Shouldn't His Disciples Carry a Cross?

Shouldn't His Disciples Carry a Cross?

Mk.10: 17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Jesus did not dispute this man’s contention that he studiously attempted to follow the law. Jesus outlined the Ten Commandments and the man seemed very sincere in his assertion that he lived his life within the parameters of the law, but he was still searching for eternal life. He was a very moral person and yet he was empty.

This man is representative of tens of millions of people living in the western culture. In fact Jesus mentions in the very next verse that the man was very wealthy and balked at the suggestion he should sell everything. Possessions were the stumbling block. And so it is with the western church. We are swimming in entertainment, comfortable lifestyles, a massive array of all kinds of food, wonderful cars, clothes to stuff many closets, phones that rival then Apollo spacecraft computer, and dwelling places with room to spare. But when we read these verses somehow we never come to a definitive and sacrificial principle that has much application for us. The words of Jesus made this man stumble but surely not us?

The most convenient interpretation usually runs along some tepid line like, “It’s all right to have things as long as things do not have you”. How quaint. How Hallmark Card-ish. How self serving. It’s those kind of fortune cookie sayings that have contributed to what we still call “the church” in the west. We have so cleverly constructed a newer and more modern New Testament interpretation that fits oh so nicely into a hedonistic lifestyle. And just to soothe our consciences we occasionally take a “stand” on some moral issues that hang down on the lower branches of the doctrinal tree. I do not see anyone selling one of their televisions and giving it to the poor, but as long as we can receive an earthly reward for our money we will gladly support some token of doctrinal orthodoxy.

Instead I see a very imaginative way to express your views on that subject. One in which you can have your chicken and eat it too! It costs nothing except a longer wait at the food line which can easily lend itself to some small self righteous talk. It is something to behold! But as far as selling anything? How about selling ¼ of all you have? Maybe 1/8^th? You see the point? We read verses like these and yet we are unwilling to receive them anywhere near their literal meaning, however we proudly proclaim our 24 hour creation day credentials. In fact, we always carry our Biblical inerrancy membership card.

Just what do you think lived within the heart and mind of Christ? Was it not the croos to which He set His face like a flint? And since He knew what He would do, he lived to "seek and save that which was lost". Jesus never organized a rally in support of some doctrinal tenant, in fact he dismissed the doctors of the law. He did not require sinners to lift themselves up by their bootstraps and walk strightly. Even His closest discples forsook Him. His heart, His breath, His very life was consumed with the cross. Should not that be our sacred template?

Now it just might be time to take a fresh look at what it means to follow Jesus and what it means to take up our cross. Or…not. I mean we have become so entrenched in this ecclesiastical and cultural quicksand that it has engulfed our eyes. We have become blind and hard of hearing, and since we hold our pastor in high esteem, we are most willing to receive what he says at face value which will alleviate us from any deep searching of the Scriptures personally. A little “Our Daily Bread” with a bagel should suffice. Perhaps we know, deep down inside, that if we really took another look at God’s Word we might see a stark contradiction between what the church says and what God says. Hmm.

In oh so many ways we are missing the spiritual treasures that come with truly taking up our crosses and following Jesus. I mean a kind of life that doesn’t just give doctrinal homage to God or parades around its stand on moral issues. I mean a life that is so filled with the presence of Christ that the things of this world are “strangely dim”. A life that radiates His light to all who come in contact with it. A life that leaves His fragrance among those in need, and a life which uses the necessities of this world but will not and even cannot enjoy any luxuries. Who needs luxuries when you are possessed by the Creator of all that is?

This cross carrying life knows nothing of self elevation. It denies itself in favor of living by the faith of the Son of God. This world must become a pilgrimage whose destination is Christ and whose journey is Christ as well. This kind of life is filled to overflowing with Christ and His Spirit and there is no room for the clutter of temporal desires. It cannot abide the carnal trappings of politics and governmental wrangling. If taxes are lowered it will provide more money to serve Him, but if not praise God as well. The cross carrying life never lusts for lower taxes or political leverage. This life desires to know Him more fully. He must increase and we must decrease.

Like a gospel with legs, this life carries its cross well into the darkness seeking that which was lost. It has not a hint of moral superiority or selfishness. In fact, this kind of life walks in humility because it knows only too well that it was plucked from the fire by God’s grace alone. The cross and pride are mutual enemies, and the kind of life that follows Jesus is always alert to any hint of pride. It is always suspect of protests and boycotts since they not only gender a misguided sense of accomplishment, the collective spirit is given to a tangible sense of moral hubris. The life that follows Jesus sees sinners as whited fields not moral adversaries.

This life does not arrive at church wondering about the time of worship. This life has been worshiping Christ for hours already and it carries with it the aroma of the Risen Christ. The music is a wonderful addition however it does not lead this life into His presence since it has been walking in His presence already. The cross carrying life basks in the glory of God’s presence with other brothers and sisters. We must break free of the ecclesiastical chains that have us bound to a redundant and powerless expression of Christianity. Ours must be remarkable within a fallen culture and a compromised church.

