The Cost of Discipleship
by Joseph Warren Grammer
by Joseph Warren Grammer
Jesus Christ is our Savior, and part of our hope is the belief that He understands our problems and will be with us at all times. Jesus had all the frailties that we mortals have, but He conquered them. He was tempted, not just in some things, but, in all things. However, He did not yield to those temptations as we do. (Heb. 4:15.) He knows what temptation is, and He understands our problems. Jesus says to us, “Yes, I will forgive you and make you clean. Yes, I will heal you and make you whole. Yes, come unto me and I will bear your burdens. Yes, my yoke is easy.” Because of His grace, there is no heart so hard that He cannot soften it and no life so low He cannot lift it.
Jesus was left alone on the cross to finish His work, but we are not left alone. Many of the burdens we carry are various yokes placed upon us by differing people and establishments—businesses, schools, churches, governments, and so on. Feeling enslaved, and yearning to be free, we take these burdens upon ourselves, trying to carry them alone. But we don’t have to carry our burdens alone. Our hope comes when we allow Jesus to carry them for us. He wants us to seek Him and ask for relief. He wants us to trust Him.
As we contemplate His willing agony in the garden and sacrifice on the cross for the sins of mankind, we find the definitive example in devotion to the Father’s will. The love that Jesus bore for all of humanity knew no bounds. With Him there was no thought of quitting or turning back from the bitter affliction He knew He would have to suffer. Obedience to His Father’s plan, and the salvation for His Father’s children, were His only concerns and only desires. His compassion, because of the frailties of mankind, was without parallel. In like manner, we are commanded to follow Him. We are to follow His example, follow His willingness to sacrifice for the good of all mankind, and endure to the end as He endured for the sake of all.
Persecution Is A Cost
In previous chapters we touched on the issue of disciples being persecuted in the name of Jesus Christ. In praying to the Father, Jesus said, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14.) When one becomes spiritually changed into a new spiritual creature, the natural man will not be able to understand it and the natural man will begin the process of persecution. Paul said, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14.) And to the Galatians he said, “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” (Gal. 4:29.) Such persecution is real, and it is one of the costs of true Christian discipleship.
For the true disciple, persecution can come from those who do mighty works in His Church and in His name. Jesus addressed this very issue during His Sermon on the Mount: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:21-23.)
The persecuted must remember and understand the Savior’s message when He said, “... Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44) Judgment is not ours, but God’s. Speaking to ancient Israel, Moses wrote, “And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.” (Deut. 30:7.) In another place the Lord said it this way: “Leave judgment alone with me, for it is mine and I will repay. Peace be with you; my blessings continue with you.” (D&C 82:23.) And Moroni declared, “Behold what the scripture says—man shall not smite, neither shall he judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.” (Morm. 8:20.)
Gratitude for Suffering
Isaiah spoke comforting words from the Lord to those oppressed for His name’s sake: “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” (Isa. 66:5.) The Savior taught, “Rejoice, and Be Exceeding Glad: for Great Is Your Reward in Heaven: for So Persecuted They the Prophets Which Were Before You.” (Matt. 5:12; Luke 6:23; 3 Ne. 12:12.)
Are any disciples of Christ better than Joseph who was sold into Egypt, Stephen who was stoned to death, Peter, Paul, Abinadi, or the Savior Himself? Though it may be difficult for many to rejoice and be glad in such abuse, yet we must have the faith that Paul displayed when he wrote to the Corinthians: “... I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulations.” (1 Cor. 6:4.) From the Apostle Peter we also get these words of encouragement:
“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” (1 Pet. 3:13-17.)
Speaking of the trials the early saints endured in Missouri, the Prophet Joseph Smith said:
“The trials they have had to pass through, shall work together for their good, and prepare them for the society of those, who have come up out of great tribulation; and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Marvel not then if you are persecuted, but remember the words of the Savior, ‘The servant is not above his Lord, if they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also’ and that all the afflictions through which the saints have to pass, are in fulfillment of the words of the prophets, which have spoken since the world began. We shall therefore do well to discern the signs of the times, as we pass along, that the day of the Lord may not ‘overtake us as a thief in the night.’ Afflictions, persecutions, imprisonments and deaths, we must expect according to the scriptures, which tell us, that the blood of those whose souls were under the altar, could not be avenged on them that dwell on the earth, until their brethren should be slain, as they were.” (Times and Seasons, Vol.1, p. 8-9.)
Many, it appears, often forget, or fail to acknowledge, all of God’s handiwork. The Children of Israel often sinned against their God. Because of this He withdrew His blessings from them, only to have them return again when great tribulation came upon them. Do we not also have those same traits of turning against our God, forgetting His gracious gifts and commandments, only to plead for His favor again, and again, when life becomes too unbearable?
After Zacharias was struck dumb, and then healed from his affliction, did he say, “Boy, I’m glad that’s over”? No, he didn’t. Luke records, “... his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.” (Luke 1:64.) Most of us are not cursed like Zacharias, but do we use our tongues to praise God?
We believe in God, but do we really believe that He’s in charge and controlling everything—every little detail? We need the faith that He works out everything that happens for good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God ...” (Rom. 8:28.)
God is not off on some other more important business. He’s here, now. He’s concerned with us, and is in charge of every little thing that happens in our daily lives. That doesn’t mean that we will not experience pain or suffer in one way or another. He knows that too, but His wisdom allows us to suffer that we might glorify God in that suffering. Our pain is given to bless us with the lessons of patience, tolerance, and an increased understanding of what our Savior has done for us. If we do not learn this through our suffering, perhaps, then, we have suffered in vain.
We are to rejoice in songs of praise as Paul and Silas did after they were thrust into prison and had their feet locked in stocks. (Acts 16:19-27.) In a book by Kenneth E. Hagin, the author discusses this subject of worshiping through praise during times of adversity. In so doing he discusses, in his own unique way, the imprisonment of Paul and his companion Silas:
“A Bible example of this is found in the 16th chapter of Acts. Paul and Silas were arrested in Philippi, where they had gone to preach the Gospel. They were beaten with many stripes and cast into prison. The jailer was charged to keep them safely, ‘Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stock.’
“Notice particularly the 25th verse, ‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.’
“They certainly couldn’t have been singing some of the songs we sing, because many of our songs don’t praise God. Too often our songs are more of a complaint than a praise ... If we do sing anything about heaven, it’s about when we all get there. That still doesn’t give God any praise.
