Why is the church so weak and without conviction and why is Christianity so lukewarm and without convicting power? Why is there hardly any difference between the world and the church any longer? Why are tongue talking believer's lives in such a mess? Why are churches closing down in Europe and the world mocking the greed and corruption in the church today? Can it be that the message of the cross is no longer prominent or that a new kind of cross that suits humnity has replaced the old cross of Jesus Christ? Read on…The Old Cross and the New
Apostle Andre Pelser, based on an old tract by A. W. Tozer
2003/07/10

Almost unannounced and mostly undetected a new cross has replaced the old one in church circles: they are so alike that no one can discern the difference if glanced at superficially but the difference is fundamental. If we are true saints of God, not merely believers, the cross makes all the difference in our lives. That is where our Saviour died for our sins and bought our healing and deliverance. How we view the cross will determine our spiritual condition and our relationship with our Master.
The Old Cross is a symbol of death. It stands for the abrupt, violent death of a human being. The man in Roman times, who took his cross and started down the road, had already said goodbye to his friends. He was not coming back. He was not going out to have a good time. He was not going to have his life redirected; he was going out to have it ended. The cross made no compromise: modified nothing ? spared nothing; it slew all of the man completely, for good. It did not try to keep on good terms with its victim. It struck cruel and hard and when it had finished its work the man was no more. The race of Adam is under death sentence. There is no negotiation, no escape. God cannot approve of any fruits of sin, however innocent they may appear.

Here are some definite differences between the old and the new cross to clarify the matter in our hearts and minds once and for all.

Old Cross versus New Cross

No truce with the world : compromise with worldly ways
Adamic nature crucified : humanistic success is priority
There is no room for the old self : motivate the ego right
Live to please God : live for own pleasure
Draw a line between holy & unholy : as long as it is fun it is okay
Unpleasant demands on flesh : no unpleasant demands on flesh
Difference between church/world : no recognizable difference
Slay the sinner to die to old nature : seeker friendly places to catch them
No room for respect of sinful nature : save sinner?s self respect
No room for self-assertion : assert yourself on Christ?s behalf
No room for egotism : do your boasting in the Lord
No room for fleshly thrill seeking : get your thrills in church
Current vogues do not affect it : make the message acceptable today
Cross is a symbol of death : just redirect motivations, modify
Sudden, cruel and violent end of sin : keep on good terms with sin
Complete and final change : gradual improvement, cover up
Ways of God are not ways of man : draw parallels between God?s & ours
All sin is an abomination to God : certain sins are acceptable & innocent
The corn of wheat falls and dies : keep the corn alive and protect it
New life comes out of death to self : self is modified and improved
Only one way to get to resurrection : get to higher levels without dying to self
Race of Adam under death sentence : Humanism is more important than God
Preachers are men sent from God : Preachers are PRO?s & diplomats
Gospel message is an ultimatum : message is compromise with world
God offers a completely new life : offers an improved life
Cannot escape the rod of correction : will not accept rebuke or correction
Cannot escape the cross : bypass the cross to get to higher levels
Sinful men are condemned to die : as long as you believe you don?t have to
Deny yourself, take up your cross : just start following Christ as you are
Repent of sins before you believe : just confess your faith from now on
Forsake your sins and wicked ways : work out a way to justify what you do
Acknowledge God?s displeasure : God is love and excuses every wrong act
Faith only comes after the cross : your mouth?s confession of faith is okay
Your life is no longer your own : now you can do what you like to do
Only God?s power can raise new life : self-motivation can get you there
The Gospel is the truth : false gospels prevail over truth
Only the truth can set you free : learn to live with your imperfections
True power comes via the cross : use psychic powers people won?t know
The Holy Ghost witnesses to truth : imitate the work of the Holy Spirit
The holy legacy is not tampered with : let?s create our own gospel (golden calf)
You cannot alter God?s pattern : if only Paul knew what we knew today
God changes lives completely : employ techniques/methods for success
Adam?s pride has to be eradicated : arrogance is actually confidence
The end of the journey of the flesh : mere adaptation as the flesh continues
Sing choruses to the glory of God : sing for your own enjoyment
The cross is not the friend of world : friendship with the world is okay
Obey God implicitly : obey when it suits you
The fear of God comes upon people : who is God that I should fear Him
Convicting power of the Holy Ghost : good moral talks and clean fun & games
To be a witness is to be a martyr : you can become popular as a Christian
Fruit of the Holy Spirit is important : all that matters is numerical growth
The Church is God?s instrument : human ambition flourishes in the church
God is in control : leaders control and manipulate flocks
A surrendered and yielded life : see what Christianity can do for you
God gives the message to his servant : preach whatever is popular
No cross; no crown : reward yourself for your achievements
Humility and meekness : pride and stubbornness
Willingness to suffer for Gospel : want nothing to do with suffering
I am at my Master?s bidding : how to get what you want from God
Faith to overcome sin and temptation : faith to get whatever you want
Pay sincere attention to lowly people : only spend time with successful people

And the list continues?we need to determine where we stand: we cannot have one leg on this side and the other on that side. You are at a cross road today: choose whom you will serve: Christ or self; God or satan?