Crossless Chrisianity
Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.' (Luke 9:23 NIV)
About 300 B.C. a Greek king named Pyrrhus fought a battle with the Romans at Heraclea. Pyrrhus won the battle but in doing so he suffered such appalling losses as to more than offset his gains.
Thus a victory that costs too much is often called a Pyrrhic victory.
. . .
For years I have watched misled Christians in their unholy effort to make friends with the enemy and to render the cross socially acceptable. A few prophets have written and preached against this outrageous sellout, but their words have gone unheeded. The leadership of the popular Christian movements has been and still is in the hands of persons who are blind to the meaning of the cross. That darkness and light cannot mingle never so much as occurs to them. They are busily engaged copying the world and trying to be like it as far as they dare. To be a Christian one need only "accept" Christ. That brings "peace of mind" and assurance of heaven. After that the cross has no meaning and Christ no authority. Compromise and collaboration are now the distinguishing marks of religion. To be relaxed and well adjusted to society is more important than to keep the commandments of Christ. The fawning, ingratiating spirit is the modern badge of saintliness. Between the world and the Christian there is no longer any great difference. And that not by accident. They planned it that way.
Yes, we have won a victory over the atheists. They no longer cause us any trouble. But subsequent developments will show that our triumph has cost us too much. It is a Pyrrhic victory.
Prayer
Lord, in reaching out to people in this world may I not seek to disguise the cross nor leave mine at home each day.
Thought
The cross is mounted on church steeples. We have overlaid it with gold to wear around our neck or on our lapel. In doing so, have we forgotten that the cross is an instrument of death! It was for Christ and it is for us--death to self. Are we bearing our cross daily?
Used with permission.