“But Paul and Silas sang praises to God. Notice, too, the prisoners heard them. They weren’t quiet about this!
“If Paul and Silas had been like a lot of people today, instead of praying and singing praises at midnight, they would’ve been griping and complaining. And the Scripture might have read something like this: About midnight Paul and Silas griped and complained and Silas nudged Paul and said, ‘Paul, are you still there?’
“It’s very dark, so Paul says, ‘Where else could I be?’
“Silas would have said, ‘You know, Paul, you really missed God, didn’t you?’
“While Paul is trying to figure out where he missed it, Silas says, ‘I’ll tell you one thing, when I was serving the devil, I never got thrown in jail. I don’t know why God let this happen to us. Why, if I ever get out of here—and I doubt I will—I’ll be ashamed to go home, because they’ll call me an old jailbird. I tell you, Paul, I got hooked up with the wrong fellow—that’s all there is to it.’
“‘Yeah—we missed it somewhere,’ Paul says. ‘And I tell you, my poor back is really hurting me bad. You know, I really thought God was speaking to me in that vision, but if God were in it, we’d have been a success.’
“Paul and Silas really were in trouble, weren’t they? They were thrust into the inner prison. They had been whipped with many stripes until their backs were bleeding. Their feet were in stocks. I’m sure they were in great physical pain.
“It was a dark hour for them, but although Paul and Silas were in jail, they didn’t let the jail get in them. That’s the reason a lot of people are defeated.” (Praying To Get Results, pp. 9-11.)
That’s an interesting scenario Kenneth Hagin came up with concerning Paul and Silas. Those two disciples were faced with choices to make, whether to praise God or complain. Many overlook blessings that come from the challenges of choice. Indeed, it can be a challenge during moments of adversity to find the faith and courage to thank God for His goodness, even when we recognize His divine will in that adversity. Jesus said to Peter that in His death God would be glorified. (John 21:19.) If we are called to suffer or die for the sake of Jesus, do we have the faith to believe that God would be glorified in that thing? Could we be thankful and praise Him? The Apostle Peter said, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Pet. 4:16.)
In his book, Prison to Praise, Merlin Carothers has the following insights to share: “The very act of praise releases the power of God into a set of circumstances and enables God to change them if this is His design. Very often it is our attitudes that hinder the solution of a problem. God is sovereign and could certainly cut across our wrong thought patterns and attitudes, but His perfect plan is to bring each of us into fellowship and communion with Him, and so He allows circumstances and incidents which will bring our wrong attitudes to our attention.” (Prison to Praise, pp. 91-92.) In another one of his books Carothers wrote,
“Many ... were astounded to learn what can happen when one does what the Bible commands in Ephesians 5:20, ... praising and thanking God for the very situation which is causing so much grief or bitterness or despair. It seems impossible that this act of blind, grit-your-teeth-and-do-it obedience could be responsible for miracles, but the act of praising does two things simultaneously: it softens the heart, and it enables the divine machinery to be set into motion in our behalf, machinery that is awesomely powerful, just waiting for the deep change of heart true praise invariably produces.” (Walking & Leaping, pp. 12-13.)
In all of our trials we are to glorify and praise God. Not only are we to thank Him for the suffering we endure to glorify Him, but we are to praise and thank Him in advance for the salvation that is coming. From the Bible we read, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” (Ps. 18:3; 2 Sam. 22:4.) Though we may have been suffering, salvation is already complete. It’s already a “done deal,” so to speak, but it just hasn’t been manifested. The Lord hasn’t promised to change conditions, but He has promised greater peace when we learn to believe that He is actually master of all things.
In his book, Isaiah Decoded: Ascending the Ladder to Heaven, Avraham Gileadi, wrote: “Typically, God reveals himself to his sons/servants after he tries their trust in him during the course of such tribulation.... Isaiah answers the ‘suffering’ and ‘humiliation’ of God’s sons/servants with promises of ‘salvation’ and ‘exaltation’: ‘Because their shame was twofold, and shouted insults were their lot, therefore in their land will their inheritance be twofold and everlasting joy be theirs.’ (Isaiah 61:7.) After their humbling, God will ‘endow those who mourn in Zion, bestowing upon them a priestly headpiece in place of ashes, the festal anointing in place of mourning, a resplendent robe in place of a downcast spirit.’ (Isaiah 61:3.) When the full weight of God’s judgments comes on the wicked, God will ‘charge [his] holy ones’ and ‘call out [his] valiant ones’ and reverse their adverse circumstances. (Isaiah 13:3.)” (Isaiah Decoded, pp. 199, 200.)
The truly meek and lowly of heart recognize their dependency upon God in all things. They acknowledge His hand in all of His gracious giving by expressing gratitude, extolling His virtues, and praising His wonderful name. We are to praise God FOR all of our situations. We don’t praise Him in spite of them.
Beware of Mediocrity
Not long ago, someone was asked, “Why don’t you keep your thinking in the mainstream, like most everyone else, like the average person?” Now let’s consider that kind of attitude for a moment.
To be average is to be just as close to the bottom as it is to the top—just as close to hell as heaven. We should not forget that the average—the mainstream—did not board the Ark with Noah and his family. Latter-day Saints know that it was not the majority or the average that entered into the promised land. Only Jared and his people were spared the confounding of tongues of Babylon. Only Lehi and his family survived the destruction and captivity of Jerusalem. And it was only Moroni and a handful who escaped the wrath of the Lamanites at the end of the Nephite era. None of these were of the majority, nor average.
To be in the mainstream, in the middle of the road with every one else, is average. It is mediocrity at its best. It requires a mediocre mind and a mediocre spirit. Jesus was not mediocre, neither was the Apostle Paul, Nephi of Old, Abinadi, Captain Moroni, Samuel the Lamanite, Joseph Smith, nor any of our Lord’s faithful disciples. The cost of discipleship is to rise above mediocrity, becoming truly a peculiar people.
The Lord was very clear on this matter when He said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”(Matt. 7:13-14.) Derek Sharpe wrote: “This scripture does not give much hope to the majority. As a matter of fact, it does not give ANY hope to the majority. The Bible clearly and plainly teaches that a few, that means the minority, will be those who receive eternal life. Then why do we follow the majority so much?” (The Refreshing Times, Sept., 2001, p. 14.)
