Cross-Based Living – A Better Way
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18 NAS). We would be wise to consider the meaning of this statement. It is the central and most important message of the New Testament.
I suggest that success or failure in a Christian’s life depends on correctly understanding the underlying principle behind this passage. That is, admittedly, a very bold statement. It is, however, not at all an understatement. Cross-based living is a better way to live.
I would also like to make an even bolder statement. A significant factor in the failure of the modern Church to live as God intended is essentially a result of their misunderstanding of this message of the cross. God intends for us to prevail in all things we face in this life.
We are in Trouble
The reality is that most Christians lack the power to live in the world as they were intended. We are failing to inspire the world and to convict their consciences. We try to sell Christianity, and we sell it short by our hypocrisy. Why is this happening? Is it God’s plan for the Church to fail like this? For most believers, our hypocrisy is not intentional or wanted. It just seems so hard to live a truly righteous life.
We do not speak to the world with confidence and conviction. Our lives are not “living letters” of the gospel. The reason? We are essentially living for self and self-interest and hoping Jesus will somehow be glorified in us. But how can He be glorified in us when our lives are primarily about our own happiness and fulfillment. I believe the major reason is that we have concluded that the alternative requires too much of us. We have tried to live as we think we should and it was just too hard. Moreover, we weren’t very successful at it.
As a result of this, we are being culturally defeated on every front. Our voice is weak, and our hearts are compromised. We have become friends with the world. We love the same things they love, and we try to make our churches appeal to what appeals to the world. Sometimes it is because we are afraid that our children will think we are old-fashioned or “out of touch.” I think we are afraid because we don’t really have anything better to offer them. Our marriages are not much of an example and we are not really particularly happy ourselves.
Does not the world already have the things that it wants? More and more it does, but it is not happier. What though, do we really have to offer that is so much greater than what they already know and have? We are forced into accommodating and not very inspiring.
A Demoralized Church
Many in the Church have become so demoralized that they have moved dramatically toward an ever-radicalized post-modern Western culture. Our words do not prick the hearts of unbelievers or believers! In many ways, we have become the metaphor of a “noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.” It could be said that we are like “salt that has lost its savor, good for nothing, except to be trampled underfoot by men. ”
I do not mean to sound harsh. It is expected that most would hear this as another call to repentance from sin. A voice of guilt, beating down God’s people for their failures and inadequacies. This discussion is not an attempt to make believers feel bad or inadequate.
I believe this crisis in the Evangelical Church is not really because of the believer’s inadequacy.
Instead, I am contending that the Church is weak and ineffective primarily from a failure to understand the gospel and fully grasp its unimaginably gracious and profound implications. In essence, I am suggesting we have lost the true message; a message which once shook the world – and rightly so! It is a magnificent message and in every way profound.
The Gospel Message?
For most Evangelicals, the suggestion that they might not understand the gospel and how to communicate it would seem absurd. After all, this is what makes an Evangelical, an Evangelical; the message of salvation by grace through faith alone. Please be assured that I am not suggesting a different gospel!
On the contrary, I only hope to show that most believers really don’t understand the full implications and application of that gospel message. No, I am not talking about spiritual gifts. I wish to suggest that the role of the message of Christ’s death is about much more than just coming to Christ initially and being “born again.”
Historically, the real power in Christianity has always been the belief in Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross. In more recent years, the primary focus has been on spreading that message so as to expand the body of believers.
A Better Foundation
As important – even essential – as this task is for the believers, it can only properly be accomplished if built on the proper foundation. Just as the scripture says, “Except the Lord build a house, he that labors, labors in vain.” Said differently, there are even more important underpinnings that make possible the proper and effective fulfillment of the command to “go and make disciples of all nations.”
How can those who do not know how to live in Christ, accomplish His work? Furthermore, how can they possibly teach others to walk, if they themselves do not know how? I do not say this to be disparaging of our teachers and pastors. I am confident that most are well-meaning and truly believe they are serving, feeding, and clothing the flock of God. Yet for all our efforts, we seem to be losing ground rapidly.
The Student is Like his Teacher
I ask you, How can the Church be a witness of Christ to the world if Christ’s righteousness is not manifest in them? I must say, I am never surprised when the latest Evangelical leader is found out as having had some kind of “moral failure.” All are aghast at the sight. We make excuses and explanations. How could someone who knew so much of Christ and had arisen as a major messenger to God’s people, be unable to stand? What hope is there then for the rest of us?
