A Call to Christian Risk

By eliminating eternal risk, Christ calls his people to constant temporal risk.

For Jesus« followers, the last risk has disappeared. »There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus« (Rom. 8:1). »Neither death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord« (Rom. 8:38-39). »You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death… But not a hair of your head will perish« (Luke 21:16, 18). »He who believes in me, even though he dies, will live” (John 11:25).

When the threat of death becomes the door to paradise, the last barrier of temporary risk disappears. When a Christian says from the heart, «To live is Christ, and to die is gain,» he is free to love, no matter what. Some forms of radical Islam may tempt murderous martyrs with such dreams, but Christian hope is the power to love, not to kill. Christian hope produces those who give life, not to take it. The crucified Christ calls upon his people to live and die for their enemies, as he did. The only risk permitted by Christ is the risk of love. «But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you» (Luke 6:27-28).

With his stunning promises of eternal joy, Jesus launched a movement of radical, loving, risk-taking people. «You will be betrayed by your own parents…and some of you will be put to death» (Luke 21:16). Only some. That means it may or may not be you. That’s what risk means. Shooting yourself in the head is not risky. The outcome is certain. Serving Christ in a war zone is risky. You may get shot. Or you may not.

Christ calls us to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Almost every call to evangelical consumerism says the opposite: maximize comfort and security—now, not in heaven. Christ does not join in this call. To every timid saint teetering on the edge of a dangerous gospel cause, He says, «I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do» (Luke 12:4). Yes, by all means increase your joy! How? Risk being despised, persecuted, and deceived for the sake of love, «for great is your reward in heaven» (Matthew 5:11-12).

There is a great biblical legacy of love for those who take risks. Joab, faced with the Syrians on one side and the Ammonites on the other, said to his brother Abishai, «Be strong, and let the Lord do what seems good to him» (2 Sam. 10:12). Esther broke the king’s law to save her people, saying, «If I perish, I perish!» (Esther 4:16). Shadrach and his friends refused to bow down to the king’s idol, saying, «If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods» (Dan. 3:16–18). And when the Holy Spirit told Paul that imprisonment and suffering awaited him in every city, he replied, «But I [care nothing] for myself, and I do not count [my] life dear, if only I may [with joy] finish my journey and my ministry» (Acts 20:24).

«Every Christian,» Stephen Neal said of the early church, «knew that sooner or later he would have to bear witness to his faith at the cost of his life» (A History of Christian Missions, Penguin, 1964, p. 43). This was normal. Becoming a Christian meant risking one’s life. Tens of thousands did so. Why? Because to do so meant gaining Christ, not losing one’s soul. «For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it» (Matt. 16:25).
In America and around the world, the price of being a true Christian is rising. Everything is going back to square one in this «present evil age.» More and more often (2 Tim. 3:12) will make sense: «For all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.» Those who have made risk for the gospel a voluntary lifestyle will be most ready when they have no choice. So I urge you with the words of the early church: «Let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach, for here we have no continuing city, but we seek the city to come» (Heb. 13:13-14).

When God took away the risk for the soul,
A thousand risks have opened up for love.