Are you ready to lose everything?

I watched the live streaming video of the Passion 2011 conference earlier this week. The speakers that I saw each brought their own passion, gifts, and unique speaking abilities to their session, but one that particularly struck me was Francis Chan.

I had heard Francis Chan's talk from Passion 2010, and read his book "Crazy Love" as well as "Forgotten God," and I believe the Lord is using this man to lead many to a more genuine faith in Him. Yet I still seem to be amazed when I feel like He is speaking directly to me through Chan.

In His Passion 2011 talk, Chan, having done a lot of missionary work in many different countries, began to recount stories of persecution faced by Christians elsewhere. In India, the Christians there told Chan that "When you are a Christian here, you lose EVERYTHING."

I heard that and I felt a focal shift. I noticed that I have started to read the persecution stories in the Bible, and in historical texts, and thinking of them as something of the past. Wouldn't this make Christ a liar when He said that "In this world you will have trouble," etc. ? Does this mean that we aren't living the way we are supposed to if we're not facing persecution?

I want to be putting myself out there, taking bolder risks for Christ, trying to tell my close (non-Christian) friends about the gospel even more urgently.. because what Chan said is true - that without Christ, they are headed to eternal death. Knowing that, how can we let them head down that road?

If anyone reads this, what do you think? Are we living incorrectly if we do not face persecution? Would you be ready to lose everything for your faith?