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John Piper: Do You Put Your Comfort Before Your Faith?

In a prayer to close his service John Piper gives us a powerful reminder that the Christian life is not supposed to be one of ease. In fact, he prays for radical Christian sacrifice for his congregation.

Piper prays for Christians to have a radical faith that is risky, radiant and different.  He wants them to “hold their lives cheap” while being faithful unto death.

He abhors what he calls a Christianity that is safe, middle class and follows the rest of the culture while concentrating on comfort and stuff.

In fact, he says “stuff” is killing Christianity.

Instead, he says Christians should be focused on the reward that is coming. He says that reward is worth more than anything or anyone we have now: it is Jesus.

How do you know if you’re placing comfort ahead of your faith?

Frank Powell, writing for Faithit, identified several characteristics that suggest you’re might love comfort more than Jesus.

1.) You are a referee not a player.  

When comfort trumps Jesus, cynicism and judgmentalism are soon to follow. Comfortable Christians move from a player on the field to a referee on the sidelines. Think about it. Players are too busy to investigate holding or lining up illegally. But referees? This is their only purpose. Referees watch every player on every play. And when someone commits a penalty, a flag is thrown.

2.) Your desire and passion for God are stagnant.

Christians should live with a healthy discomfort. Always. You should welcome preachers who push you and challenge you to explore deeper levels of God’s nature and character. But if the goal is to know God more intimately, you must live with a healthy discomfort.

3.) You talk like an atheist.

When God is overshadowed by comfort, he rarely comes out of your mouth during conversation.

4.) You keep God on a leash.

A God without a leash is a God who will act in ways man can’t understand. That’s uncomfortable. But if God is not all-powerful, he is not a God worth serving. So, we must make a decision. Let go of the leash or follow a false god.

5.) You begin to compromise your morals.

Think about your life. Are you lowering the moral bar? Do you value holiness? This is not about legalism. This is about your heart. A heart desperate for God is a heart dedicated to thinking and acting in ways that reveal your love for him.

6.) You view Christian living as a list of “don’ts.”

Does your heart break for those who don’t know Jesus? Do you grieve when you pass over an opportunity to plead the cause of the poor and oppressed? Is your heart desensitized to the orphans and widows?

7.) Every person in your circle looks and acts like you.

When comfort is more important than Jesus, small groups become country clubs and churches become barricaded forts. The very ones we should be reaching for Jesus are the ones not allowed to enter.