Attacking the Cross of Christ
Our absolute need for the cross of Christ for salvation is often attacked by subtly marginalizing our focus upon it, that is to say, upon the absolute necessity of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.)
On the contrary, God’s Word makes the cross (the Gospel) center stage,
“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.
Often, Christians will not readily embrace teachings which attack the cross if they’re presented overtly. However, by subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) shifting the narrative, many professing and immature believers will eventually not only accept this unbiblical idea. They will also teach it.
Unsuspecting sheep are sold this false bill of goods by being told there’s a deeper and more spiritual understanding to be attained. And to do so, they must go “beyond” the simplicity of the Gospel.
This was certainly Satan’s tactic in the Garden and continues today. “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” 2 Corinthians 11:3.
This then puts these “new and improved foot soldiers” at the front lines to push a deadly and devilish counterfeit gospel to the next generation.
~Foolish Philosophy, False Science, and the Cross~
Darwin and Huxley (and most, if not all who popularized the philosophy of evolution early on) intended to attack the cross, as well. But they understood they’d have to do it by slowly and carefully eroding the foundation of God’s Word under the guise of science because too many people during that time would not yet stand for an overt, frontal attack of the Gospel.
In his article, “The Meaning of Evolution,” atheist G. Richard Bozarth claims that “Christianity has fought, still fights and will fight science to the desperate end over evolution, for evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus’ earthly life was supposedly made necessary. Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the son of God. Take away the meaning of his death. If Jesus was not the redeemer who died for our sins, and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing” (American Atheist, September 20, 1979, p. 30).
Freud, Jung, Maslow, etc. understood the same thing. These God-hating men replaced the necessity of the cross by turning sinful souls into “sick” mind, replacing the sanctifying power of the cross with a menagerie of mystical and man-centered practices and devilish doctrines.
Sadly, even the philosophy of Calvinism (as a whole) also negates the need for the cross by marginalizing its purpose. Generally, in Calvinism, certain men have already been preselected “before the foundation of the world”. That is to say, thousands of years before Jesus ever died on a cross, certain men were chosen, not because they believed the Gospel, but because God mysteriously selected them. This selection had nothing to do with the Gospel or the cross. Then the Holy Spirit is said to give this select group of people irresistible grace, without which they could never believe the Gospel.
The cross, in the narrative of Calvinism, is at best a footnote, taking a backseat to both God’s mysterious election and irresistible grace, both of which are absolutely necessary for salvation according to reformed doctrine.
One last example is that of any ultra-charismatic groups which fall under the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) banner. To those in this camp, the cross of Christ is at best a means to earthly domination through ascension and realization of one’s attainment of personal christ-hood, ie. christ consciousness. Most in this camp believe Christians have the divine authority and potential to become “little gods/christs” through practicing a variety of repackaged New Age and mind science techniques. Although there is often a placated nod to the Gospel, this is typically to lure unsuspecting and well-meaning, albeit baby believers into the fold.
Once sucked into their cultish system, there is a quick and lasting shift away from salvation, sanctification, and eventual glorification. The cross is often a prop or afterthought to the real goal of ascension. It’s perhaps best likened to the proverbial rabbit hole. Interestingly, the identical goal is mentioned by Lucifer, who Jesus refers to as the father of lies. (John 8:44)
Referring to Satan, the Lord, through Isaiah, wrote,
“For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet you shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” Isaiah 14:13-15.
Eventually, all false systems and foolish philosophies will converge, and everyone will be spiritually deluded into whole-heartedly believing in their innate god/force-potential. Essentially, God will give them what they want… A delusion to be the lie.
“For the mystery of iniquity already works: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12.
No one will see any need for the cross. The cross of Christ will be rendered powerless by making it meaningless. And we’re watching what might be the final culmination of this right before our eyes.
“I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed” Galatians 1:6-9.