Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Unsplash

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

Brett McCraken, in Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community states, “to be a Christian is to accept the discomfort of a way of life inspired and empowered by a cruel, rugged old cross, a symbol of scorn and degradation.”

Here are five losses that occur when you embrace the cross of Christ:

1. The loss of being your own boss. Following Jesus requires a surrender of will (48).
2. The loss of consumer religion. Following Jesus is about sacrifice rather than personal gain and service rather than power (49).
3. The loss of pride. Following Jesus means we understand (and continue to grow in this understanding) that no rule-keeping, no good deeds…nothing can save us except Jesus.
4. The loss of health, wealth, and comfort. Following Jesus often times means material discomfort.
5. The loss of power, coolness, and cultural respectability. Following Jesus is in many instances a commitment to live in a manner that is uncool, politically incorrect and just plain weird at times (52).