The unfortunate reality is that the flock is failing just the same as their leaders. And it should come as no surprise either, since Jesus told us that, “everyone when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)
It may be shocking to hear for some, but the truth is that they fall because their hope is in themselves. I conclude this simply because their messages do not place all hope in the cross but redirect the flock to place confidence in their own efforts.
Missing the Point
They have endless messages but fail to feed the flock on the only message that they need to conquer the world. That message is the total and uncompromising hope in the sufficiency of Christ’s death for all things We believe in our spiritual disciplines, our earnestness, our “time” with God, our devotion to God, and the efforts we invest in it as if they can save us.
In fact, there is nothing wrong with any of these things except that when our own natural energies are being poured into these things, we assume there will be a payoff with God. This is foolishness and false teaching. Yes, these things pay off but only if they are authored, initiated by God, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our natural efforts are judged by God and found completely inadequate. There is only one thing that pleases the Father; that is His Son’s death. Any hope placed elsewhere (i.e. in our disciplines) disqualifies us, just as much as hoping in circumcision did in Paul’s era.
The result is that we lose the life of Christ and are not inheriting the kingdom of God in our lives nor in our Churches. We wonder at the development of our elite class of Christian leaders. Many of these men and women rise to prominence not because they are filled with Christ but because of their natural talents. That is because we don’t have Christ authoring what we are doing. We are living from our own assessment of what God is saying and not from revelation from the Holy Spirit.
Out of Focus
This focus on ourselves, misses the core element that causes real church growth and health. We have come to assume that since we are now “saved” we must only get busy acting accordingly and being a “good witness” to the world. Our lives tend to be defined as daily choices. That choice is to either live a worldly life to choose to systematically apply God’s (behavioral) commandments to my life. Choosing the latter pleases God and He will bless me in doing so.
At this point we must ask ourselves a few questions. If this is God’s answer, then why does accomplishing this seem to be so problematic for so many of us? Why is the Church desperately searching for answers? Why are Christians running in droves to therapists? Why so many divorces? Why are there so many unhappy, frustrated, disappointed, and ineffective Christians?
Bad Signs
We seem to have two groups of people in the Church. The professional class, who have natural gifts in persuasion, a charismatic or influential sort of personality, etc, and the rest of the Church. What does this say about our understanding of Christ? To me, it says that either we’ve got something terribly wrong or the Christian life just isn’t what the Bible presents it to be.
Perhaps most importantly, why are so many people, especially younger believers, losing interest or otherwise attempting to adjust their Christian beliefs to the constantly changing cultural norms? Is it really just a symptom of an apostate culture?
Or could it be evidence of a Church that has lost its foundation and is reaching for answers elsewhere? This adaptation to our culture is particularly virulent because our apostate (and post-modern) culture is busily attacking the Scriptural foundations of Christianity.
A Troubled Church
Yes the Church is in crisis. It is adrift and heading for a monumental shipwreck. I have lived this crisis personally for the last 40 years. I believed all the hype and attended all the self-help classes. I saw the therapists and even became one myself. I read all the books. Truth be told, none of the solutions being offered are capable of correcting our course.
I want to boldly say that the Christianity being taught in most Evangelical churches today is ineffective and is misleading God’s people. It is leaving the Church weak and sickly. Only those that would be successful without God, are thriving. If our message is not transforming to the weakest of us, the broken, the ungifted (in the flesh), then it is not the Biblical message. God rains down power on the weak and the poor. He gives strength to those that lack, but this compromised gospel is failing God’s people. It is a leavened gospel and it therefore has no power. We must wake up soon or the lights may go out altogether.
Biblical Christianity?
This is not Biblical Christianity. For all our knowledge and Biblical training, we should be turning the world upside down. Instead, most Christians, more or less, are hiding in caves and are just struggling to get through their day.
Because of this leavened Christianity, we are not receiving the help we need to actually become holy. We are holy, but only in external behavior. God alone can build His house in a believer. All our methodologies are obstacles and are causing God’s people to stumble in the darkness.
Our lives are devoid of the gift of righteousness. God’s righteousness works mightily. It does not fail. It brings life. It overcomes the darkness, the selfishness, the woundedness that resides in many of us. The church pushes these believers aside and has little use for them because they lack natural gifts. The result is an elite class and a servant class.
