Christians in the first century Roman Empire understood that following Jesus was life threatening. Only the Roman Caesar was considered a human deity and worshipped as such in daily life. To deny his lordship publicly was to undergo persecution and possible death as a traitor. So it is shocking that the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:11, despite this known way of life, that only “Jesus Christ is Lord.” It was a bold and public proclamation that flew in the face of worldly thinking. 2,000 years of history may have passed, but much remains the same. As Christians today, do we truly believe that following Jesus could cost us our very lives?
