How many modern professing Christians would stay faithful if persecution meant giving up their life?
No exact number is given. The point is that few modern professing Christians would likely remain faithful if persecution meant giving up their life. Even after decades of instruction, the rhetorical question asks how many in a congregation would stay, and the conclusion is that the result would be surprising.
Les explains that Paul’s converts came out of pagan darkness and immediately faced persecution, yet they died for their faith rather than return to paganism. He contrasts them with Christianity today, asking how many professing Christians—even those taught and tutored for 25, 30, or 40 years—would stay if their life were on the line. He tells listeners to look across their congregation and ask how many would go with them, concluding they would be kind of surprised. Paul’s converts in Galatia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and Rome all faced this pressure. Les also notes Paul did not really encourage marriage because it is easier to die for one’s faith if single than if one has a loved one to worry about.
How many professing Christians today would stay faithful if persecution cost them their lives?
The number would likely be surprisingly small. Even professing Christians who have been taught and tutored for 25, 30, or 40 years might not stay faithful if persecution put their lives on the line, and the count from any congregation would probably surprise observers.
How many modern Christians who have been taught for decades would stay faithful if persecution meant giving up their lives?
No specific number is given. The implied answer is that many modern professing Christians, even after decades of instruction, might not stay faithful if persecution meant giving up their lives. The result would likely be fewer than expected and would surprise many who consider their own congregations.