Take a look at Olympic athletes, are they average or mediocre? Not by a long shot. They are far above mediocrity, and the world gives them great honor. But when we try and rise above mediocrity in Christ, the world ridicules, scoffs, and taunts with accusing and pointing finger, saying: “You’re out of step with reality, get in line with the rest of the world.” Those who receive the baptism of Fire, and are born again, will not be your mediocre or average Church member or Christian. They will be different. And as such, they will be seldom understood by those of the world, if understood at all, for those of the new birth are not of the world.
Being in the mediocre mainstream of a cause shows the most blatant form of permissiveness and cowardliness. Mediocrity and neutrality do no good except allowing the wicked more freedom to continue their wickedness. It allows the oppressor the freedom to take away everyone else’s liberty. It allows falsehoods to be perpetuated on a safe road. Such is Satan’s great deception, for he would have us all mediocre.
God apparently does not like the middle of the roaders, for he would have us take a stand for something, be it right or wrong. I am certain of one thing, there will be no mediocre spirits, no neutralists, no middle of the roaders, and no average intelligences in the Celestial Kingdom of God. Those who inherit that kingdom will have a backbone. The Lord said, “... I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15-16.)
In Section 76 we find a comparison between those who inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom and those who inherit the Celestial Kingdom. It states that they receive not a fulness of the Father but the presence of the Son, through the administration of the celestial order (vv. 77, 87), and that their physical bodies are of a terrestrial order and not that of a celestial (v. 78;1 Cor. 15:35-42).
Who are the heirs of the terrestrial glory? They are those who died without law; those spirits kept in prison to whom Jesus preached; those who did not receive a testimony of Jesus while in the flesh (although they had a chance), but afterwards received that testimony; the honorable people of the earth who were blinded by the craftiness of men; those who received of the Glory of Christ, but not a fulness of His glory (perhaps due to selfishness, slothfulness, pride, etc.); and those who, having a testimony of Jesus, but were not valiant in that testimony (D&C 76:72-79).
I believe that very few people have seriously considered what these verses really mean. To me, many appear to take too much for granted. Some of the things that I feel are taken for granted are that if we are baptized by someone with authority, and confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are better off than the rest of the world; that we are pretty much assured a place in the celestial kingdom after we take out our endowments; that if we are married and sealed in the temple we are assured exaltation in that kingdom; and that if we just attend to our church duties, live the word of wisdom, pay our tithes, and keep our noses clean and stay in the mainstream, all will be well.
We must remember the parable of the ten virgins. The use of the term “virgins” means that the followers of Christ were all good saints. However, five were not valiant in their testimony of Christ, as D&C 76:79 points out. They were mediocre or mainstream.
The Prophet Joseph once censured those who depended upon him instead of gathering their own spiritual light. Those who depended upon the light of their ecclesiastical leaders often became jealous of others who seemed to have a stronger spiritual endowment. He called this envious persecution, “shafts of envy.” The Prophet said, “if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall—that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, envious towards the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy.” (TPJS, pp. 237-38.) Often the pride of some ecclesiastical leaders questions the spirituality of those under their authority with such feelings as: “Why should they have such spiritual endowments and not me. Am I not their leader and deserving of the same or better spiritual gifts?” However, the way others may view our spiritual endowment is of no consequence, only God is the Judge and giver of eternal life.
The Daily Cost
As stated earlier, Jesus did not say only to confess His name. He plainly taught, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15.) The two greatest commandments are: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matt. 22:35-39.) The words, “like unto it,” means: the same. The second of the two greatest commandments is the same, or as important, as the first; for Jesus also said, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:35-40.)
You cannot worship, praise, and serve God without serving your neighbor. It cannot be done. Our neighbor consists of everyone, regardless of race, economic status, or church affiliation. We can devote all of our time to a church and church callings, but that is serving a church, it is not necessarily loving our neighbor as ourselves; nor is it necessarily serving God. Service in a church can often be selfishly motivated.
King Benjamin said, “... when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your god.” He further stated, “I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise ... to that God who has created you,... I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.” (Mosiah 2:17, 20-21) Trying to keep only one of the two commandments, without keeping the second, is futile. Neglecting one of the two, at the expense of the other, makes them both incomplete. They are both to be considered as one, and staying in Babylon prevents us from keeping these two commandments.
Coming Out of Babylon
“... Go ye out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations.” (D&C 133:7.) And anciently He said, “... come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4.) We have previously read these scriptures, but what does it mean to come out of Babylon? What IS Babylon, anyway? Babylon was the epitome of wickedness, in every sense of the word. The people were rebellious to the only true and living God. We know Babylon as the place where the people tried to build a tower to reach heaven. They tried to get there themselves—their way instead of God’s way. They were morally depraved, and it was from old Babylon that many of our modern business practices came: the creation and use of money as a means of exchange instead of real goods; the loaning money on usury, or interest, a thing the early Christians were forbidden to do on pain of excommunication and loss of property. Babylon was a place where one person took unfair advantage of another.
Coming out of Babylon means to: put God first before any other interest, not seek the praise of the world, and to truly keep the Sabbath day holy; it means stop seeking inequality between ourselves and our neighbor, coveting his goods, bearing false witness and lying against him, and start treating him as we treat ourselves and want to be treated; it means to forgive others in every respect, including the forgiving of debts (Keeping someone in debt is keeping them in bondage, which is slavery); it means to be of one mind and heart, instead of desiring to be different, higher, or better; and it means not upholding secret combinations, or supporting those who do uphold secret combinations, which combinations are designed to get gain and power through theft, murder, and enslavement (see Ether 8).
Coming out of Babylon: is not walking in the pride of our hearts or promoting envying and strifes; it is not persecuting or looking for iniquity in others; it is not loving money, our substance, and our fine apparel; it is not adorning our homes and our churches more than we love the needy, the sick and the afflicted; it is not being a hypocrite, nor polluting the holy Church of God; and it is not being ashamed to take upon us the name of Christ (see Morm. 8:34-41).
Ancient Israel was in bondage to Egypt, and although they were physically in bondage, they were still expected to keep God’s statutes. When Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the people taken into slavery, the Jews were still required to live the laws of God—Daniel being one such example. Although we now live in a world that has us enslaved and controlled in many ways, yet we are also expected to live God’s laws and keep His commandments. Although we are in the world, we do not have to be OF the world. It may be difficult to come out of Babylon physically or temporally, but as we keep the statutes of God there are things we can do to spiritually come out of Babylon.
