Maybe you are considering coming to Christ. Perhaps there is something that is prohibiting you and you have doubts. I want to encourage you to count the cost of what it really means to be a Christian. Too often Christians flippantly give a call to follow Christ, and I must admit, I have done this carelessly in the past. Following Christ is no easy thing and you must be prepared for the trials that will face you.
Here are 5 reasons why you should turn around and go back. Here are 5 reasons why you should NOT become a Christian.
1.You Should Not Become A Christian If: You Love Money
Following Christ might mean you will scrub toilets for a living for the rest of your life, be homeless or even in prison.
Jesus said you cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24). Your allegiances will either fall on self-preservation or on the glory of God.
There are many lucrative professions that Christians cannot be involved in. You will have significantly limited employment opportunities and workplace discrimination as a Christian.
Jesus was poor (Luke 9:58). Are you willing to follow him?
2. You Should Not Become A Christian If: You Want To Be Popular
Jesus said that his servants or followers would not be greater than him (John 15:18-21). Jesus was not popular, he was despised and rejected, betrayed and crucified.
Jesus said the way is narrow and few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Are you willing to be the minority? Will you take beatings, scorn and death for Christ?
3. You Should Not Become A Christian If: You Want A Comfortable Life
Jesus at the end of the Bible says that all cowards will have their part in the lake that burns with fire (Revelation 21:5-8). Cowards sacrifice what is right and true for personal comforts.
Following Christ takes courage and means telling people what they do not want to hear. Paul the Apostle said that he spoke not to please men but God (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
Paul the Apostle also was shipwrecked, chased out of towns, ambushed, whipped, attacked to the point of near-death, starved and had physical ailments (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). His sufferings, he said, were an example for other Christians (1 Corinthians 4:9-16).
Do you love this world and all its comforts and pleasures? If so, don’t become a Christian.
4. You Should Not Become A Christian If: You Wish To Make Much of Yourself
As a Christian, you must decrease so that God will increase. Your life as a Christian will be about making God’s name known, not your own. This is your duty. No one will thank you for doing it (Luke 17:5-10).
Do you think your faithfulness will be rewarded on this earth? Think again. John the Baptist, who Jesus called the greatest prophet of his day (Luke 7:28), was imprisoned for doing what was right and then beheaded unjustly (Matthew 14:1-12).
Are you prepared to leave this world and be forgotten? Are you prepared to deny yourself of what you wish and do what God wills?
5. You Should Not Become A Christian If: You Value Family Above All
Do you love your family? Do you love them more than God?
Christians are commanded to honour their parents (Exodus 20:12), however, Jesus also said that whoever doesn’t hate his father, mother, wife, husband, child or even their own life is not fit to be a disciple (Luke 14:25-33).
Jesus also said he did not come to bring peace to the earth but a sword that would make one’s enemies that of their own household (Matthew 10:34-39).
Are you willing to face the scorn, rejection and disapproval of your family? Are you willing for your family to possibly never see or speak to you again?
Will your love for God overshadow all other loves and affections in your life?
Christ is either all to you or nothing to you.
The Only Reason To Be A Christian
Jesus amassed a large following at one point. In order to sift the crowds from those who were serious from those who were merely following Him because He had done miracles, He said this:
“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:53-54
This was said to kosher Jews who would have thought of this as the equivalent of Him asking them, by today’s standard, to consume something you would find in a toilet.
This statement greatly offended many people and that day those who left Him abounded (John 6:66).
Jesus turned to the 12 disciples and said:
“Do you also want to go away?” John 6:67
Peter replied by saying:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:68-69
You should follow Christ because He is God in human form, He is truth itself and the only way to life. Come to Christ because He is lovely. Come to Christ because He is worthy. Come to Christ for Christ alone.
> Cover Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
