tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763422811987522275.post6580994850470223260..comments2008-07-25T14:01:54.838-05:00Roger Mugshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02676306569069129183noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763422811987522275.post-31981322659842219142008-07-25T14:01:00.000-05:002008-07-25T14:01:00.000-05:00It all seems parts of a whole:<BR/><BR/>1) Make Christians<BR/>2) Encourage Christians<BR/>3) Warn Christians the Way is not going to be easy.<BR/><BR/>As someone I read when working on this chapter succintly put it: <BR/><BR/>"No Cross, no Crown."<BR/><BR/>Being a Christian has been rather easy for a lot of us for a long time, but that is not the report of it in the New Testament. Jesus, the head of the church, suffered, so it is only natural his followers should also suffer. Suffering requires encouragement.<BR/><BR/>Suffering, I think, defines Christianity in two opposite ways:<BR/><BR/>1)When suffering is present, some "Christians" fall away because it is hard.<BR/><BR/>2) When suffering is not present, some "Christians" never are, because it's too easy, allowing them to method act the part, so to speak, rather than actually living the role. <BR/><BR/>Jesus, obviously no fool, thus was wise to emphasize taking up your cross to follow Him.<BR/><BR/>Chuck Granthamgoulabloggerhttp://goulablogger.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com