One thing we can do is, practice only that which is compatible with the Holy Spirit. When we go places, participate in activities, associate with certain types of personalities, and have unsavory thought patterns that are not conducive to the Spirit and God’s presence, His Spirit may withdraw from us. We should consider that Jesus is with us at all times—for in reality He is—and conduct ourselves accordingly.
Along this line, there is a wonderful book that I highly recommend reading entitled, In His Steps, by Charles M. Sheldon, published by Zondervan Books. There have been well over thirty-million copies sold, and it has been published in almost as many languages as the Holy Bible. The book tells the story of a group of people who pledged to follow Jesus, “in His steps,” for a complete year, asking themselves everyday, before each action, “What would Jesus do?” Could we not also choose to do the same?
Another thing we can do is keep only those things that are essential to our spiritual and temporal growth and needs, and eliminate from our lives those things that are not conducive to the Spirit and God’s presence. Exclude those things from our lives that tend to glorify us or another in pride and boasting, but include those things that bring glory, honor, and praise to the Lord. The Sixth Lecture on Faith sheds some light on this subject. From it we learn that a person must have a knowledge that:
“. ... the course of life which they pursue is according to the will of God, in order that they may be enabled to exercise faith in him unto life and salvation. ...” (Lectures on Faith, 6:1.)
“An actual knowledge to any person, that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God, is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God without which no person can obtain eternal life.” (Lectures on Faith, 6:2.)
“... and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.” (Lectures on Faith, 6:7.)
“It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtain faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they, in like manner, offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him.” (Lectures on Faith, 6:8.)
“And in the last days, before the Lord comes, He is to gather together His saints who have made a covenant with him by sacrifice.” (Lectures on Faith, 6:9.)
In considering these things, I realize that it is no easy matter; for the world has great influence, and we have been conditioned to bend in that direction and partake of Babylon’s enticements. We are a conditioned people. However, that downward Babylonian cycle needs to be broken if we ever expect to obtain celestial glory.
Real Christ-like discipleship is not attending a church meeting once a week, listening to someone preach a sermon, stuffing a little money into a tithing envelope or dropping a few coins in the offering plate, reading the scriptures now and again, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, serving on a foreign mission, or even going to the temple. To be a true follower of Christ, in the full sense of its meaning, is a twenty-four hour a day, 365-day a year commitment. Anything less than this is not true Christianity. It is only perfunctory church going and lip service. In the eternal scheme of things, if we do not come out of Babylon, and if what we do does not glorify God or bless our neighbors as ourselves, it makes little difference what we do.
Because we are IN the world, and try not to be OF the world, there will be great persecutions from those weak and timid souls who bow and submit to every unrighteousness along the way. Coming out of Babylon is probably the toughest cost of discipleship. But the Lord did not say “try,” He said DO it. There is hope, however, for Jesus said, “... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33.)
The Time Is Now
The cost of discipleship is something many of us do not consider as we contemplate devoting our lives to Christ. In following our Master, we need to count that high cost. When “a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest,” we must understand the Savior’s answer when He said, “... The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matt. 8:19-20.) He was trying to tell the scribe that life would not be easy if he chose to follow Him. Commitments will have to be made and some things sacrificed. In following Him, we may not have a life of ease but a life filled with deprivation and sacrifice. It will require a life of humility, charity toward all, and an unselfish eye single to God’s glory. It will require a life of true and total consecration of all we have, or all we will ever have.
I like to consider God as being the Great Chess Player, while we are nothing but His pawns. This is His game, and our job is to help in winning. He moves us to the square where He can best use us at the moment. He may leave us there for the duration of the game, or He may move us to another square where we can best minister in His cause. We must always remember that this is His game, and our blessing is to be willing and able to move from square to square as His wisdom sees fit for our own eternal good. Such willingness is also part of the cost of being a follower of Christ.
Alma says that condemnation comes because of hardened hearts. He taught Zeezrom by saying: “Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.” (Alma 12:13.) This is in harmony with what we learned about the children of Israel during the time of Moses. As we read from D&C 84, in a previous chapter, we learned: “Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.” (D&C 84:23-27.)
Now is the time to seek the Lord’s fulness. The scriptures say that the Lord “... will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.” This is qualified, however, as He continues, “... even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer.” (D&C 29:2; Matt. 23:37; 3 Ne. 10:6.) A hen doesn’t scurry around to find all her chicks, but, instead, spreads her wings so they can come under her loving and protective care. So it is with the Lord. He bids us to come unto Him.
Some of the words just quoted, “even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer,” are similar in nature to those previously quoted from D&C 93:1. We will read it again for convenience: “Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am.” He is talking about the fulness.
Let’s refer now to a couple of statements made by Elder Bruce R. McConkie. The first is taken from his book, The Promised Messiah, and the second from a general conference. He had these very important thoughts to share:
“We seek to see the face of the Lord while we yet dwell in mortality, and we seek to dwell with him everlastingly in the eternal kingdoms that are prepared.
“There are even those who neither believe nor know that it is possible to see the Lord in this day, and they therefore are without the personal incentive that would urge them onward in the pursuit of this consummation so devoutly desired by those with spiritual insight.” (The Promised Messiah, pp. 579, 586.)
“It is his will that we gain testimonies, that we seek revelation, that we covet to prophesy, that we desire spiritual gifts, and that we seek the face of the Lord.
“The Lord wants all his children to gain light and truth and knowledge from on high. It is his will that we pierce the veil and rend the heavens and see the visions of eternity.
“Such is his promise to us here and now while we yet dwell as mortals in the world of sorrow and sin. It is our privilege even now—the privilege of all who hold the holy priesthood—if we will strip ourselves from jealousies and fears and humble ourselves before him, as he has said, to have the veil rent and see him and know that he is.” (Conference Report, October 1978. p. 92.)
This principle of receiving the Lord’s fulness is intended for this mortal life. However, it is the result of much faith. In the book of Ether we learn that many before the time of Christ, like the brother of Jared, beheld His glory: “And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.” (Ether 12:19.)
The fulness of the gospel is the great and precious promise whereby we can partake of the divine nature of Christ by seeking His face, and being in His presence while still in THIS mortal life. It is the privilege and promise whereby the veil will be rent and we can see Him and know Him; it is to enter into His rest and partake of the fulness of His glory in THIS life. The fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ IS to receive a fulness of His mysteries, and the fulness of His presence.
