Title: COST ESTIMATES—WHY WE NEED THEM
Focus: To qualify as a follower of Christ, we must count the cost and be willing to pay the price.
Function: To move the people to develop a steely resolve to follow Christ no matter the cost.
Text: Luke 14:25-35
INTRODUCTION
Recently, about 20 South Korean, Christian missionaries were released by Afghanistan’s brutal company of Taliban Islamic terrorists. These Korean missionaries were taken hostage several months ago. There were many moments that they feared for their lives.
The terrorists made a number of demands on the present Afghanistan and Korean governments. And to show that they were serious, the Taliban barbarians brutally murdered two male Korean missionaries. These missionaries were martyred on account of their Christian faith. It’s true: they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nevertheless, they lost their lives because they sought to share the gospel with a people hopelessly lost in Islamic faith. I wonder if these missionaries counted the cost of following Jesus.
Most of us who follow Jesus will never have to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom. But there is a cost, a price to be paid in order to live as authentic Christians. For example, as a Christian I give up a certain lifestyle of living: riotous living, drunkenness and gambling cannot be part of my life. And vices or immoral conduct (even though they may be legal) cannot be part of my life either.
As Christians we order our lives in a certain way, so that our faith is nurtured and God is honored. Thus you and I make choices about worship on Sundays and about the kind of work we do throughout the week. As followers of Christ we must seriously ask questions about who we marry (Christians or non-Christians?), about how we spend our resources, and about how we conduct ourselves toward our neighbors.
Tonight, the Spirit of God moves us to develop a steely resolve to follow Christ no matter the cost. Through the text from Luke 14, I hear the Lord Jesus say that in order to qualify as a disciple or follower of Jesus, we must count the cost and be willing to pay the price.
WHY TALK ABOUT COST?
Western culture and North American impulses go against talking about the cost of discipleship. Our society prefers to follow a god of good feelings who promotes personal health and wealth. Suffering for Christ and giving up yourselves and pleasures for the sake of Christ are unpopular subjects, astutely avoided in many churches today. So why talk about the cost of discipleship?
Here are some reasons:
1. Apostasy: The Christian church in the western world suffers from a vast leakage—many people, especially young people, are turning their backs to Christ and his church. There is a falling away from the faith. Just about all of us here who grew up in Christian families have stories to tell and worries to share about loved ones failing to show love or loyalty to Christ and his church.
We worry about our children in today’s culture; they slip and slide or seem at times unconcerned about God’s claim on their lives. It’s in light of today’s apostasy, that you and I are confronted about what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus. Here are a few more reasons to talk about the cost of discipleship:
2. Secularism, Relativism,Materialism: Secularism is that notion in society that says: “we do not need God. We can live without God; we do not need a Savior from sin; and we do not need a so-called “sovereign crutch” to guide us throughout life. We can manage on our own.” Thus speaks the voice of secularism.
Relativism is that hideous notion that wants us to believe that there are no absolutes, no truths, no wrongs or rights. The way we see things is all relative—it depends on your point of view and on what you consider is right on the basis of your own feelings and intuition. So, you cannot make truth claims about the Christian faith because all faiths are equally valid. Relativism dismisses any truth claims of the Bible. And how you think of Jesus and what you say about him are irrelevant factors as well. “After all, truth claims about faith and Christ all depend on a person’s viewpoint. And all religions are basically the same,” so relativism says.
Materialism is that subtle force that leads us away from leaning upon God and his provisions to reliance upon my own wit and wealth and wisdom. Who needs the God of the Bible when Mammon is providing me security in my bank and stock accounts? Another reason to count the cost of following Jesus is
3. The Rise of Radical Islam and Other Competing Religions: The willingness of radical Muslims to die for Allah and the teachings of the Koran confront us with our own commitment to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. Islamic devotion and commitment to regulate all of life under Sharia law confronts us with the Christian view of God’s rule in our lives. How serious are we in following Jesus Christ? What are the costs? And is there a price we are NOT willing to pay?
These are some of the reasons why we do well to make a cost estimate of following Christ Jesus. You see, if we as a church are serious about our mission statement—to lead people to a growing and committed relationship to Christ and his church—then how can we NOT talk about the cost. After all, following Jesus and living a mature, committed Christian life come with a cost. We need to be upfront about such costs. Thankfully, Jesus guides us in making cost estimates.
In tonight’s passage we observe first of all the content of the text: There is the setting: a large crowd is following Jesus. They are curious about this Jesus—his teaching, his healing power, and his display of authority. The crowd is forming into what seems to be a fickle fan club.
