Think of true Christianity as a stream of life-giving water. It originates with Jesus (John 4:14; 7:37; Revelation 22:1). Flowing directly from Him, the water is at its sweetest, clearest and purest. That is the Christianity as given by Jesus in the first century. The stream grows and gathers speed, churning up white waves as it tumbles over rocks and boulders. Those rocks represent opposition in the second and third centuries. Persecution caused people to “count the cost” before becoming Christians (Luke 14:28). Conversion to Christ could mean loss of relationships, income, status, and even life itself. Discipleship was taken seriously, just as Jesus intended.
DISCIPLESHIP WAS SERIOUS.
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple…. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26-27, 33)
Despite the high cost to converts, the tumbling stream became a mighty river. As Roman corruption grew and morals declined, people were attracted to Christian hope and virtue. The deeper the darkness, the brighter the people of God shone (Philippians 1:12-14, 28; 2:15). The more horrific the killings—including being fed to lions in sports arenas—the more people were convicted by the courage and message of the martyrs. The Roman emperors Decius (138-161), Valerian (253- 260) and Diocletian (284-305) especially tried to stamp out Christianity across the entire empire. They did their best to exterminate all Christians.