Counting the Cost

I recently saw the Dark Knight, and there was an interesting theme throughout the movie, for all the 'heroes.' It is one of sacrifice, of cost. Each of the protagonists faces a point where to continue in their mission is to face certain loss of something in the hope of victory over evil. The question that arises is, "Is what can be gained worth what might be lost?"

Jesus tells us in Luke 14 two parables about counting the cost. One has a man planning to build a tower and looking at his finances. The other is of a King about to go to war, who looks at the power and potential of his army. The moral in both being if you can't afford to build or to fight, don't.

When we first felt called to plant a church, we thought no cost was too high. This was vital, we had to do it, and if we did, we didn't care what it cost.

Multiple doctors visits, financial difficulties, and a year later, we often find ourselves regretting that we said that. We are barely starting and already so much opposition. Is it still worth it?

I don't think we'll know until its waaaay too late to back out. We're being tested, just like the heroes of the Dark Knight, and we may fail or succeed, but we have made a commitment to God. Its not easy, and we are in the relatively easy field of domestic church planting. What of believers who live in countries that outlaw Christianity? What of those who face martyrdom, or torture for their faith? Do they look at the possibilities for success as worth the cost?

Jesus concludes this passage by saying salt that has lost its saltiness is worthless. Huh? What does that have to do with counting the cost?

Everything. See if you foolishly pursue without considering how tough it can be, you get disheartened when it does get tough. You begin to give in, to quit, to die. You cease to be what you were called to be. You lose the saltiness of your salt.

So here we are, in the midst of the greatest challenge of our life. Will we lose our saltiness? Will we rise to the challenge?

In verse 33 of Luke 14, Jesus says we must be willing to lose it all to be his disciple. The hard lesson is that no matter what we fear we may lose it can never match what he gave up willingly on the cross. So yes, I believe, by His grace, we will endure, and we will rise. Not without our scars and wounds, but each of us who trust in Him will see Him. Your trial may be a mission, a church start, a struggle with sin, an uncertain future, an illness or any number of other things.

But take heart. He has overcome the world.