‘there is no cost, there is no loss”. -Misty

“But whatever to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” (Paul to the Philippians)

I think of Paul and how he gave up being a high official to follow Christ–he thought he had the way to heaven figured out because of his lineage and his perfect law-abiding ways. Then we hear him writing again and again how he considers all of his former life (stability, pay, social status, identity) a loss–NOTHING compared to the surpassing (growing ever bigger) greatness of knowing Christ.

‘hating’ mother and father to me seems its two-fold–not having any allegiances higher than to Christ, and –not relying on the old system, the old stability, the old security found in a familial setting.

There is radical sacrifice. There is radical obedience. And I think it can look different for different people. And I also think only certain people choose it. But are we all called to it? I’d say yes.

First off, you’re right about Jesus not meaning that we should abandon our responsibility to honor or care for our parents (see Matthew 15:4-6).

I am not sure about the whole thing though. Some he calls to be “normal” followers and some he calls to lay on their side for a full year and cook their food over their own poop and hair.

I think her song might be true for any of our stories and what songs we might write… other people might not REALLY be able to sing them.