Radical or Real Christianity

Radical or Real Christianity?
The book of Acts records disciples being arrested, for preaching in the name of Jesus.
The religious leaders wanted to put them to death, but a Pharisee named Gamaliel gave a speech that changed their minds. So rather than the apostles being killed they were flogged for what they were doing, the writer of Acts recording,
“His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” 
                                                                 Acts 5:40-42
Take note what verse forty-one says,
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
These men who had been with Jesus for just three years showed what real Christians should be.
David Platt president of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board wrote,
“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.”
         I look at what Platt is saying, and say this was normal behaviour for a Christian should be. It was for the early church.
Followers of ‘the way,’ as Christians were called took their stand on who Jesus was. He was the Messiah the Son of God and they did not back down on that belief.
They stayed true to their beliefs even to the point of being flogged or as in Stephens case being put to death.
The early believers through out the Roman empire separated from Judaism even though Judaism was an official religion of the Roman empire and they were not.
Not being an official religion of Rome could and did bring Christians in conflict with the Roman state.
Christians suffered under various Roman emperors. Nero used them as human  torches. Many suffered torture and death.
Today around the world there are two billion plus Christians one Christian dies every fourteen minutes for their faith. It is estimated that at least another 200,000 are under some kind of persecution or living in harms way.
What David Platt is saying when he writes is happening in much of the world today,
“Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.” 
We here in North America with all our comforts, freedom of speech, freedom to worship, have it easy.
The other day I listened to a preacher one of the name it claim it crowed proclaiming that if you give to God he’ll give to you a hundred fold.
God and the Bible never said that.
They worried about losing their freedom of speech and worship. While it is perhaps a valid worry, in the ultimate scheme of things it is nothing. The word of God will continue,
Jesus said,
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” 
                                            Matthew 5:10-12.
In Matthew Ten Jesus notes,
     “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another....” 
                                                                Matthew 10:21-23a.
In Matthew 24 He notes,
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.”  
                                 Matthew 24:9
While I hope persecution does not come if it does we with God’s help we will get through it.
You must remember no matter what happens with respect to Christians we win. As a friend of mine said, “I’ve read the book and we win.”
What Gamaliel said is true.
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
             Acts 5:38,39
Those who oppose Christianity are opposing God and God will one day judge them accordingly.
Think about it.