Is Dragging a Wooden Cross Around Biblical? [podcast]

Taking Up the Cross? What Does that Really Mean? Cross Objects?

Drag a wooden cross around?

Did anyone in the New Testament canon do such? Not one.

This message in no way insinuates that these men who carry wooden crosses are not saved but rather it seems to show biblical proof that they are misled.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

“Luke 9:23-27
R. Invitation to Take Up the Cross (9:23-27)
9:23 Having outlined His own future, the Lord invited the disciples to follow Him. This would mean denying themselves and taking up their cross. To deny self means willingly to renounce any so-called right to plan or choose, and to recognize His lordship in every area of life. To take up the cross means to deliberately choose the kind of life He lived. This involves:

—The opposition of loved ones.
—The reproach of the world.
—Forsaking family and house and lands and the comforts of this life.
—Complete dependence on God.
—Obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
—Proclamation of an unpopular message.
—A pathway of loneliness.
—Organized attacks from established religious leaders.
—Suffering for righteousness’ sake.
—Slander and shame.
—Pouring out one’s life for others.
—Death to self and to the world.

But it also involves laying hold of life that is life indeed! It means finding at last the reason for our existence. And it means eternal reward. We instinctively recoil from a life of cross-bearing. Our minds are reluctant to believe that this could be God’s will for us. Yet the words of Christ “If anyone desires to come after Me” mean that nobody is excused and nobody is excepted.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Not one person, not one eternal soul has ever nor ever will be saved as a result of someone dragging around a wooden cross.

Jesus commanded His people to “Go ye into all the world and PREACH the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) and not drag around a wooden cross. The preached Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation.” (Romans 1:16)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

What Never Comes back Void?

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

People are saved, born again by the WORD being preached. God then convicts them via the preached incorruptible seed of His Word which never returns void but always accomplishes that for which He sends it…. and He sends it via the preaching of His Word, not a physical object being dragged around.

Saving faith, the faith to be saved comes by the WORD, not seeing someone carrying a wooden beam.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

The preached Gospel, the Gospel, when it is preached, is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”

More on How Saving Faith Comes

NO one is going to get saved because you carrying a wooden cross around or wearing one on your tee shirt or around your neck. No, people repent and believe on Christ unto eternal life when “the MESSAGE of the cross” is preached to them! (1 Corinthians 1:18) Saving faith doesn’t come by people witnessing some guy toting a wooden cross around but rather saving “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

To repent, believe and be saved, people must have the Word of God planted in their hearts and as they choose to turn to the LORD by faith, He will save them. Acts 20:21

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:21

God is not proud or pleased with you for doing something HE never asked you to do.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

Putting GOD first instead of self is absolutely essential to victory in Christ.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

You live by truth, which is by faith born out of divine truth – and not by how you feel.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ” Colossians 3:3

This day you declare that you have sentenced yourself to death that Christ might live and reign in and through the life He gave you.

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:” 2 Corinthians 1:9

By which means are men born again?

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

Such activities as wearing a cross around ones neck or toting a physical cross around town are misguided at best and a waste. Jesus only carried His wooden cross to go die on the altar of that cross for the sins of the world (John 19:16-18). He alone could have borne the sins of the world and such He did on that cross in order to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29; Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Christ told no one to go make and drag a cross around. The apostles nor early church practiced no such thing.

This all makes us wonder what the motives are of those who do such today.

Some might say “But brother the wooden cross represents, symbolizes how Christ died for us.” True and yet, do we have even one instruction to carry around a cross to make Jesus know? No. Do we have even one example of the apostles of Jesus or the earliest follower doing such? No.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

Human reasoning or rightly obeying?

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Saved by Grace Through Faith

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

And that saving faith comes from the hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17).

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalms 19:7 

“Preach the word.” 2 Timothy 4:2

How did Philipp lead the Ethiopian eunuch to Jesus?

“26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 

27  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 

28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 

29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 

30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 

31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 

32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 

33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 

34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 

35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 

36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 

37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 

39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:26-39

WHEN Jesus commanded us to deny self, take up the cross, and follow me…. what did He really mean by that?

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Because You Care Page | Bible/Word of God | Gifts | Prophetic or Pathetic? | Christology | Final Divine Authority | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God  | Grace and Truth Bible School [modules] | 7 Study Guides to a Greater Foundation in Christ | Knowing God | The Cross Life |

Is the Crucified Life Essential for Going to Heaven? [podcast]

WHO among us, after being saved, can remain free from sin without the cross, the crucified life? Not one of us. Read and believe, embrace every word of Romans 6 carefully. Please don’t rush. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul was clearly declaring here that he would be “castaway” into Hell if he didn’t keep under his body which means live the crucified life – without which no man can overcome sin. IF there […]

Born Again Audio [podcast]

This is a narration of the Born Again book which is an explosive small book and a powerful soul winning tool!   Order your copies of this small book here. | Store | Order on Amazon Download/Read the contents of the Born Again book here: Born Again Book PDF    

The Cross is a Surrender Not a Struggle [podcast]

The Cross is a Surrender not a Struggle Seems apparent that the struggle comes with living in the flesh, from resisting the surrender. In contrast, “the peace of God which passeth all understanding” comes from walking in the Spirit with Christ (Psalms 119:165; Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4:7). On the cross…. “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 27:46 Then what happened? “He is not here: for HE IS RISEN, as he said. Come, see the place where the […]