Considering the cost of discipleship, are we willing to pay the price of giving our lives to Jesus Christ? It is a matter of serious consideration, for Jesus said, “... No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62.) Many early disciples of Jesus became disillusioned with what they heard, and the scriptures state, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (John 6:66-67.) Being a Christian, in the real meaning of the word, requires a great commitment. After a choice is made to follow Him, there is a sobering question the individual needs to ask himself: Will I also go away?
Jesus was left alone on the cross to finish His work, but we are not left alone. Many of the burdens we carry are various yokes placed upon us by differing people and establishments—businesses, schools, churches, governments, and so on. Feeling enslaved, and yearning to be free, we take these burdens upon ourselves, trying to carry them alone. But we don’t have to carry our burdens alone. Our hope comes when we allow Jesus to carry them for us. He wants us to seek Him and ask for relief. He wants us to trust Him.
As we contemplate His willing agony in the garden and sacrifice on the cross for the sins of mankind, we find the definitive example in devotion to the Father’s will. The love that Jesus bore for all of humanity knew no bounds. With Him there was no thought of quitting or turning back from the bitter affliction He knew He would have to suffer. Obedience to His Father’s plan, and the salvation for His Father’s children, were His only concerns and only desires. His compassion, because of the frailties of mankind, was without parallel. In like manner, we are commanded to follow Him. We are to follow His example, follow His willingness to sacrifice for the good of all mankind, and endure to the end as He endured for the sake of all.
Persecution Is A Cost
In previous chapters we touched on the issue of disciples being persecuted in the name of Jesus Christ. In praying to the Father, Jesus said, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14.) When one becomes spiritually changed into a new spiritual creature, the natural man will not be able to understand it and the natural man will begin the process of persecution. Paul said, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14.) And to the Galatians he said, “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” (Gal. 4:29.) Such persecution is real, and it is one of the costs of true Christian discipleship.
For the true disciple, persecution can come from those who do mighty works in His Church and in His name. Jesus addressed this very issue during His Sermon on the Mount: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:21-23.)
The persecuted must remember and understand the Savior’s message when He said, “... Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44) Judgment is not ours, but God’s. Speaking to ancient Israel, Moses wrote, “And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.” (Deut. 30:7.) In another place the Lord said it this way: “Leave judgment alone with me, for it is mine and I will repay. Peace be with you; my blessings continue with you.” (D&C 82:23.) And Moroni declared, “Behold what the scripture says—man shall not smite, neither shall he judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.” (Morm. 8:20.)
Gratitude for Suffering
Isaiah spoke comforting words from the Lord to those oppressed for His name’s sake: “Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” (Isa. 66:5.) The Savior taught, “Rejoice, and Be Exceeding Glad: for Great Is Your Reward in Heaven: for So Persecuted They the Prophets Which Were Before You.” (Matt. 5:12; Luke 6:23; 3 Ne. 12:12.)
Are any disciples of Christ better than Joseph who was sold into Egypt, Stephen who was stoned to death, Peter, Paul, Abinadi, or the Savior Himself? Though it may be difficult for many to rejoice and be glad in such abuse, yet we must have the faith that Paul displayed when he wrote to the Corinthians: “... I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulations.” (1 Cor. 6:4.) From the Apostle Peter we also get these words of encouragement:
“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” (1 Pet. 3:13-17.)
Speaking of the trials the early saints endured in Missouri, the Prophet Joseph Smith said:
“The trials they have had to pass through, shall work together for their good, and prepare them for the society of those, who have come up out of great tribulation; and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Marvel not then if you are persecuted, but remember the words of the Savior, ‘The servant is not above his Lord, if they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also’ and that all the afflictions through which the saints have to pass, are in fulfillment of the words of the prophets, which have spoken since the world began. We shall therefore do well to discern the signs of the times, as we pass along, that the day of the Lord may not ‘overtake us as a thief in the night.’ Afflictions, persecutions, imprisonments and deaths, we must expect according to the scriptures, which tell us, that the blood of those whose souls were under the altar, could not be avenged on them that dwell on the earth, until their brethren should be slain, as they were.” (Times and Seasons, Vol.1, p. 8-9.)
Many, it appears, often forget, or fail to acknowledge, all of God’s handiwork. The Children of Israel often sinned against their God. Because of this He withdrew His blessings from them, only to have them return again when great tribulation came upon them. Do we not also have those same traits of turning against our God, forgetting His gracious gifts and commandments, only to plead for His favor again, and again, when life becomes too unbearable?
After Zacharias was struck dumb, and then healed from his affliction, did he say, “Boy, I’m glad that’s over”? No, he didn’t. Luke records, “... his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.” (Luke 1:64.) Most of us are not cursed like Zacharias, but do we use our tongues to praise God?
We believe in God, but do we really believe that He’s in charge and controlling everything—every little detail? We need the faith that He works out everything that happens for good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God ...” (Rom. 8:28.)
God is not off on some other more important business. He’s here, now. He’s concerned with us, and is in charge of every little thing that happens in our daily lives. That doesn’t mean that we will not experience pain or suffer in one way or another. He knows that too, but His wisdom allows us to suffer that we might glorify God in that suffering. Our pain is given to bless us with the lessons of patience, tolerance, and an increased understanding of what our Savior has done for us. If we do not learn this through our suffering, perhaps, then, we have suffered in vain.
We are to rejoice in songs of praise as Paul and Silas did after they were thrust into prison and had their feet locked in stocks. (Acts 16:19-27.) In a book by Kenneth E. Hagin, the author discusses this subject of worshiping through praise during times of adversity. In so doing he discusses, in his own unique way, the imprisonment of Paul and his companion Silas:
“A Bible example of this is found in the 16th chapter of Acts. Paul and Silas were arrested in Philippi, where they had gone to preach the Gospel. They were beaten with many stripes and cast into prison. The jailer was charged to keep them safely, ‘Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stock.’
“Notice particularly the 25th verse, ‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.’
“They certainly couldn’t have been singing some of the songs we sing, because many of our songs don’t praise God. Too often our songs are more of a complaint than a praise ... If we do sing anything about heaven, it’s about when we all get there. That still doesn’t give God any praise.
“But Paul and Silas sang praises to God. Notice, too, the prisoners heard them. They weren’t quiet about this!
“If Paul and Silas had been like a lot of people today, instead of praying and singing praises at midnight, they would’ve been griping and complaining. And the Scripture might have read something like this: About midnight Paul and Silas griped and complained and Silas nudged Paul and said, ‘Paul, are you still there?’
