Many western Christians have not truly been tried in the fires. Not to say that they don’t face a few hardships. But compared to the Christians of the East, the West has it easy. To a point. This article will take a look at what it will cost to walk with Yeshua. The cross a true believer will need to carry and the things that it can cost in terms of lifestyle, family relations, and life itself.

In today’s western society, Christianity has merged with paganism and sin, and yet go to church, sing praise and worship songs, and claim they  (the modern hip ‘Christians’) know what the bible actually means. They will tell of how certain things were left or put into scripture my men to keep the patriarchy. How words used don’t mean what they say. How the scriptures are man’s construct and less reliable than a cookbook.

And when those that follow God, in Yeshua, through the power of the Holy Spirit, try to correct misconceptions, fail to go with the societal norms, and preach the faith that has stood the test of time for thousands of years, they are ridiculed, blasted, and attacked. And these attacks don’t come from the ungodly, They come from ‘Christians’ that have been enlightened to a special understanding and truth.

In this article, we will look at what scripture says, what great theologians and preachers have said through the ages, and show the difference of what western society thinks a Christian should be, how they should act, and what the truth is.

There is no prosperity gospel in scripture. There is no ‘you get everything you want’ in scripture, and there is NO easy path when walking in the righteous grace and mercy of God. Yeshua points this out at different times.

He spoke against the prosperity gospel. ‘And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no travel bag, no bread, no money, nor even to have two shirts.Whatever house you enter, stay there and depart from there.And whoever does not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a witness against them.” (Luke 9:3-5) 

Again when talking to rich young man. ‘Yeshua said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you own, and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving, for he had much property.Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “Amen, I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:21-23)

And a third time. ‘Yeshua tells him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)

Through these verses, we see that Christians won’t always be worth millions and have personal jets. In fact, ‘Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.’ (Acts 3:6) 

In fact, the opposite is true. It is not being said that wealth may not be part of God’s plan for a believer. But Yeshua did say that it hard for a rich man to get to heaven. So as we go through a few points about what will happen when a Christian follows Yeshua like scripture says, take a look at how the Gospel has been distorted in western society, what Yeshua and scripture writers taught on that point, and look at real world consequences of following the Scripture based Gospel instead of modern man’s anti-gospel.

In June of 2015, the liberal leaning US Supreme Court legalized homosexual marriage. Former President Obama said that ‘love is love’. As you look through the last eight years, a mass of ‘churches’ jumped on the gay pride ship. They preach God is all loving (and He is) so He would never send a member of the lgtbq to hell for being a homosexual.

In the last few years, mainline Protestant denominations have started to have infighting and breakups over acceptance of homosexual unions and lgtbq ordainment. One of the largest fights is within the United Methodist Church. This denomination is the second largest in the US, with Roman Catholic being the largest. The have agreed to split the two factions. https://theweek.com/religion/1024883/the-united-methodist-church-has-lost-20-of-us-congregations-in-schism-over-lgbtq. The one’s that stayed with the General Conference are more allowable for this pro-gay agenda.

Scripture says specifically what God’s views on the LGTBQ are. Here are a few.

1. God created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
2. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination, and they shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be on them. (Leviticus 20:13)
3. Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, those who practice homosexuality,thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. (1st Corinthians 6:9-10)

Since it can be seen what God’s views are on the lgtbq, let’s look at what it can cost a follower of Yeshua for defending God’s position. https://www.christianpost.com/news/street-preacher-arrested-in-england-for-preaching-during-pride.html 

Staying in the lgtbq frame, look at the next run which includes transgender (not a real thing) and actions like drag queens. Trans is the concept that a person was born with the wrong sexual parts. So Eve becomes Steve and Adam becomes Amy. Then there is a special grouping, drag queens. And while it is a tradition in acting (Mary Martin as Peter Pan, Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria, or Tyler Perry as Madea. These two actions can be combined into one for looking into scripture.

Posted above was the creation of mankind, so need to repeat it. So look at these verses on cross-dressing. God’s view can be seen on both cross dressing and transgender in light of these verses.

1. A man’s apparel is not to be on a woman, nor is a man to wear woman’s clothing—for whoever does these things is detestable to Adonai your God.(Deuteronomy 22:5)
2. Likewise, women are to adorn themselves in appropriate clothing with modesty and sound judgment… (1st Timothy 2:9)

Since God’s views on this are written, let’s see what happens to those that go against this part of the lgtbq as a Christian. https://www.theblaze.com/news/pastor-shoved-out-door-knocked-flat-on-his-back-after-protesting-librarys-drag-queen-event-for-children-now-canadian-cops-have-charged-pastor-with-hate-crime 

These are just a few things that have happened to those who present the Gosspel of Yeshua and the commands of God about these ideologies in the west. We also see faithful Christians in other areas of the world enslaved, brutally attacked, imprisoned, and killed because of there faith in Yeshua.

1. https://www.cato.org/commentary/christianity-worlds-most-persecuted-religion-confirms-new-report
2. https://www2.cbn.com/news/homepage/these-christians-were-burned-alive-their-faith
3. https://www.persecution.org/2023/03/20/over-70-christians-killed-in-drc-in-two-weeks/

Yeshua has told us that being a Christian won’t be easy.“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues.You will be brought before governors and kings because of Me, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles.But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you should say, for it shall be given to you in that hour what you should say.For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end shall be saved.Whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next. Amen, I tell you, you will never finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

“So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed and nothing hidden that will not be made known.What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear in your ear, proclaim from the housetops!And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them shall fall to the ground apart from your Father’s consent.But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.So do not fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“Therefore whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father who is in heaven.But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to bring shalom on the earth; I did not come to bring shalom, but a sword.For I have come to set ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.’ (Matthew 10:16-36)

Yeshua tells us we are to carry our cross. That can men facing persecution, prosecution, and death. It can also mean taking the chance on losing a job or position, losing friends, and even losing family. When the scripture above quotes Yeshua about family turning against a family member for his/her faith, He understand that family is one thing that would make someone question between faith and their spouse or child.

Yeshua, after the statement above, tells us where Christians must stand. Even if the believer becomes the pariah of the family, and his/her family turns there backs on them. “He who loves father or mother more than Me isn’t worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me isn’t worthy of Me.And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me isn’t worthy of Me.He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39)

So, to pick up the cross and follow Yeshua, may cost you everything this planet can give you: money, fame, friends, and family. But one thing comes from it that none of those things can give….eternal salvation in Yeshua. It’s not an easy walk. It’s not for the timid, so to speak. Because it is a battle in the spiritual war zone. That’s why Paul writes in Ephesians.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the times are evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm then! Buckle the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. Strap up your feet in readiness with the Good News of shalom. Above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation[d] and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Ruach on every occasion, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, keep alert with perseverance and supplication for all the kedoshim.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)