What Is Your Faith Costing You?

Robert Hussein has converted back to Islam.  The Kuwaiti businessman who had announced his conversion to Christianity, has returned to the faith of his childhood.  He publically read out the Islamic confession of faith, an event covered in all the Kuwaiti newspapers.
Robert Hussein’s case had caused quite a stir in Islam, the faith that prides itself in the hold it has upon its people.  Islamic courts quickly convicted him of apostasy, which carried with it a death sentence.  He fled to the U. S. where he was baptized.  But when he became a Christian Robert lost most of his rights as a citizen.  His wife refused to see him and he was forbidden to have anything to do with his children.  And all of this just became too much for Robert.  So he has gone back to Kuwait to announce his return to Islam and his renunciation of his faith in Christ.
As sad as that story is, I nevertheless understand it.  What I do not understand are the numerous cases of apostasy by so many people in this country who have no death sentence hanging over their heads and whose families are apparently supportive regardless of their decisions.  Why is life in Jesus Christ so vitally important to so many in nations whose one intent is to punish them for it, and yet in nations who are indifferent or even supportive, Christians are so willing to throw it all away?  I am not really sure which factors best answer that question but it has caused many Christian observers to suggest that probably the best thing that could happen to America is a serious reversal of our freedoms which we take so much for granted.  Perhaps, they reason, if it begins to cost something to practice our faith it will take on a greater importance to us.  I hope it doesn’t have to come to that.  Yet, as I look at what is really happening in this world, I see the gospel of Christ spreading all across atheistic China and Muslim-dominated Africa because Christians are willing to put their lives on the line for God.  I wonder—I really do—just what God is willing to do here with us if we ever become willing to put our lives on the line for Him.  Because God doesn’t just “hang out” in the Eastern part of the world!