“It’s very dark, so Paul says, ‘Where else could I be?’
“Silas would have said, ‘You know, Paul, you really missed God, didn’t you?’
“While Paul is trying to figure out where he missed it, Silas says, ‘I’ll tell you one thing, when I was serving the devil, I never got thrown in jail. I don’t know why God let this happen to us. Why, if I ever get out of here—and I doubt I will—I’ll be ashamed to go home, because they’ll call me an old jailbird. I tell you, Paul, I got hooked up with the wrong fellow—that’s all there is to it.’
“‘Yeah—we missed it somewhere,’ Paul says. ‘And I tell you, my poor back is really hurting me bad. You know, I really thought God was speaking to me in that vision, but if God were in it, we’d have been a success.’
“Paul and Silas really were in trouble, weren’t they? They were thrust into the inner prison. They had been whipped with many stripes until their backs were bleeding. Their feet were in stocks. I’m sure they were in great physical pain.
“It was a dark hour for them, but although Paul and Silas were in jail, they didn’t let the jail get in them. That’s the reason a lot of people are defeated.” (Praying To Get Results, pp. 9-11.)
That’s an interesting scenario Kenneth Hagin came up with concerning Paul and Silas. Those two disciples were faced with choices to make, whether to praise God or complain. Many overlook blessings that come from the challenges of choice. Indeed, it can be a challenge during moments of adversity to find the faith and courage to thank God for His goodness, even when we recognize His divine will in that adversity. Jesus said to Peter that in His death God would be glorified. (John 21:19.) If we are called to suffer or die for the sake of Jesus, do we have the faith to believe that God would be glorified in that thing? Could we be thankful and praise Him? The Apostle Peter said, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Pet. 4:16.)
In his book, Prison to Praise, Merlin Carothers has the following insights to share: “The very act of praise releases the power of God into a set of circumstances and enables God to change them if this is His design. Very often it is our attitudes that hinder the solution of a problem. God is sovereign and could certainly cut across our wrong thought patterns and attitudes, but His perfect plan is to bring each of us into fellowship and communion with Him, and so He allows circumstances and incidents which will bring our wrong attitudes to our attention.” (Prison to Praise, pp. 91-92.) In another one of his books Carothers wrote,
“Many ... were astounded to learn what can happen when one does what the Bible commands in Ephesians 5:20, ... praising and thanking God for the very situation which is causing so much grief or bitterness or despair. It seems impossible that this act of blind, grit-your-teeth-and-do-it obedience could be responsible for miracles, but the act of praising does two things simultaneously: it softens the heart, and it enables the divine machinery to be set into motion in our behalf, machinery that is awesomely powerful, just waiting for the deep change of heart true praise invariably produces.” (Walking & Leaping, pp. 12-13.)
In all of our trials we are to glorify and praise God. Not only are we to thank Him for the suffering we endure to glorify Him, but we are to praise and thank Him in advance for the salvation that is coming. From the Bible we read, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” (Ps. 18:3; 2 Sam. 22:4.) Though we may have been suffering, salvation is already complete. It’s already a “done deal,” so to speak, but it just hasn’t been manifested. The Lord hasn’t promised to change conditions, but He has promised greater peace when we learn to believe that He is actually master of all things.
In his book, Isaiah Decoded: Ascending the Ladder to Heaven, Avraham Gileadi, wrote: “Typically, God reveals himself to his sons/servants after he tries their trust in him during the course of such tribulation.... Isaiah answers the ‘suffering’ and ‘humiliation’ of God’s sons/servants with promises of ‘salvation’ and ‘exaltation’: ‘Because their shame was twofold, and shouted insults were their lot, therefore in their land will their inheritance be twofold and everlasting joy be theirs.’ (Isaiah 61:7.) After their humbling, God will ‘endow those who mourn in Zion, bestowing upon them a priestly headpiece in place of ashes, the festal anointing in place of mourning, a resplendent robe in place of a downcast spirit.’ (Isaiah 61:3.) When the full weight of God’s judgments comes on the wicked, God will ‘charge [his] holy ones’ and ‘call out [his] valiant ones’ and reverse their adverse circumstances. (Isaiah 13:3.)” (Isaiah Decoded, pp. 199, 200.)
The truly meek and lowly of heart recognize their dependency upon God in all things. They acknowledge His hand in all of His gracious giving by expressing gratitude, extolling His virtues, and praising His wonderful name. We are to praise God FOR all of our situations. We don’t praise Him in spite of them.
Beware of Mediocrity
Not long ago, someone was asked, “Why don’t you keep your thinking in the mainstream, like most everyone else, like the average person?” Now let’s consider that kind of attitude for a moment.
To be average is to be just as close to the bottom as it is to the top—just as close to hell as heaven. We should not forget that the average—the mainstream—did not board the Ark with Noah and his family. Latter-day Saints know that it was not the majority or the average that entered into the promised land. Only Jared and his people were spared the confounding of tongues of Babylon. Only Lehi and his family survived the destruction and captivity of Jerusalem. And it was only Moroni and a handful who escaped the wrath of the Lamanites at the end of the Nephite era. None of these were of the majority, nor average.
To be in the mainstream, in the middle of the road with every one else, is average. It is mediocrity at its best. It requires a mediocre mind and a mediocre spirit. Jesus was not mediocre, neither was the Apostle Paul, Nephi of Old, Abinadi, Captain Moroni, Samuel the Lamanite, Joseph Smith, nor any of our Lord’s faithful disciples. The cost of discipleship is to rise above mediocrity, becoming truly a peculiar people.
The Lord was very clear on this matter when He said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”(Matt. 7:13-14.) Derek Sharpe wrote: “This scripture does not give much hope to the majority. As a matter of fact, it does not give ANY hope to the majority. The Bible clearly and plainly teaches that a few, that means the minority, will be those who receive eternal life. Then why do we follow the majority so much?” (The Refreshing Times, Sept., 2001, p. 14.)
Take a look at Olympic athletes, are they average or mediocre? Not by a long shot. They are far above mediocrity, and the world gives them great honor. But when we try and rise above mediocrity in Christ, the world ridicules, scoffs, and taunts with accusing and pointing finger, saying: “You’re out of step with reality, get in line with the rest of the world.” Those who receive the baptism of Fire, and are born again, will not be your mediocre or average Church member or Christian. They will be different. And as such, they will be seldom understood by those of the world, if understood at all, for those of the new birth are not of the world.