I do not desire to stretch the bounds of reality or reduce the Christian life to a mystical experience without substance, but if you were actually with Christ listening to his words, what else would capture your heart? Think about that and compare it with what continually captures us here. The reality of walking in His presence does not come upon a careless life that is filled with almost everything else. His presence must be realized and even experienced through a diligent seeking born out of a thirst which will not be denied. Enoch walked with God and God had to take him. How many today would even be candidates for that kind of personal rapture?

And yet God’s Word rings out with unmistakable clarity, calling His sons and daughters to walk with Him in prayer, sacrifice, and spiritual depth. How can we take His Word and sculpture it to accommodate our own lusts and desires? How can we continue to feed upon leeks and garlic and leave the Manna from heaven for Sunday mornings, if it is even there? How can we labor in the fields of doctrine but remain completely in a redundant and dispassionate state that acquits ourselves of our ecclesiastical responsibilities but lives with such western predictability? And when we come to verses, culled straight from heaven, that speak clearly to the makeup of our thoughts and lives, how can we openly manipulate them through the prism of our western culture? We cannot, if we truly desire to follow Him.

Just 1 hour walking in His presence cannot be measured by this present world. So many today embrace the right doctrines but refuse to acknowledge, much less seek, a deeper relationship and the glory of His eternal mystery. God has so much more to offer but to whom can He offer it? Which robotic Christian expressions will He visit with His glory? With whom can He walk if few are seeking Him? Of course God is pleased when we embrace His truth, but God desires us to seek Him who is truth. Yes doctrine, but yes and amen experience as well.

Deny ourselves? Sell all? Follow Him? Instead of minimizing such exhortations, let us begin with the literal absurd and work our way back without eviscerating the holy essence of what they mean. In light of all the Redeemer suffered for us, why do we treat our lives as our own? When we meditate upon those sacred wounds, should there be any limit to the depth of our living sacrifice for Him? The years and the culture have chipped away at what a true and dedicated disciple looks and lives like, until a person can enjoy all the trappings of the culture and still claim to be following the Savior. There is a profound disconnect between Jesus’ words and our lives. But we have become experts at smoothing out the rough edges of the words which may cause us discomfort and sacrifice, while we sharpen others when they can be used against non-traditional sinners. In fact, we have conveniently constricted our doctrinal statements so as to avoid any obvious self indictments.

I mean what sacrifice does it require to embrace the Trinity? Or the virgin birth? Or the inspiration of the Scriptures in the abstract? But if we proclaimed in our church bulletin that we believed in forsaking all in order to be a disciple, or that we should live in obvious moderation, or that we believed prayer to be the core of the gatherings, then we would have to openly provide some proof that we actually believed them. We can easily say we believe in heaven and hell and prophecy, but they require little outward proof, although some should be forthcoming.

But if you say you love the poor and do little about it then it reveals that you are actually lying. And if we say we are followers of Jesus then our lives must reflect what He said and taught, not just what is convenient and prevalent in the western community of faith.

Lk.14: 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Imagine a Sunday morning service and the preachers gives an altar. Three people come forward to publicly believe of Christ Jesus. Before they are allowed to consult with a counselor, the preacher says to all three,

“Your coming forward indicates that God is drawing your heart to become a believing follower of Jesus Christ. But before you do so, count the cost. Are you willing to submit to His will for you? Are you willing to pray and read His Word? Are you willing to allow God to completely change your life? Are you willing to follow Jesus regardless where He sends or leads You? Are you willing to forsake all that you have?”

That kind of “invitation” would certainly hinder church growth and it would not be an aid to greater offerings. In fact, that kind of exhortation would probably lead to other churches in the area growing. But that is exactly what Jesus taught. But instead of following Jesus, the church has turned to Eli Whitney. We now observe an assembly line discipleship which focuses on numbers and finances rather than depth of commitment. And if a person comes out against same sex marriage, well he is welcomed into the fold of mature, bold soldiers of the cross. And just what cross it that, pray tell? Is it the deep fried kind that appeals to the stomach, or is it the one to which thousands upon thousands of believers suffer because of around the world? Is it the one which draws media attention, or is it the cross which has drawn out the blood of many martyrs?

The cross was always supposed to be the core of the Christian faith in theology and in practice. But it is now ticked away in the file under “orthodoxy” but is rarely seen demonstrated in living epistles. Without a complete and thorough reevaluation based upon Scripture we will continue to live and exhibit a paltry and sickly brand of Christianity spiced up with a few man made “stands” for truth. In the end no one stands for truth by embracing a doctrinal tenant. The only way anyone can actually stand for truth is to die. Only then can He Who IS Truth shine through your corpse and allow the world to see Him.

Pick up your cross. Die to live. And live to follow Him. There is no other way.