Why are those who call themselves Christians not denying themselves and taking up the cross?

Question

"...If any man will come after me,let him deny himself,and take up his cross,and follow me''Matthew 16:24.
There appears no self denail in "christians" today.They use tabaco, alcohol, gamble, practice sexual acts of homosexuality, fornacation, adultery its become impposible to tell them from the world.

How can you call yourself a Christian and not follow Christ?
As I read this verse, those who want to ''come after'' Christ must do two things.
1."deny himself"
2.''take up his cross''
And then they can ''follow'' Jesus.
Where is your cross and what are you denying yourself of?

Answer 1

Matthew 16:24 "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, "I any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

According to this scripture and my own view on this, Jesus is now saying that a man must deny his own emotions that would cause you to break your discipline to God's word, simply to please the flesh nature within you. Your cross is your study of the Word, and the discipline that you show in following what it teaches. A cross is something you die on, and when you take up your cross, you place all your self notions, and pleasures beneath that which is part of the Christian's discipline as set forth in His Word. Don't play church, and let your emotions rule you, but do as Christ says. You must make the teaching, and the church, and your emotions a reality that if it was called upon you to die for Christ, you would be willing to sacrifice your own life, for the Word of God. Any thing short of that is play acting, and the cross becomes nothing but a trinket worn around your neck. If you were one of the two witness of the final days, you would gladly die for Christ.

Answer 2

Christians are suppose to be a body?
Witness
Feed the homeless, poor,and help widows indeed
honor parents
be good citizens and pray for leaders (2 chr 7:14)
be responsible and good worker on job
teach and discipline kids to become christian adults
spend time praying & fasting,reading bible,encouraging the weak and broken hearted
Being like the lost world won't cut it

Answer 3

I take up my cross daily, and I bear it with honor. I deny myself of the worlds temptations. When I run into an old friend I used to hang out with and they want to go get drunk, I tell them I have gotten saved and do not live that life anymore. I also try to share my faith with others. The cross is sometimes hard to bear, but knowing that Jesus carrried the real cross for my sins, makes me want to hold it up higher everyday. We battle not against flesh, but principalities and powers of darkness. We must put aside our evil doing and submit to God, Resist the Devil, and he will flee from us. Jesus paid the ultimate price, and I will carry my cross to the end. Very Good Question.

Answer 4

Not all Christians are following Christ. Simple as that. Jesus even said, (paraphrasing) "Many will say, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we do all these things in your Name?" and Jesus replied, "Depart from me, for I never knew you."

Being willing to take up your cross and follow Him means complete self sacrifice. Something which a lot of Christians, unfortunately, won't adhere to. Being willing to suffer.

Answer 5

Maybe they're not Christians.
Today we are so social club minded. We now have the "born again club" don't you know.

Just repeat this prayer and you're born again. No change in life other than church attendance.

God help us be lights in a dark world, showing the way to truth and righteousness in Christ Jesus. The only way.

Answer 6

WOOHOO! AMEN and AMEN! I would give you ten stars for this question!!! If I could!

You know, I cannot answer this but, I can tell you that I see it too! I can at least give you my thoughts.

We live in a very hedonistic, self centered society today. Everything is about "me, me,me." In as much, to deny oneself, would mean giving up the ways and things of this world! Now, we are suppose to stay away from the things of this world anyway, but, many straddle that fence as they love the world and its ways more than they do their relationship with God! It is a VERY dangerous place to be!!! It saddens me to no end. But, I do not have to be one of them! I do, however, have to pray for them and in some cases, I pity them!

Taking up the cross...well, that means you may have to come out of your comfort zone! You may have to go where you do not want too! You may have to confront evil and stand firm! I think most today, want only comfort and the "feel good" which comes from knowing the Lord. However, to be a Christian, to me, is to be CALLED INTO SERVICE FOR HIM!

I deny myself because I am sinful! I lean on HIS understanding as mine is flawed! I seek HIM in everything and that keeps me focused.

My cross...there have been many through the years but, I have carried them knowing that I am not alone and that HE is with me through every trial, temptation and test!

Answer 7

WOW! What a bold statement....sighhhh....no man knows the heart of another. God looks NOT at the outside of a man, but at his heart! He SEES the whole life of each & every one of us. God dwells "outside time" and He has known us all before we ever existed. We cannot & should not "judge" what another person is doing at this particular point in their lives.
(I mean just look at Gideon...the great warrior...lol.. hiding from the enemy..who then would have thought he would do mighty things for the Lord?!) Just be obediant to the Lord yourself, do what he commands and LOVE one another, and love the Lord your God with all your being!! In that YOU have fufilled all that God requires.

Answer 8

Please don't believe everything that people say. The bible says that "Thou shall know them by the fruit they bare". If the fruit is corruption, that tells us, that they are none of His. God says that those who love Him , will keep His commandments.
The reason why they look like the world is because they are of the world. They are not Christians and followers of Christ and when the time comes where all believers go up , you will see that they are not in that number, they are severely deceived by the enemy of our soul, satan himself.

Answer 9

Amen, that is why I begged Our Heavenly Father to help me and Deliver me from smoking, because I'm starving for the lord and I want all of His Love...it has been 10 days and Jesus Christ is here helping me every STEP of the way I have let go of most of my family, friends even two adult son's who don't want JESUS CHRIST in their lives...don't get me wrong I still love the very much but I refuse to let them live in GOD'S house if they wont respect him....GOD IS MY LIFE, and I'm still a baby in his eyes, but GOD has told me he is pleased with me and I will grow with HIM..PRAISE GOD FOR HE IS GOOD AND HE IS LOVE.....AND I'M SO GLAD HE IS MY ABBA...

Answer 10

Because we're also human, living in a world responsibility and materialism. My hands are too full to carry a cross.