Being in the mediocre mainstream of a cause shows the most blatant form of permissiveness and cowardliness. Mediocrity and neutrality do no good except allowing the wicked more freedom to continue their wickedness. It allows the oppressor the freedom to take away everyone else’s liberty. It allows falsehoods to be perpetuated on a safe road. Such is Satan’s great deception, for he would have us all mediocre.
God apparently does not like the middle of the roaders, for he would have us take a stand for something, be it right or wrong. I am certain of one thing, there will be no mediocre spirits, no neutralists, no middle of the roaders, and no average intelligences in the Celestial Kingdom of God. Those who inherit that kingdom will have a backbone. The Lord said, “... I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15-16.)
In Section 76 we find a comparison between those who inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom and those who inherit the Celestial Kingdom. It states that they receive not a fulness of the Father but the presence of the Son, through the administration of the celestial order (vv. 77, 87), and that their physical bodies are of a terrestrial order and not that of a celestial (v. 78;1 Cor. 15:35-42).
Who are the heirs of the terrestrial glory? They are those who died without law; those spirits kept in prison to whom Jesus preached; those who did not receive a testimony of Jesus while in the flesh (although they had a chance), but afterwards received that testimony; the honorable people of the earth who were blinded by the craftiness of men; those who received of the Glory of Christ, but not a fulness of His glory (perhaps due to selfishness, slothfulness, pride, etc.); and those who, having a testimony of Jesus, but were not valiant in that testimony (D&C 76:72-79).
I believe that very few people have seriously considered what these verses really mean. To me, many appear to take too much for granted. Some of the things that I feel are taken for granted are that if we are baptized by someone with authority, and confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are better off than the rest of the world; that we are pretty much assured a place in the celestial kingdom after we take out our endowments; that if we are married and sealed in the temple we are assured exaltation in that kingdom; and that if we just attend to our church duties, live the word of wisdom, pay our tithes, and keep our noses clean and stay in the mainstream, all will be well.
We must remember the parable of the ten virgins. The use of the term “virgins” means that the followers of Christ were all good saints. However, five were not valiant in their testimony of Christ, as D&C 76:79 points out. They were mediocre or mainstream.
The Prophet Joseph once censured those who depended upon him instead of gathering their own spiritual light. Those who depended upon the light of their ecclesiastical leaders often became jealous of others who seemed to have a stronger spiritual endowment. He called this envious persecution, “shafts of envy.” The Prophet said, “if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall—that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, envious towards the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy.” (TPJS, pp. 237-38.) Often the pride of some ecclesiastical leaders questions the spirituality of those under their authority with such feelings as: “Why should they have such spiritual endowments and not me. Am I not their leader and deserving of the same or better spiritual gifts?” However, the way others may view our spiritual endowment is of no consequence, only God is the Judge and giver of eternal life.
The Daily Cost
As stated earlier, Jesus did not say only to confess His name. He plainly taught, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15.) The two greatest commandments are: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matt. 22:35-39.) The words, “like unto it,” means: the same. The second of the two greatest commandments is the same, or as important, as the first; for Jesus also said, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:35-40.)
You cannot worship, praise, and serve God without serving your neighbor. It cannot be done. Our neighbor consists of everyone, regardless of race, economic status, or church affiliation. We can devote all of our time to a church and church callings, but that is serving a church, it is not necessarily loving our neighbor as ourselves; nor is it necessarily serving God. Service in a church can often be selfishly motivated.
King Benjamin said, “... when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your god.” He further stated, “I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise ... to that God who has created you,... I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.” (Mosiah 2:17, 20-21) Trying to keep only one of the two commandments, without keeping the second, is futile. Neglecting one of the two, at the expense of the other, makes them both incomplete. They are both to be considered as one, and staying in Babylon prevents us from keeping these two commandments.
Coming Out of Babylon
“... Go ye out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations.” (D&C 133:7.) And anciently He said, “... come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4.) We have previously read these scriptures, but what does it mean to come out of Babylon? What IS Babylon, anyway? Babylon was the epitome of wickedness, in every sense of the word. The people were rebellious to the only true and living God. We know Babylon as the place where the people tried to build a tower to reach heaven. They tried to get there themselves—their way instead of God’s way. They were morally depraved, and it was from old Babylon that many of our modern business practices came: the creation and use of money as a means of exchange instead of real goods; the loaning money on usury, or interest, a thing the early Christians were forbidden to do on pain of excommunication and loss of property. Babylon was a place where one person took unfair advantage of another.
Coming out of Babylon means to: put God first before any other interest, not seek the praise of the world, and to truly keep the Sabbath day holy; it means stop seeking inequality between ourselves and our neighbor, coveting his goods, bearing false witness and lying against him, and start treating him as we treat ourselves and want to be treated; it means to forgive others in every respect, including the forgiving of debts (Keeping someone in debt is keeping them in bondage, which is slavery); it means to be of one mind and heart, instead of desiring to be different, higher, or better; and it means not upholding secret combinations, or supporting those who do uphold secret combinations, which combinations are designed to get gain and power through theft, murder, and enslavement (see Ether 8).
Coming out of Babylon: is not walking in the pride of our hearts or promoting envying and strifes; it is not persecuting or looking for iniquity in others; it is not loving money, our substance, and our fine apparel; it is not adorning our homes and our churches more than we love the needy, the sick and the afflicted; it is not being a hypocrite, nor polluting the holy Church of God; and it is not being ashamed to take upon us the name of Christ (see Morm. 8:34-41).
Ancient Israel was in bondage to Egypt, and although they were physically in bondage, they were still expected to keep God’s statutes. When Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the people taken into slavery, the Jews were still required to live the laws of God—Daniel being one such example. Although we now live in a world that has us enslaved and controlled in many ways, yet we are also expected to live God’s laws and keep His commandments. Although we are in the world, we do not have to be OF the world. It may be difficult to come out of Babylon physically or temporally, but as we keep the statutes of God there are things we can do to spiritually come out of Babylon.
One thing we can do is, practice only that which is compatible with the Holy Spirit. When we go places, participate in activities, associate with certain types of personalities, and have unsavory thought patterns that are not conducive to the Spirit and God’s presence, His Spirit may withdraw from us. We should consider that Jesus is with us at all times—for in reality He is—and conduct ourselves accordingly.
