Today I was talking with a friend about some of the word’s of Jesus and it became so clear to me why I think the church should care about justice, should care about others, and shouldn’t just look like another club that people can join (as long as you look, act, and enjoy the same things as the majority of the people in the club). Jesus messes with people’s heads and says these words:
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The cross was a method of gruesome punishment, like the electric chair, or lynching. It’s equated with pain, struggle, hurt, and many other harmful and negative images; and Christ tells us to take that up. And then he get’s us even more backwards “lose” our life? What is that supposed to mean?
I’m not hear to do a theological exegesis of the passage, I’d rather just address the fact that THIS is the Jesus that we in the Church profess. There it is as plain as day for any passerby to read. Followers of Jesus should be denying themselves.
So why do those looking on see Christians drive in on Sunday in their fancy cars, pull up to their nice and decked out churches, listen to their health and wealth gospel, sing some feel-good songs, get back in their cars and go out to eat (where they don’t tip well), and head back to their house full of the same gadgets and gizmos everyone else has, ready to start another week?
Where’s the “deny” and “lose” in that? About the only “cross” it seems like most Christian folks are taking up is their house payment. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
I’m not a great writer, but I started a blog a week ago. ( I don’t know why) I’ve only written one thing, but I think it would be my response to this, so instead of writing it again, I’ll just direct you there.
chbrown.blogspot.com
I think that this challenge is right on! Thanks for saying it like it is.
Amen.
What the true meaning of Denying oneself is everytime you sin, “judging others, thinking lustfully, envying your neighbors goods,” etc. you must deny all of that to Jesus and profess those desires and promise not to repeat in your heart. Everyone is guilty of sin because of Adam and Eve. We have that same curse in our own flesh. Everyone falls short of the Glory of God. One day we will be free of that curse. By daily Dying or denying oneself, we put our selves in check with God, that we are trying to be obedient to His Word. Driving a fancy car, eating at a fancy restaurant, etc. does not prove anything. We don’t want to judge others of what they do or how they look. It’s not our call. The new Adam is Jesus Christ who God sent to be Our Saviour and example. The race is on for the Grand Prize “Home with Jesus and Our Father in Heaven. The Cross is a reminder that If Jesus God the Son can carry His Cross, we can too. It is called a Living Sacrifice. It also means that He Has risen and will return. No one knows when except the Father. Todays wars, disagreements, natural disasters, is just a pinch of the “End Times” before Jesus returns. So be obdient to His word written in the Holy Bible. All of Man’s questions can be answered in that “Book Of Life”.