I don't think Christians should try to be liked. It's never worked for me. Eventually what you believe will always get in the way between you and the world, and you will be revealed as a true believer ... IF you really are.
As far as the song, it is clearly an invocation to follow Jesus. Anyone who knows the New Testament should understand these things. Seeing the self-seeking part of the world as hollow and temporary, "I deny myself" and "being more like you" ... and above all, "Will you deny me when we meet again," a clear reference to Luke 9:23-27.
Try to apply these words to an everyday situation, for example a romantic relationship, and it is very hard to fit them into place.
How ironic that someone mentioned persecution! The song itself talks about persecution - well, not exactly persecution but ridicule. American Christians are ridiculed far more than they are persecuted. (Hence the line right before "will you deny me," "I try to hide the truth within.")
Responding to azwrath's comment:
I don't think Christians should try to be liked. It's never worked for me. Eventually what you believe will always get in the way between you and the world, and you will be revealed as a true believer ... IF you really are.
As far as the song, it is clearly an invocation to follow Jesus. Anyone who knows the New Testament should understand these things. Seeing the self-seeking part of the world as hollow and temporary, "I deny myself" and "being more like you" ... and above all, "Will you deny me when we meet again," a clear reference to Luke 9:23-27.
Try to apply these words to an everyday situation, for example a romantic relationship, and it is very hard to fit them into place.
How ironic that someone mentioned persecution! The song itself talks about persecution - well, not exactly persecution but ridicule. American Christians are ridiculed far more than they are persecuted. (Hence the line right before "will you deny me," "I try to hide the truth within.")