A False System
The fall of Hillsong is a case in point. They have become something of a characature of some of the Evangelical Church’s worst qualities. They built their fame on a level of music and worship professionalism that was world famous. It brought in the multitudes, and especially the young. As Hillsong grew, however, these music leaders and some of their related superstar pastors who excelled in cool, charm and slick presentations were beguiling for many. They glibly spoke humbly of the masses of believers they served. They told us that these regular folks were what it was all about.
Yet shockingly at the same time, these very leaders were made to be and willingly became gods. Those who served in supportive roles for their ministries were treated as virtual slaves, made to work long hours and serve their every want. This is much like the way Hollywood had been run for decades. Low-paid, skilled (virtual) slaves served 24/7, their every beck and call all for the privilege of being near greatness.
Now, Hollywood had come to church. Could such a thing happen in the presence of the Holy Spirit? I guarantee you not even for one day. The real Jesus drives the money changers from the temple and the money changers that live in us, He drives from our hearts and minds.
We see pastors having “moral failures,” divorces, living hypocritical lives. We see families failing, fighting, divorcing. Kids go to “Christian youth groups” where their pastor is the definition of cool. Yet the reality is that the social environment is not defined by Christ’s love, but by the cool and the uncool; the”in” crowd and the “out” crowd. Lots of young aspiring Christians are hurt and demoralized.
Why? Because the message is not a message for the broken, the weak, the unloved. It is a message of cool and the cool gets the honor and attention. The message is not life-transforming because it is leavened and it has no power. It cannot enable the kids to authentically love because only the real Jesus can do that. It cannot help them to overcome their sexual difficulties because only Jesus can fulfill all righteousness in us. When we try to do it, it is a disaster.
Contrary to the New Testament Model and A Disappointing Outcome
So what is the answer? I pause here because I have heard so many sermons that promise to revolutionize the believer’s life that I can hear the moan of the cynical reader. Oh no, here comes the latest Christian fad ( at least that is what I would be thinking). But, stay with me here because I have some things to discuss that you may not have previously considered.
Do you remember when you first believed in Christ? For most, unless they were converted as a child, there was a pretty profound change that came. It is aptly called being “born again.” It is really quite exciting. Things seem so simple. Grace seems to reside everywhere one steps. There is an excitement about each day that seems filled with promise of new things. Over months and then the next year or two it seems to fade away.
Not So Fast, Partner!
You learn that things don’t work so easily as they once did. Perhaps one could imagine a cartoon character having his arms loaded by well-meaning pastors and “more mature believers” with thick and unfathomable books on theology and advanced Christian living, trying laboring to walk. In a few years, the books will probably become psychology books. I say all this tongue-in-cheek of course. Nevertheless, metaphorically speaking, it is much like how it seems, more or less, for many of us.
That life that we received when we first believed was given to us to begin a process of dramatic transformation in our lives. What happened? A million questions arise, we blame ourselves in various ways. We make excuses. We blame others. How could so much promise end in such mediocrity, hypocrisy, and discontent? Even demoralization and despair. Why wasn’t that enthusiasm and passion sustained? Why did it get so darned hard? Pretty bleak picture right? Are you discouraged yet? I hope not.
A Message for All
What I really want to say is this. It is not because of our inadequacy as a person, nor our psychological problems, nor our lack of self-discipline that is our problem. Nor are we not effective in our Christian lives because God just didn’t give me the cool gifts that he gave some others. It is none of these things. We don’t need some new church program in order for us to fix our problem.
The truth of the matter is that we haven’t really properly understood the gospel so as to restore and increase that blessed state which initially was a daily reality for me. My sinful pattern is not this giant monster that will hamstring me for the rest of my life.
A Free Gift
What we really need is the restoration of that amazing Christian life I once began. has been already bought and paid for. I don’t have to go to 300 classes, 19 programs, and 25 seminars to get it. I won’t get it from the shelves of Christian books in the library or the Christian bookstore.
Guess what, friends? That restoration we need has already been completely bought and paid for! It’s like our parents bought us that car of our dreams and it is sitting outside in the driveway with a big giant ribbon bow on top – except the gift won’t ever get old or break down. It will keep getting better and the new car smell will not ever go away (in the good sense, of course!).
