What does it cost to be a true Christian?
“It will cost a man the favor of the world. He must be content to be thought ill of by man if he pleases God. He must count it no strange thing to be mocked, ridiculed, slandered, persecuted, and even hated. He must not be surprised to find his opinions and practices in religion despised and held up to scorn. He must submit to be thought by many a fool, an enthusiast, and a fanatic – to have his words perverted and his actions misrepresented. In fact, he must not marvel if some call him mad.
“I dare say this also sounds hard. We naturally dislike unjust dealing and false charges, and think it very hard to be accused without cause. We should not be flesh and blood if we did not wish to have the good opinion of our neighbors. It is always unpleasant to be spoken against, and forsaken, and lied about, and to stand alone. But there is no help for it. The cup which our Master drank must be drunk by His disciples. They must be ‘despised and rejected of men’ (Isaiah 53:3). Let us set down that item last in our account. To be a Christian it will cost a man the favor of the world.”
~ J.C. Ryle
From the series “Four Costs of Becoming a Christian”
Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J.C. Ryle, “The Cost”, [Wheaton: Crossway, 2002], 176, 177.
This article has quite a few fantastic helpful hints, they’ve got really made it simpler for me
Thank you for this post.
It is very pertinent at this time in my life.
I fully expected ridicule from the “world”, but when that slander, mocking,
and yes possibly even hatred comes from those whom you thought were brothers and sisters in Christ, it is piercing blow!
Praise God for the perseverance of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it interesting that Reformed Baptists like J. C. Ryle so much, particularly when Ryle was a sacramentalist and a paedobaptist. Also, he was a five point Calvinist to his credit.
If only more Anglicans were familiar with the writings of J. C. Ryle, a great evangelical bishop of the Church of England.
Sincerely in Christ,
Charlie
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