What do your beliefs cost?

If you’re an American than they probably don’t cost much. Depending on how devout you are, at most they may cost you a few friends that don’t believe the same. Religious beliefs may prompt you to draw moral lines that “keep you from having fun”. You know, the “fun” of pre-marital sex, drugs, hangovers…good stuff.

Having been in 11 different countries, I’ve seen what being a follower of Jesus can cost people outside of the U.S. I’ve prayed in a basement with members of the underground church in China, who are ‘free to worship’, as long as it’s in a government controlled institution. I’ve met a woman in Taiwan who chose not to offer incense in worship to dead ancestors because she has chosen to put Jesus first in her life. As a result, her family cut her off and she lost her inheritance – which is more than she could make in her life.

There are two reasons this is on my mind right now. The first has to do with a story I read yesterday in Newsweek (you can read it here) about a man in North Korea who lost his unborn child and wife, fled the country, and then came back as a missionary. Now he is on death row… for wanting to bring a message of hope to a hopeless nation.

The other reason I’m thinking about this is that there a principal that says, the things that are most valuable cost something and require work and sacrifice. Is my faith that valuable? What does it cost me?
Do I simply believe in God or do I believe in following him and living how Jesus lived? The man on death row in North Korea is there because there is something worth dying for. He knows that this life is very temporary, and as a result the message of eternal life with God is worth sacrifice.
What do you think? Throw your thoughts down in the comments.