It is all already given. Jesus has purchased it for me and no one can stop me from inheriting it. Not even my personal shortcomings, lack of discipline, psychological problems or the devil himself. If you doubt this, it is all written in black and white in your Bible. Just one of the innumerable verses that testify to this is from 2 Peter saying, He has granted to us “everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Pet. 1:3)
Far Beyond our Expectations
I want to suggest to you that the gospel is far more amazing than just initially being “born again.” It is about being born again every day! It is about receiving that message every day from Christ directly. What’s more, as we learn to simply receive the message He also brings life – His life.
The New Testament is all about our old lives being washed away day by day and His life infusing ours even to overflowing. It isn’t about ritual or being in some trance state that is achieved in a worship meeting. Nor is it about constantly trying to live up to God’s unreachable expectations. It is about those expectations being fulfilled in you, every day, by the power of God! It is the power of Christ’s sacrifice being renewed in me by the Holy Spirit.
The Biblical perspective is that we have all been given a guaranteed free ride to the fullness of Christ in this life. Such inheritance is not only for the focused, the disciplined, the talented, or the emotionally healthy, but for folks like you and me!
A Gospel for All
It is Christ, the living God who was in the beginning with the Father and through Whom all things were made. It is Him manifesting in you the same life that was in Him and it is an awesome life far beyond our expectations, not below them.
The kingdom of God in all its glory is not for the superstars or those with minimal psychological needs. On the contrary, it is for all and equally effective for those lacking the necessary capacities to be successful or highly functional naturally.
Come All to the Fountain and Drink from the Waters of Life!
It is for the foolish, the lazy, the selfish, the untalented, the weak-willed, the ruined, the despairing, the tormented, and even the rotten, wicked soul. It is also for the capable, the successful, the rich, the talented, etc., who are willing to realize just how poor they really are, living for and glorying in self rather than the only true God.
Paradoxically, it is a person’s belief in those very talents and natural abilities that disqualifies them for access to the working of Christ’s power in them.
A Salvation Like No Other!
And it isn’t like God is saying, “yeah, you can come in, but please sit over there because you don’t have talent like my special people. We’ll let you stay, but just stay out of the way, ok?” No, God is telling us nothing is impossible for those that believe. Think you’re a nobody? God don’t got none of ’em. He’s only got infinitely valuable ones – these are those that accept the message of Christ’s death on our behalf. That’s it.
That is the total requirement. Do you want to add to that? Do you have something better to offer God than His precious Son’s sacrifice that He put to death for people just like you and me? If that wasn’t enough, He is ready to pour His life, power and love into your life until it overflows. This is God’s promise. Do we think the Apostles were special and that is why they did great things for God? I tell you, no! It is the flawless message of the cross that they partook of daily that enabled them to turn the world upside down and live truly extraordinary lives!
This is what Paul was getting at when he wrote,
“And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”(1 Cor. 2:1-2); and also, “for it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Holy Spirit, boast in Christ Jesus and place no confidence in the flesh.” (Phil 3:3)
The Most Profound Paradox
The paradoxical nature of God’s work in our lives is inescapable. Jesus warned us, “He who seeks to save his life shall lose it, but he who loses his life shall find it.” (Lk. 17:33) Nothing in the kingdom of God operates from man’s will but only from God and through the cross. We do not prosper by trying to get God to follow us but by following Him only.
But how can a person not want what they want? Isn’t this just a mental double-bind? It would be if the gospel were not true. Christ, however, through His death has opened a way for us to daily inherit that death and resurrection process through believing in His death and resurrection as the full and only adequate payment for us to receive this incredible gift!
Here is the point. Without effectively receiving the message of the cross day by day, even moment by moment, we must live lives of spiritual failure and futility – even if we don’t realize we are failing God. Just because one has a position of power or honor in a church or among others is not proof that they are operating “in Christ.” Please note that there are many secondary gain rewards for being in leadership in a church environment – notwithstanding the difficulties that might attend that role as well.
The New Testament Definition of Obedience
On the other hand, if one has their whole hope in the cross and none in self, that person most certainly is in obedience to Christ and will be operating in and from Christ. Paul writes, “if we die with Him, we believe we shall also live with Him.”
