A dangerous faith

by Karen Collum

"I believe Jesus died on the cross and I'm saved by grace alone. I believe in Creation and Jesus' death and resurrection. I believe the Bible is God's eternal message to us. But let's say I'm wrong. Let's say it's just a myth. What have I lost? Nothing. I've lived a life of meaning and purpose. I wouldn't want to live my life any other way."

These words were spoken during a conversation between two believers. Although the statements contain elements of truth, there is something unsettling in the monologue. And I am more than a little embarrassed to admit I am the author and speaker of these words.

I can't remember the first time I used this argument but I suspect it was sometime during my teenage years. It seemed to make a lot of sense to me then. I couldn't prove God existed to my sceptic friends but this argument seemed to appease their perceptions about the futility of my faith. As an adult in my 30s, however, it now strikes me as a feeble explanation at best and evidence of a half-hearted, shallow faith at worst.

When I heard myself speak these words recently, something inside me cringed. I just couldn't stop thinking about it. Is my faith really only ankle deep? Am I just hedging my bets, hoping for the best? Or do I honestly believe in Jesus Christ with all my heart, soul and mind? And then it struck me. I possess a hazardous faith. A middleclass, armchair-comfortable faith. A dangerous faith.

The worst part of my epiphany is having to answer my own question: What have I lost because of my faith? Honestly: very little. Apart from a few rejections from would-be boyfriends who objected to my moral stance, or missing out on a couple of part-time jobs that wouldn't accommodate my Sabbathkeeping, my faith has cost me little. I have not been disowned by my family or harassed by my neighbours. I have not been physically assaulted. In a country where I am free to worship whomever and whenever I like, I have not experienced persecution, marginalisation or ridicule because of my beliefs. I have had the freedom to live my middleclass, armchair-comfortable faith. What a contrast to believers in other parts of the world.

In India, an elderly pastor was recently falsely imprisoned and beaten by police for allegedly paying Hindus to convert to Christianity. His faith has cost him his health.

Dmitry Shestakov, a pastor in Uzbekistan, was arrested in 2007 for organising a religious group and distributing materials. He is still being held in a closed labour camp away from his wife and three young daughters. His faith has cost him his family.

In Sudan, a woman who converted from Islam to Christianity was set upon by her husband and left beaten, homeless and in jail. Her faith has cost her everything.

And in Pakistan, Christians who had gathered to protest pro-Taliban graffiti on their churches were attacked by a group of militants. Two adults were executed and one child was killed in the attack. Their faith cost them their lives.

These Christians possess a truly-dangerous faith. Their faith comes with a high price tag. Like Jesus, these loyal followers of Christ are giving up everything for His glory. Jesus and all of heaven honour people with that kind of faith.

And the Bible makes it clear that this is exactly the sort of dangerous faith that Jesus wants us to have:

• The rich young ruler lived by the commandments. He lived a good life, a moral life. When he asked Jesus what he needed to do to be saved, Jesus' answer was straightforward: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Matthew 19:21*). A dangerous faith is prepared to give up everything for Jesus.

• A would-be disciple wanted to follow Jesus. Before he set off in the Master's footsteps on the dusty roads, he wanted to do just one thing-bury his father. It seemed a reasonable request but Jesus' answer was unequivocal: "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead" (Matthew 8:22). A dangerous faith is prepared to lose loved ones for Jesus.

• And in all the gospels, the message is the same: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it" (Luke 9:24). A dangerous faith is prepared to die for Jesus.

In my middleclass, armchair-comfortable life, it's easy to have a dangerous faith of entirely the wrong kind. But by remembering the suffering of fellow Christians around the world, I am reminded of another sort of dangerous faith-one that is refined in suffering and purified in persecution.

These brave souls possess a faith that has the power to move heaven and earth. It is my hope and prayer that my faith can grow into a dangerous faith of the best possible kind.

*Bible quotations are from the New International Version.

Karen Collum writes from Munruben, Queensland.

This has been a feature from Record, July 25, 2009

Back to God.