Popularity and Discipleship: A Hard Truth Learned From the Lord

 

Popularity and Discipleship: A Hard Truth Learned From the Lord

In 2019, my family and I were living what seemed like a dream. We were missionaries in beautiful Puerto Rico, surrounded by swaying palm trees and warm breezes. Yet, even amidst this idyllic scene, a


quiet unease was stirring – the early whispers of what would become the COVID-19 pandemic. That year became a time of deep soul-searching and a profound encounter with God.

One afternoon, sitting at my desk, the tropical beauty outside my window couldn't distract me from the passage I was reading: John 15:18-19. "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

Then, a question pierced through the serenity: "John, do people hate you?"

My immediate, almost arrogant, response was, "No, I think I'm pretty likable." How wrong I was.

God pressed further, "Why not?"


I stumbled through an explanation, justifying my "likability." Then, the truth hit me like a tidal wave. God simply asked, "John, if people hated me and I said those who belong to me would be hated, why a
re you so liked?"

The scales fell from my eyes. I realized the uncomfortable truth: I was liked because I wasn't living the radical, uncompromising life Christ calls us to. Yes, I was serving and sharing the Gospel, but I was avoiding the hard truths. I wasn't publicly standing against the world's values, even if I tried to live them privately.

My heart broke. I repented, pouring out my soul in prayer: "Lord, I want to be hated more."

That prayer was a turning point. My life has never been the same.

Ironically, the "hate" I encountered didn't come primarily from the world. Instead, it came from within the church, from those who claimed to follow Jesus. This, I discovered, is a common experience for those who dare to speak truth and commit wholly to the Lord.

It's easy to preach a God of love and peace. It's far more challenging to preach a God of love and peace who demands our very lives, who calls us to die to ourselves and follow Him.

This experience fueled my book, "Awakening The Sleeping Giant: A Guide to Living Out The New Testament Church," and the subsequent persecution I've faced.

Since that prayer, I've experienced significant challenges: loss of missionary support, being fired from a church for teaching on biblical church structure, being asked to step down from a discipleship ministry due to church affiliation, and having my position "eliminated" at a school for upholding biblical truth regarding gender. These are just a few examples of how that prayer has been answered.

This journey has taught me that true discipleship isn't about popularity. It's about faithfulness, even when it costs us. It's about embracing the discomfort of truth, even when it brings opposition. It's about choosing Christ over comfort, every single time.

Learn More About Our Ministry at: www.theexchangemin.com

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