“I was flooded with doubt about my new life in Christ. Was I willing to suffer like Christ? Was I willing to be considered stupid by those who didn’t know Jesus? The world’s eyes register what a life in Christ takes away, but how do I communicate all that it gives? Do I really believe, in Charles Bridges’ words, ‘The very chains of Christ are glorious’ (Prov. 33)
[Proverbs: A Geneva Series Commentary])? Peter, after being beaten for preaching the gospel, rejoiced that he was ‘counted worthy to suffer shame for [Christ’s] name’ (Acts 5:41). I pondered this. To the world, this is masochism. To the Christian, this is freedom. Did I really believe this? Do I really believe this today?” (p. 26)Reading: “…And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Acts 5:41
Selections from The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (Pittsburgh: Crown & Covenant, 2012). Used with permission.
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