Comments on: The Old Cross and the New http://www.indywatchman.com/adversity/the-old-cross-and-the-new/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-old-cross-and-the-new Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:09:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: IndyWatchman http://www.indywatchman.com/adversity/the-old-cross-and-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-303 IndyWatchman Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:24:14 +0000 http://indywatchman.wordpress.com/?p=141#comment-303 Mike, Thanks for the feedback. That was a great article by Tozer. There is no doubt that he spoke much prophetic truth into this time we call the "last days." If I could add anything to what he said it would be in the first sentence where he states, All unannounced and mostly undetected there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. The announcement came as early as Jesus' preaching to His disciples, and followed-up by those very disciples in their preaching to the new Church. Since the days of Constantine the Church has morphed so many times and deception flourished, that we truly think that what we see on every corner today is the finished product of what God originally intended. If the Church today is what God intended then we can rightly say that God's ways and man's ways are the same, and that when God said that His ways are not man's ways, He was mistaken. This new cross of modern Christendom is the rubber stamp version, a replica, it is a cross by proxy, and has nothing to do with the baptism of death, which Jesus and the Apostles preached. The old Cross is here, but according to God's ways, not man's, and it looks nothing like the brick and mortar, or the attendance based corporate structures that have flooded our hearts and minds and blocked out the old Cross. If I had a zipper in my chest I would take out that old stony heart and replace it with a heart of flesh, but only the Spirit can do that by, allowing Light to shine out of darkness; it is a new creation, a miracle, not a MANufactured organization, and only God can give meaning to the Cross, and only God can build a living body called "the Church." Thanks again, Steve Blackwell </blockquote> Mike,

Thanks for the feedback.

That was a great article by Tozer. There is no doubt that he spoke much prophetic truth into this time we call the "last days." If I could add anything to what he said it would be in the first sentence where he states,

All unannounced and mostly undetected there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles.

The announcement came as early as Jesus' preaching to His disciples, and followed-up by those very disciples in their preaching to the new Church. Since the days of Constantine the Church has morphed so many times and deception flourished, that we truly think that what we see on every corner today is the finished product of what God originally intended. If the Church today is what God intended then we can rightly say that God's ways and man's ways are the same, and that when God said that His ways are not man's ways, He was mistaken. This new cross of modern Christendom is the rubber stamp version, a replica, it is a cross by proxy, and has nothing to do with the baptism of death, which Jesus and the Apostles preached.

The old Cross is here, but according to God's ways, not man's, and it looks nothing like the brick and mortar, or the attendance based corporate structures that have flooded our hearts and minds and blocked out the old Cross.

If I had a zipper in my chest I would take out that old stony heart and replace it with a heart of flesh, but only the Spirit can do that by, allowing Light to shine out of darkness; it is a new creation, a miracle, not a MANufactured organization, and only God can give meaning to the Cross, and only God can build a living body called "the Church."

Thanks again,

Steve Blackwell

]]> By: Mike Buckley http://www.indywatchman.com/adversity/the-old-cross-and-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-302 Mike Buckley Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:23:18 +0000 http://indywatchman.wordpress.com/?p=141#comment-302 How sadly true it is my friend. It is indeed the cross that separates the real from the counterfeit. As Art Katz once said "if I had a zipper in my chest I could take my heart out and wring it" and I am sure the Lord feels that a million times more. How sadly true it is my friend. It is indeed the cross that separates the real from the counterfeit. As Art Katz once said "if I had a zipper in my chest I could take my heart out and wring it" and I am sure the Lord feels that a million times more.

]]> By: ProdigalKnot http://www.indywatchman.com/adversity/the-old-cross-and-the-new/comment-page-1/#comment-103 ProdigalKnot Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:04:05 +0000 http://indywatchman.wordpress.com/?p=141#comment-103 Your words "We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education." reminded me of the late Rob Briner's book "Final Roar". He obviously believed much differently. I agree with you, though. Our task is not to make the Gospel acceptable and comfortable. We must wake people up with it, or they will remain blinded by the god and the distractions of this world. God help us to do that! Your last paragraph reminds me that the majority of Christian denominations have long since written out the commandment to be baptized after believing and repenting based on faith in the redemptive work of Christ. Not to mention that most church goers have no idea what you mean by "life out of death". Most have not "died" because they don't understand the new birth any better than Nicodemus did. And that is not just the fault of their hireling preachers; it's the people's fault they don't seek the truth for themselves. Your words “We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education.” reminded me of the late Rob Briner’s book “Final Roar”. He obviously believed much differently. I agree with you, though. Our task is not to make the Gospel acceptable and comfortable. We must wake people up with it, or they will remain blinded by the god and the distractions of this world. God help us to do that!

Your last paragraph reminds me that the majority of Christian denominations have long since written out the commandment to be baptized after believing and repenting based on faith in the redemptive work of Christ. Not to mention that most church goers have no idea what you mean by “life out of death”. Most have not “died” because they don’t understand the new birth any better than Nicodemus did. And that is not just the fault of their hireling preachers; it’s the people’s fault they don’t seek the truth for themselves.

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