when we die, when we are called home to live in peace and joy in paradise with the saints in glory.
So – let us count the cost and the benefits. It may cost us our money given freely to church and those in need, our time spent in works of love and generosity, and maybe difficulty and hardship. But compared with the wonderful gifts of God that are ours for all eternity perhaps they aren't so much.
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