12.19.25
Hey, Calvary Fremont –
An angel told Joseph that Mary would give birth to a Son who would save His people from their sin. An angel told Mary that she would give birth to a Son and God would give Him the throne David. Joseph was told of a suffering Son. Mary was told of a conquering Son. The suffering of Jesus speaks of the Cross. The throne of Jesus speaks of a Crown. Jesus was both the Suffering Servant and the Conquering King. The Cross and the Crown encompass the career of Jesus – from birth to death and beyond. They are also potent symbols for understanding the Christian life. But the Christian life becomes distorted when either Cross or Crown are misapplied. Here’s what I mean –
Jesus didn’t say, “Indulge yourself, take up your crown and follow Me.” Instead, He said, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me.” Herein lies one of the major faultlines in contemporary Christianity.
What is popularly known as ‘The Health and Wealth Gospel’ takes what Jesus didn’t say as their mantra. They are taught that they wear the Crown and are ‘King’s Kids’ and ‘Nothing but the best for King’s Kids.’ ‘God wants you to prosper’ and ‘Sow a seed and reap a harvest’ comes straight out of their manual. ‘God is going to show you favor and increase your influence into an overflowing blessing’ is a common refrain. And all of this is punctuated with the annual reminder that ‘This is the year of your favor and the season when all your dreams will come to fruition. Your money, health, influence, and favor will increase.’
Self-Indulgence Christianity, Crown Christianity makes my desires the playbook of the Holy Spirit. Self-Denial Christianity, Cross Christianity makes God’s desires the playbook of the Holy Spirit. Here is one of the expressions of the faultline: Self-Indulgence Christianity puts a Crown on my head and encourages me to seek self-fulfillment. Self-Denial Christianity plants a Cross in my soul and bids me not to place any value on my desires, but to seek the will of God, to desire the will of God, to value the will of God. The goal of Crown Christianity is that you are healthy and wealthy and favored and blessed; the goal of Cross Christianity is that you are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Crown Christianity costs you nothing; Cross Christianity will cost you everything.
Self-Indulgence Christianity affirms man’s inherent selfishness. Self-Denial Christianity crucifies the flesh. Many have inverted the pattern of Jesus and pursue a distorted version of Christianity. They reason that since Jesus bore the Cross. we all get to wear the Crown. I understand the reasoning, but when your theology directly contradicts the sayings of Jesus – it’s time to change your theology!
Self-Denial Christianity doesn’t say that God wants you to be sick and poor and walk in defeat and depression. That’s just plain silly! I want to be healthy and have sufficiency for all things. I desire to be given favor and to have influence. I am a charismatic Christian – I speak in tongues and pray for people’s healing and believe in prophetic utterances. But Cross Christianity says, “Tim it’s not about you and what you want and what you think will fulfill you and make you happy.” Self-Denial Christianity is not breathlessly Self-Centered – we are on a passionate pursuit to know Christ and to be known by Him.
Jesus didn’t say to take up your crown, but to take up your cross. A crown says that you’re someone special. A cross – not so much.
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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