“But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.’” – Acts 26:25
There’s a good chance that if you take your faith seriously and follow Jesus with devotion and sacrificial dedication, someone will eventually question your sanity! When taking up your cross to follow Jesus (as He commands) leads you to give money away generously for the Kingdom, change careers for Jesus, or tell everyone you know the real meaning of Christmas people may begin to doubt your mental state. Well-meaning Christians who haven’t yet taken up their cross can often be among those, so don’t be surprised.
Feel free to regularly remind yourself that your faith is true. Jesus demonstrated that through His well-attested death and physical resurrection. By His miracles. By the nature of His teaching. He continues to prove it that through the small miracles most believers can testify about. By the answers to prayers. By the awareness of Christ’s ongoing presence. The transformation that’s happened to you by the Holy Spirit.
Since your faith is true, there are very rational implications which should radically alter your behavior. Such changes are perfectly rational! Since Jesus is, “The Way, the Truth, and the Life” then of course you should be desperate to make sure everyone on earth, including those you care about most, hear about the certain hope you have in Jesus. Since Jesus did command us to make disciples of all nations, it’s only rational that some will feel God’s call to change careers to more fully devote their gifts, talents, and energies to making disciples. Since Jesus told us to store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth, it’s quite rational to give generously, joyously, and sacrificially to the Kingdom work being done in our community and to the ends of the earth.
People may question your sanity as you follow Jesus. Don’t be discouraged. Recognize that such questioning is an opportunity to share your true and rational faith even with those professing to be Christians!