Excellent post Brett. You’ve identified something I’ve been uncomfortable with in the church both whilst saved and before, whilst unsaved. Something doesn’t add up between what Jesus preaches and they way we’re living our lives. That said, I’m not always sure of what this life changing radical faith will look like. Whilst many in the bible, as you point out, were killed and made to undergo extreme discomfort because of the gospel, there are also examples of Christians who received earthly rewards for their faith and didn’t go through anything like the discomfort others did. I’m looking at Solomon, David, Joseph, Samson, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and a few of the lesser known old testament dudes who received awesome blessings when they asked for it. Obviously, many (all?) of the above names also went through periods of discomfort as a result of following God BUT my point is that they didn’t necessarily live lives as rough as some people in the early church (or as rough as the Israelites had it in Egypt). My point is – looking to the early church as an example of how our lives should look isn’t necessarily fair as not everyone is called to serve like that. There must be countless examples of faithful servants over the years who’s stories didn’t make the bible because they were unspectacular but who God still would have been proud of, no? So basically I’m saying that it’s important to remember the time the people of the early church were living in and factoring that in many ways its a lot easier to be a christian now days regardless of your obedience to God and the radicalness of your faith. Secondly, it’s important not to paint everyone with the same brush ito of our calling. Some are called to do less glamorous, less dangerous work and they should still be celebrated.
All of that said, I love your post because it forces all of us to evaluate our lives and ask the question “is this the sort of christianity I’m called for? If God asked me to give up everything for him, would I?” If not, then we’re doing something wrong.
![Taboo Topics: Sex Before Marriage - Meet Jamie Wright [aka The Very Worst Missionary] part I](https://brettfish.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/jamie.png?resize=40%2C40){kind=small}
Irresistibly Fish 
Excellent post Brett. You’ve identified something I’ve been uncomfortable with in the church both whilst saved and before, whilst unsaved. Something doesn’t add up between what Jesus preaches and they way we’re living our lives. That said, I’m not always sure of what this life changing radical faith will look like. Whilst many in the bible, as you point out, were killed and made to undergo extreme discomfort because of the gospel, there are also examples of Christians who received earthly rewards for their faith and didn’t go through anything like the discomfort others did. I’m looking at Solomon, David, Joseph, Samson, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and a few of the lesser known old testament dudes who received awesome blessings when they asked for it. Obviously, many (all?) of the above names also went through periods of discomfort as a result of following God BUT my point is that they didn’t necessarily live lives as rough as some people in the early church (or as rough as the Israelites had it in Egypt). My point is – looking to the early church as an example of how our lives should look isn’t necessarily fair as not everyone is called to serve like that. There must be countless examples of faithful servants over the years who’s stories didn’t make the bible because they were unspectacular but who God still would have been proud of, no? So basically I’m saying that it’s important to remember the time the people of the early church were living in and factoring that in many ways its a lot easier to be a christian now days regardless of your obedience to God and the radicalness of your faith. Secondly, it’s important not to paint everyone with the same brush ito of our calling. Some are called to do less glamorous, less dangerous work and they should still be celebrated.
All of that said, I love your post because it forces all of us to evaluate our lives and ask the question “is this the sort of christianity I’m called for? If God asked me to give up everything for him, would I?” If not, then we’re doing something wrong.