Please note here that this message of the cross is what the Hebrews writer discussed when he spoke of entering “a sabbath rest.” Moreover, it is evident within those same passages that failure to enter that rest and cease from one’s own works is the very definition of disobedience under the new covenant. (Heb 4:1-11)
Have We Accepted a Different Gospel?
Many attend church every week, read their Bible, and study, yet don’t seem to change. Why is this so? I want to suggest that real growth depends on, above all things, the word you are receiving. If we receive a different message than the one already delivered, we will not thereby be benefitted. (Gal. 1:6; Gal. 3 1-5)
Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins? Do you think other things than this cause you to grow in Christ? Just what would those other things be? It is clear that we first entered into a relationship through accepting Christ’s death as the atonement for our hopelessly sinful condition; this is the foundation of all evangelical faith.
How then, having entered into that salvation, do we grow up fully into it? Are we now to be motivated by human will to be sanctified? Shall we build on a different foundation other than the One which was already laid? (1 Cor. 3:10-15; Gal 2:18)
A believer who understands the cross realizes that they are entirely powerless to create the kingdom of God; they learn to only hope in His cleansing and empowering. They are constantly waiting for Him. This is not in order to impress God, but because they realize they simply have no alternative. Their life becomes a life of receiving from God, and oh, what a life that is being received!
The Implications
The implications of this simple fundamental Christian reality are staggering. They overthrow so much of what goes on in the western Churches. What will become of all our precious programs? Without them, how will the Church possibly grow?
It will grow, dear friends, like never before in our lifetimes! However, it will not produce like today’s church growth systems. That is, it will not have a rash influx of people attracted to all the new glitter.
Instead, it will grow deep and unshakable roots, and then it will develop real character. It will be testable with fire and aflame with the love of the living God. It will be a Church that “commends itself to every man’s conscience in the sight of God,” as Paul told us. (2 Cor. 4:2)
A Changing Church
There are specific changes that I believe such a new orientation to the gospel will bring. These changes, I suspect, will reflect the organic nature of relationship with Christ. His abundant life will change the dynamics and motivations of the believers.
It offers the promise of an incredible life in Christ for all who base their lives completely on it. Our churches will no longer attempt to accommodate the world but will speak with authority and power. This is the end of the need for Christian self-improvement fads. Nor will they need help from (secularized) “church growth” programs. It is a Christianity that works purely by the power of God Almighty. The world will have an opportunity to see authentic Christianity.
The churches will be less institutionally structured and be more like an amazingly loving family. Changes will not be imposed but will emerge from within the body because of the will of the Spirit amidst the people. Justice will “roll down like the waters” among God’s people.
Where Justice and Righteousness Dwell
Hypocrisy will be put to death. The Church will be separate from those that wish to continue in hypocrisy and self-interest. The genuine interest of others – Christ’s love – will be the hallmark of these people. The weak, the poor, and the needy will be loved. Oppression and racial divide will cease.
It will be their delight to lavish honor on those without (worldly) honor. We will know one another no longer according to the flesh; We will be empowering persons based not upon their natural abilities but the spiritual richness of Christ and His great love. The naturally strong will gladly lay down their power, position, and privilege for the other. The (naturally) weak will be lifted up and develop into strong and effective ministers rather than be marginalized and subtly excluded. This is a Church that overcomes the world. It fulfills the heart-cry of all those that genuinely love justice and mercy.
Living in The Kingdom of God
Of course, these things will be. This is what the kingdom of God looks like. It need not try to be like this. This is what a people truly in-filled by the Holy Spirit is like. It will allow the world to see the real Jesus. Surely, many will join our ranks. Many others will hate and despise us even as they did Jesus, His message, and His followers in the first century.
This kingdom of God on earth is not a political system in any way. The Church will suffer great persecution under these circumstances because the world is under the power of the evil one. Nevertheless, the Church will complete its task on earth; they will spiritually prevail. They will not love their own lives, even unto death.
Such a glorious calling! Rejoicing and thanksgiving are the inevitable results. Make no mistake about it, my friends, a believer who gets a complete comprehension of this will never really be the same again. It is a world-changer. It makes the weak strong and the proud broken. It overcomes the darkness and the power of darkness.
And Christ, Himself is the author. In the end, the Church will win the ultimate victory. They will lay down their lives for their blessed Savior, and His name will be honored among men. He alone has won this victory and has overcome death for all who hope in Him. O death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?
