Without Cost
““I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”….“May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”….you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ” (Acts 3:6; 8:20, 1 Pet 1:18-19)
Introduction
Peter, quoted above, certainly understood the power of money to corrupt, for his friend Judas was seduced to betray his Lord by 30 pieces of silver (Matt 26:15). But few of us appreciate how our relative wealth has corrupted our hearts. This is relevant to an issue recently raised with me about two celebrity Christians who have fallen away from faith. American Joshua Harris’s books have sold millions, and Hillsong’s famed songwriter Marty Sampson has been an icon to thousands of “worship leaders”. There have been a variety of responses to the falling away of these enriched men. But an essential issue is their immersion in a popular Christian culture that refuses to recognise that in New Testament times to follow Jesus was a formula for downward social mobility (Matt 4:18-22). It cost something to follow Jesus (Luke 14:28). In today’s affluent Christianity many are following Jesus to the cross, but not on the cross. All honour the cross as a great past saving event, but few are living crucified lives (Gal 2:20). Masses are measuring out their devotion to Jesus in a way that clashes with the substance of the gospel.
Moneyless Redemption
Jesus contrasts the tangibly valuable with the eternal, ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21). When the mob wanted to “make him king” because of his supernatural power to feed them (John 6:15, 26), Christ scolded them, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (John 6:27). Today however most young Christians have been led to believe they will have a measurably better life (economically, domestically, physically and psychologically) if they follow Jesus. This has trapped them in a world of verifiability that limits spiritual perception. The prophetic promise is, “he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isa 55:1). And at the End our lives will be sustained by the water of the river of life “without payment” (Rev 21:6; 22:17). It is impossible to charge for ministry (fees, tithing etc.) and to live in this River.
“Business” Church or Beautiful Church
“Business Church” flourishes where extraordinary spiritual gifts, charismatic personality, music and money come together in a way that (often) imitates the growth of the kingdom of God. The mass distribution Eternity newspaper reports the most reviled Christian in their online comments is Hillsong senior pastor Brian Houston. This is surely, at least in part, because he is the most visibly successful Australian Christian, and many of his critics are envious. In the Spirit, we need to move out of this unwise realm of measurement and comparisons altogether (2 Cor 10:12). Christ’s great goal is to have “a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.” (Eph 5:27). This Church is beautified “by the washing of water with the word” (Eph 5:26). This water is ultimately the Spirit flowing from his pierced side (John 19:34 cf. John 7:37-39); water bought with the blood of Christ is grace-filled and so totally free. We can never see a Church purified from her chronic sins until the Word which preached comes totally without cost or conditions (cf. Heb 10:22). Such precious, imperishable, priceless beauty in Christ’s Bride (1 Pet 3:4) requires a baptism in the fire of the cross.
Consuming Fire
John prophesied about Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”” (Matt 3:11-12). When the Lord in turn spoke like this, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50), he was anticipating being inundated by fire. When the holy evil-consuming flames of God’s love came upon Christ bearing our sin on the cross (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24) he was immersed in the flames of hell itself. What emerged from his limitless obedience was a glorious humanity perfected in holiness (cf. 2 Cor 7:1). Still bearing the wounds of his ordeal (John 20:27) Jesus presents himself as a man “familiar with pain” in its power to “crush” our frail humanity (Isa 53:3, 10). But also as one having overcome such power by the secret work of the Spirit (Heb 9:13). It is this dynamic of crushing-and -healing which is the powerful shape of the life of Christ presented in the gospel (2 Cor 1:8-10). This insight gives a radically different complexion to revival.
Black Mirror revival
Many have forgotten that famous Christians were disabled Christians. Paul by his “thorn” (2 Cor 12:7-8), missions pioneer David Brainerd by his tuberculosis, Spurgeon by his dark depression and so on. Celebrity style churches elevate the sweet smell of the roses and forget about the thorns. They expound scripture as if the marks of suffering with Christ were erased and past (1 Cor 4:8; Gal 6:17). I however see the light shining most brightly through life’s darkness’s. I see the Lord raising up teams of people who in the natural realm are clearly broken and disabled, at the very least psychologically, but who have learnt to trust the Lordship of Christ whatever their afflictions. Theirs is an ongoing testimony of crushing-and -healing. They will never claim to have “arrived”.
Conclusion
When the fire of God’s Word (Jer 23:29; Luke 24:32) comes in the power of the water bought with Christ’s blood a truly holy Church will emerge. One whose unconcern with money and ease of life will expose today’s false prophets of personal peace and prosperity. The Lord’s army rests by grace in the heart knowledge that though of themselves they are dysfunctional warriors, “in Christ” they are overcomers in the midst of trouble, calamity, persecution, hunger or poverty (Rom 8:35). These are the ones who in “the splendour of holiness” (2 Chron 20:21) will lead the forces of the Lord. The flames of God are coming to such an unexpected space, but what else would you expect of a crucified God??