In 1720 the first Brethren hymnal was published at Berleberg, near Schawzenau, Germany, the town of our Brethren origins. Included in the hymnal were many hymns written by Brethren who had been imprisoned. Some of the 295 hymns were devoted to the distinctive Brethren practices, such as the three-fold Love Feast, feet washing, and trine immersion baptism. Of particular interest is the inclusion of a hymn text, "Count Well the Cost," composed by Brethren "founder" Alexander Mack Sr. (1679-1735), and based on the thoughts of Luke 14:25-33. As given in verses 28-30 in the NKJV, Jesus said, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it; lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'" And verse 33 concludes, "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple."

Alexander Mack extracted and wedded the ideas of counting the cost and denying self when deciding to be a disciple of Christ (that decision being portrayed as laying the foundation of one's faith and discipleship), and formulated the first of the 13 stanzas of his hymn text. As translated by Rev. Ora W. Garber (1903-1981), noted Church of the Brethren pastor who served for many years as the literary editor and book editor for the Church of the Brethren, stanza one of Mack's hymn reads, "Christ Jesus says, 'Count well the cost when you lay the foundation.' Are you resolved, though all seem lost, to risk your reputation, yourself, your wealth, for Christ the Lord as you now give your solemn word?"

To be sure, as it was a risk in Jesus' day to be one of his disciples, so also was it a risk in 1708 for the early Brethren in Germany, for it was illegal to baptize by immersion and to be a member of a church other than one of the three state-approved churches (the Catholic, the Lutheran, or the Reformed). Violators, if caught, would be imprisoned. And if not imprisoned, then warned, ridiculed, and avoided. When deciding to become a Christian, one must truly weigh the cost, including the possible societal consequences of one's decision.

So also as we go to the polls on Nov. 4, it would be responsible for us to evaluate what may be the consequences of our decisions, for it matters who is elected. Our future chief executive will have influence regarding what kind of chief justices will be appointed, what social values will be promoted, and what direction our nation will take regarding domestic and international relations. It will be wise for us to "count the cost" of our votes.

Dr. Roussakis is pastor at the First Brethren Church in Burlington.