When following Jesus Comes at a Cost
Have you ever felt pushback for following Jesus? Maybe it was a raised eyebrow from a family member, tension with a coworker, or that uncomfortable silence when you mention your faith. Recently, I was reminded of Dr. Eric Walsh, a public health director who lost a job opportunity not because he lacked qualifications, but because he was openly living his faith as a lay pastor and preaching subjects from the Bible that are counter-cultural.
His story mirrors what Peter writes about in 1 Peter 4, "Don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you." Peter isn't saying "if" trials come – he's talking about "when" they come. He's telling these early Christians, "Hey, don't act shocked when this happens. This is normal for followers of Jesus."
Here's what we must remember...
When the world pushes back against you because of Jesus, it's because they see Him in you.
Let that sink in for a moment.
When you're excluded because of your faith, you're walking in Jesus' footsteps. When you're misunderstood for your convictions, you're sharing in His experience. When you're criticized for living differently, you're being shaped into His image. Suffering for Jesus isn't abandonment, it's alignment. It's a sign that we're close enough to Him that others can see Him in us.
But let's be honest, and this is important, not all pushback we face as Christians is because of Jesus.There's a difference between facing opposition because we're reflecting Jesus and facing consequences for just being difficult. I've seen Christians, maybe you have too, who seem to almost go looking for conflict. They're not really standing for truth; they're just picking fights. That's not living different, that's just being a jerk!
Here's the challenge... When you share your faith, are you posting truth with grace, or are you just trying to prove others wrong? Are you engaging with love, or are you just eager for an argument? Are you reflecting Jesus, or are you just trying to make a point?
Remember what Paul writes in Colossians, "Live wisely among non-believers. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive." When we suffer for truly reflecting Jesus, there's no shame in that. But we need to make sure it's actually Jesus they're seeing in us, not just our argumentative spirit.
I love how Madeleine L'Engle puts it…
"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."
So what does this mean for you today? Maybe you're feeling pressure at work to compromise your values. Perhaps you're experiencing tension in your family because of your faith. Or maybe you're wondering if standing firm is worth the cost. Peter gives us both a challenge and comfort in 1 Peter 4:19...
"If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you."
Don't give up. Keep doing what's right and trust that God is with you and using this to make you more like Him.
When the world pushes back against you because of Jesus, remember – it's because they see Him in you. And that's exactly what living different is all about.
Keep looking up,
Pastor Alan Hannah
Pastor Alan is the lead pastor of Allegheny Center Alliance Church. To find out more about ACAC, go here.
