Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!crdgw1!rpi!batcomputer!cornell!rochester!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Discipleship Message-ID: Date: 10 Nov 90 12:29:54 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Data General Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC Lines: 42 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article lshaw@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (logan shaw) writes: Much of what Logan says I agree with. However, I notice that I did not make myself plain enough in one place, so let me try to amend my failure herein. I originally posted: >> Is there >>a difference in the costs of discipleship between prosperity and >>persecution that affects the presentation of the Gospel? What is the >>Gospel that we are to preach and teach? Logan responds: >I think the most important thing to do is to trust God. You should be >willing to do anything necessary to follow God, whether that means giving >up everything you own (either a little or a lot), or giving up your life >or whatever. Just because you're prosperous doesn't mean you can't be a >disciple of Christ, but you aren't guaranteed you will stay prosperous. :-) Logan, what I was actually making reference to was the economic conditions. In other words, what effect does persecution have on the preaching of the Gospel and the cost of salvation as compared to preaching of the Gospel and the cost of salvation during periods of prosperity and no persecution? Is there a tendency to preach a "cheap" grace when things are going smoothly? I'm not concerned with whether or not a saint is wealthy. Praise God for wealthy saints who understand the source of their wealth. Wealth does not stop one from being a disciple -- love of that wealth will. I hope this makes clearer what I was talking about. If not, hit me with a 2x4 and wake me up. ;-) >All of this doesn't mean we should be satisfied with getting people to >the point of salvation and leaving them there. We should teach them >that they have to continue growing as well. Amen!! Preach on brother! Standing on the Solid Rock, Gene Gross