Along this line, there is a wonderful book that I highly recommend reading entitled, In His Steps, by Charles M. Sheldon, published by Zondervan Books. There have been well over thirty-million copies sold, and it has been published in almost as many languages as the Holy Bible. The book tells the story of a group of people who pledged to follow Jesus, “in His steps,” for a complete year, asking themselves everyday, before each action, “What would Jesus do?” Could we not also choose to do the same?
Another thing we can do is keep only those things that are essential to our spiritual and temporal growth and needs, and eliminate from our lives those things that are not conducive to the Spirit and God’s presence. Exclude those things from our lives that tend to glorify us or another in pride and boasting, but include those things that bring glory, honor, and praise to the Lord. The Sixth Lecture on Faith sheds some light on this subject. From it we learn that a person must have a knowledge that:
“. ... the course of life which they pursue is according to the will of God, in order that they may be enabled to exercise faith in him unto life and salvation. ...” (Lectures on Faith, 6:1.)
“An actual knowledge to any person, that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God, is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God without which no person can obtain eternal life.” (Lectures on Faith, 6:2.)
“... and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.” (Lectures on Faith, 6:7.)
“It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtain faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they, in like manner, offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him.” (Lectures on Faith, 6:8.)
“And in the last days, before the Lord comes, He is to gather together His saints who have made a covenant with him by sacrifice.” (Lectures on Faith, 6:9.)
In considering these things, I realize that it is no easy matter; for the world has great influence, and we have been conditioned to bend in that direction and partake of Babylon’s enticements. We are a conditioned people. However, that downward Babylonian cycle needs to be broken if we ever expect to obtain celestial glory.
Real Christ-like discipleship is not attending a church meeting once a week, listening to someone preach a sermon, stuffing a little money into a tithing envelope or dropping a few coins in the offering plate, reading the scriptures now and again, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, serving on a foreign mission, or even going to the temple. To be a true follower of Christ, in the full sense of its meaning, is a twenty-four hour a day, 365-day a year commitment. Anything less than this is not true Christianity. It is only perfunctory church going and lip service. In the eternal scheme of things, if we do not come out of Babylon, and if what we do does not glorify God or bless our neighbors as ourselves, it makes little difference what we do.
Because we are IN the world, and try not to be OF the world, there will be great persecutions from those weak and timid souls who bow and submit to every unrighteousness along the way. Coming out of Babylon is probably the toughest cost of discipleship. But the Lord did not say “try,” He said DO it. There is hope, however, for Jesus said, “... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33.)
The Time Is Now
The cost of discipleship is something many of us do not consider as we contemplate devoting our lives to Christ. In following our Master, we need to count that high cost. When “a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest,” we must understand the Savior’s answer when He said, “... The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matt. 8:19-20.) He was trying to tell the scribe that life would not be easy if he chose to follow Him. Commitments will have to be made and some things sacrificed. In following Him, we may not have a life of ease but a life filled with deprivation and sacrifice. It will require a life of humility, charity toward all, and an unselfish eye single to God’s glory. It will require a life of true and total consecration of all we have, or all we will ever have.
I like to consider God as being the Great Chess Player, while we are nothing but His pawns. This is His game, and our job is to help in winning. He moves us to the square where He can best use us at the moment. He may leave us there for the duration of the game, or He may move us to another square where we can best minister in His cause. We must always remember that this is His game, and our blessing is to be willing and able to move from square to square as His wisdom sees fit for our own eternal good. Such willingness is also part of the cost of being a follower of Christ.
Alma says that condemnation comes because of hardened hearts. He taught Zeezrom by saying: “Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.” (Alma 12:13.) This is in harmony with what we learned about the children of Israel during the time of Moses. As we read from D&C 84, in a previous chapter, we learned: “Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.” (D&C 84:23-27.)
Now is the time to seek the Lord’s fulness. The scriptures say that the Lord “... will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.” This is qualified, however, as He continues, “... even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer.” (D&C 29:2; Matt. 23:37; 3 Ne. 10:6.) A hen doesn’t scurry around to find all her chicks, but, instead, spreads her wings so they can come under her loving and protective care. So it is with the Lord. He bids us to come unto Him.
Some of the words just quoted, “even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer,” are similar in nature to those previously quoted from D&C 93:1. We will read it again for convenience: “Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am.” He is talking about the fulness.
Let’s refer now to a couple of statements made by Elder Bruce R. McConkie. The first is taken from his book, The Promised Messiah, and the second from a general conference. He had these very important thoughts to share:
“We seek to see the face of the Lord while we yet dwell in mortality, and we seek to dwell with him everlastingly in the eternal kingdoms that are prepared.
“There are even those who neither believe nor know that it is possible to see the Lord in this day, and they therefore are without the personal incentive that would urge them onward in the pursuit of this consummation so devoutly desired by those with spiritual insight.” (The Promised Messiah, pp. 579, 586.)
“It is his will that we gain testimonies, that we seek revelation, that we covet to prophesy, that we desire spiritual gifts, and that we seek the face of the Lord.
“The Lord wants all his children to gain light and truth and knowledge from on high. It is his will that we pierce the veil and rend the heavens and see the visions of eternity.
“Such is his promise to us here and now while we yet dwell as mortals in the world of sorrow and sin. It is our privilege even now—the privilege of all who hold the holy priesthood—if we will strip ourselves from jealousies and fears and humble ourselves before him, as he has said, to have the veil rent and see him and know that he is.” (Conference Report, October 1978. p. 92.)
This principle of receiving the Lord’s fulness is intended for this mortal life. However, it is the result of much faith. In the book of Ether we learn that many before the time of Christ, like the brother of Jared, beheld His glory: “And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.” (Ether 12:19.)
The fulness of the gospel is the great and precious promise whereby we can partake of the divine nature of Christ by seeking His face, and being in His presence while still in THIS mortal life. It is the privilege and promise whereby the veil will be rent and we can see Him and know Him; it is to enter into His rest and partake of the fulness of His glory in THIS life. The fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ IS to receive a fulness of His mysteries, and the fulness of His presence.
Considering the cost of discipleship, are we willing to pay the price of giving our lives to Jesus Christ? It is a matter of serious consideration, for Jesus said, “... No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62.) Many early disciples of Jesus became disillusioned with what they heard, and the scriptures state, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (John 6:66-67.) Being a Christian, in the real meaning of the word, requires a great commitment. After a choice is made to follow Him, there is a sobering question the individual needs to ask himself: Will I also go away?
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”
(Job 13:15.)
(Job 13:15.)
