This may seem like an absurd question to many, but I believe it’s well worth answering.  In discussions with two different people from unhealthly religious backgrounds, I’ve learned this is a commonly-held misinterpretation of Scripture, and a dangerous one. It’s dangerous because it leads people to believe that, unless, they give up everything they own, forsake their families (or forsake starting one), and live as itinerant Gospel preachers, there’s no point in following Christ. (This is why both men mentioned earlier no longer identify themselves as Christians).

What are the verses commonly misused to support this belief?

<> If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it-Matthew 16:24-25

Self-denial is about putting God first in our lives.  Balancing one’s spiritual life  in Christ with  all oir other obligations can be a struggle. However, when God is first and foremost in our lives, we will experience God’s love and blessings in a way that we can’t when all other things come first.

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that  loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. -Matthew 10:37

It’s true  that we are to love God above all other things. That does not mean that God condemns families. After all, if Christians were expected to sever all family ties, the New  Testament wouldn’t have so many instructions on how family members are to treat each other. However, we must not allow family members or others to interfere in our Christian life in away that turns us away from God.  As an example, one backslidden Christian that I know of claims to love Jesus above all things, but, afraid of angering some anti-Christian people he’s friendly with, refuses to live out his faith. He is more afraid of losing “friends” than he is his Saviour!

<> Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessio Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.-Matthew 19:21-26

The rich young man was quite  content to become a follower of Christ-until he learned that he would have to give things up.  This is not so much a directive on what all of us are called to do as it shows that “things” in this man’s life were more important than following the Creator! The rich young man didn’t commit wrongdoing by HAVING riches, he did wrong by being RULED BY them.

Followers of Christ can have families, money and possessions. However, Christ must be first in their lives above everything.