Are we really followers of Christ? According to whom? According to what measure of holiness?

Have we substituted Cheap Grace for the costly discipleship that defines the Kingdom of God?

 

The Letter to Diognetus, the work of an unknown author, written in about 130, describes Christians to the Romans as follows:

"They dwell in their own countries simply as sojourners.... They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time, they surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men but are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned. They are put to death, but [will be] restored to life. They are poor, yet they make many rich. They possess few things; yet, they abound in all. They are dishonored, but in their very dishonor are glorified.... And those who hate them are unable to give any reason for their hatred."

The entire Letter to Diognetus can be found in the HERE.

Because the earth wasn't their home, the early Christians could say without reservation, like Paul, "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21). Justin Martyr explained to the Romans, "Since our thoughts are not fixed on the present, we are not concerned when men put us to death. Death is a debt we must all pay anyway."

When I first read the criticisms that the Romans leveled against the Christians, (as atheists and anarchists) I painfully realized that no one would accuse Christians today of those same charges. We aren't criticized for being totally absorbed in the interests of a heavenly kingdom, ignoring the things the world has to offer. In fact, Christians today are accused of just the opposite. We are accused of being money hungry, political, and hypocritical in our devotion to God.