Why do Christians, and churches refuse take up our crosses daily?
We do not wish to die to ourselves, that would require a change in me/us.
We are told in scripture that we are to be transformed (inside out) rather than be conformed (outside appearance).
We like things being conformed, because quite frankly that usually ...means that things change into my image.
To
be transformed into the image of Christ requires, submission to others
and authority, it requires that I lay aside my desires and lay aside my
rights and make myself into a bondservant.
In churches today little
gods that we are making ourselves into sit in the pews seeking an
experience that entertains ourselves rather than corprately acknowledge
the one true sovereign LORD, and our own need for Him.
What is truely needed is a death to self.
Our greatest fear.
We
send a lot of effort trying not to die physically although we believe
that we will be changed into that which is eternal and perfect.
How much more so on the spiritual sense.
Churches
fall apart because we refuse to die to ourselves. We make them into our
image in apperance; choosing that rather than being transformed into
the image of Christ whose victory was in emptying his rights to heaven
and divine power, coming into the world as a human child, submitting
himself to his parents and the whims of the world. Beyond this he made
himself into a servant, and beyond this death upon a cross for the sins
of others.
The same power that rose him from the dead, is the same
power that would give us new spiritual life if we would trust enough to
take up our daily cross and die to ourselves.
Hamlet said it well:
... who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action. - Soft you now!
We all die daily; either to ourselves or to our fears.
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