We also note that Jesus makes use of hyperbole—making an exaggerated statement so that the people will not miss the point: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.”
Jesus also makes use of proverbs to reach his audience and to stir them to pay attention to his teachings: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The passage also contains three short stories or parables; they function to underscore the main thrust of Jesus’ teaching: we must count the cost and be willing to pay the price in order to qualify or become followers of Jesus Christ.
Thus we notice the content of the passage: a fickle crowd, with ears that are tuned into Jesus’ perky sayings, short stories and demanding teaching to develop a steely resolve to follow Christ no matter the cost.
In his teaching, Jesus lays before us three qualifications for discipleship: The first one is complete allegiance or loyalty to Jesus. Jesus states that qualification in his exaggeration to hate those who are close to us, yes to hate even our own life. The point is NOT that we ignore God’s law of love for God and our neighbors and ourselves. Of course not! The point is NOT that we dismiss the Bible’s teaching about loving our enemies. The point is that in all of life, Jesus Christ comes first. He wants to be at the core of our hearts and existence. As Lord of life, Jesus wants wholehearted devotion and love; he wants our all.
The second qualification is Jesus’ expressed will that we carry our own cross. The cross, in this instance, is a symbol pointing to life’s burdens, difficult tasks, and miserable circumstances that may be beyond our control. The point is unmistakable: Following Jesus calls for a willingness to grind your teeth, to bend your back, to stoop down to your knees, so that you may accomplish your task as a follower of Jesus. Easy? No! Necessary? Yes, we must carry certain burdens or crosses.
The third qualification is, simply stated, that we go where Jesus leads. Jesus says: “…anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciples.” Oh, it sounds so simple. But like Jonah, I sometimes want to flee to Tarshish rather than go to Nineveh!
Jesus underscores and illuminates his qualifications by telling us three short stories. The one story is about building a tower. And through that story Jesus calls us NOT to follow him impulsively, but thoughtfully, carefully reflecting upon what it takes to accomplish the mission. Perhaps these Korean Christian missionaries did not reflect deeply enough upon their resolve to go to enemy territory called Afghanistan. I don’t know, of course. But thoughtfulness and careful reflections are virtues needed as we follow Jesus and carry our cross.
The other story is about going to war. Here, too, we find a call to be discerning, never underestimating our enemies. Wisdom may call for a strategy that avoids victory for the enemy of faith and that leads to openness to the gospel of Christ. Again, I think of these Korean missionaries. Their sending church has apologized to their nation for putting their nation in jeopardy and in such a difficult position by sending their missionaries to very hostile territory. The church was warned. The missionaries were willing to pay the price, but they underestimated their enemy. Jesus calls us to be wise and discerning.
Jesus’ reference to salt highlights his teaching that his followers must give off a flavor or aroma. If we are not willing to “show our colors,” to witness for Christ, to give ourselves in deeds of love and service to our neighbors, then we should not call ourselves ‘disciples.’ For Jesus’ disciples flavor or salt the lives of others with Christ-like love and care.
Clearly, to qualify as a follower of Jesus, we must count the cost and be willing to pay the price.
Here, then, is what we do: if you are a Christian, remember your baptism everyday. It’s by virtue of our baptism that we are joined to Christ and his church. And our baptism reminds us that we must die to sin, self and the world, and rise to a life of love, joy and service. The cost of discipleship is seared on our foreheads: “You are mine,” says God in Christ. “Now live for me, wholeheartedly, in the power of the Holy Spirit.” Remember your baptism and live authentically the life of a disciple.
Here’s what we do: in our homes, and small groups and fellowship gatherings, we hold ourselves, and each other accountable to the Lord Jesus’ qualification of discipleship.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I need you to walk faithfully; you need me and others to grow as disciples of Christ. We need the examples of Christians who have gone before us and who have shown to be courageous disciples of Christ—willing to pay even the ultimate price.
Here’s what we do: we shall discuss and consider together how we raise our children and youth to be, and become more so, disciples of Christ in these changing, and yes, dangerous times. How do we guide them, challenge them, and demonstrate to them what it means to follow Jesus Christ?
One final thing: in counting the cost of following Jesus, do not forget to take note of the benefits and joy of being his disciples. And do not forget to consider the other side of the coin of discipleship: the side that talks about the cost of NOT following Jesus—that cost is so high—it reaches into eternity, into that place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, that place of eternal destruction called ‘hell.’ But that’s another story. Tonight, we note: to qualify as a follower of Christ, we must count the cost and be willing to pay the price.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.