Not too much has changed except the names

God told the Israelites to be different as a means to an end—his plan was to bless the entire world through them. If they were not forced to be different from the Gentiles culturally, they would cease to be different from them morally. By the time Jesus came, the Jews had gotten so good at being culturally separate that they forgot about their original mission. The means had become confused with the end.—Radically Normal, electronic edition

<idle musing>
Yep. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Only now, substitute Christian for Jew. And add the word "safe" to your description of life. The "safe" radio station. The "safe" mission trip. The "safe" alternative. Make our country "safe" for Christianity.

Tell that to Peter as he hung upside down on a cross. Or to Paul as he gets his head hacked off. Or to the millions of Christians today who are in real danger of being put to death or imprisoned because of their Christian faith.

I certainly don't want persecution—nobody should!—but if that's what it takes to have a vibrant faith, then let's kick "safe" to the curb.
</idle musing>